Product Characteristics Research Articles

Evaluation and mathematical modeling of foam-mat drying of Momordica charantia L. leaves.

This study aimed to analyze the influence of operational parameters (foaming agent concentration, agitation time, and drying temperature) on the characteristics of the final product and the foam drying process of Momordica charantia L. leaves, in addition to performing mathematical modeling of the experimental data. The foam characteristic was most influenced by the foaming agent concentration, where the increase in this variable increased its stability, reaching the highest index of 0.9838±0.0038. The drying process was best represented by the Page model, which presented the best adjustments to the experimental data and was significantly affected by the drying temperature, where the increase in this variable resulted in an increase in the drying rate, causing a reduction in the total drying time, with the shortest time obtained being 170min. The product obtained was also more affected by the drying temperature, where the increase in this variable resulted in better preservation of the biochemical compounds of the material, presenting the highest phenolic compound content of 14,933.95±135.97mg EAG/g extract. The increase in temperature also reduced the moisture content and water activity of the product, with the lowest values obtained being 5.20±0.60% and 0.25±0.01, respectively, ensuring safe storage for the material.

Quality management - effective tool for the development of a modern innovative company

Introducing the quality management system in the company leads to: continuous frequent improvement, increased competition, increased efficiency and profitability, clear procedures, minimization of errors, reduction of production time, greater motivation, better communication and information, optimization of image, security and trust in products or services. The problem we will address is the use of quality tools and techniques to observe the factor sthatinfluence the final quality of product sand services. Manufacturers or researchers are more product-oriented, where quality is described by specific measurable indicators and characteristics of the product. However, consumers, sellers and economists describe quality as a combination of consumer want sand needs, which includes product characteristics, shelflife, permanent supply, food safety and ethical aspects.

Unveiling the Enigma of Blind Box Impulse Buying Curiosity: The Moderating Role of Price Consciousness

This study explores the causes of curiosity-driven impulse buying in blind boxes using the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model and adaptation level theory. It examines how store environment and product factors contribute to customer curiosity, incorporating price consciousness into the overall framework. Insights from an online survey of 306 Chinese respondents indicate that environmental factors and specific product characteristics positively influence consumer curiosity, while price consciousness has a negative moderate effect. The findings also show that customer curiosity stimulates impulse buying behavior and mediates the relationship between store atmosphere, surprise, and perceived novelty. This study identifies both objective and subjective factors behind blind box impulse buying and offers relevant suggestions for governments and consumers on managing impulse buying.

Recent Advances in Drying and Development of Solid Formulations for Stable mRNA and siRNA Lipid Nanoparticles.

Current RNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) based products are typically liquid formulations that require ultra-cold storage temperatures for stability. To address this limitation, recent efforts have focused on enhancing stability and enabling room temperature storage by converting these formulations into solid forms through drying processes such as lyophilization, spray drying, and spray-freeze drying. Nevertheless, the drying process itself can influence the stability of RNA/LNP formulations. Therefore, understanding the factors that contribute to instability during drying is essential. The choice of drying technique for LNPs depends on factors such as the mode of delivery, lipid components, and desired final product characteristics. Additionally, the drying mechanism and associated stresses must also be carefully considered. Drying methods involve a range of process parameters related to formulation, process settings, and the manufacturing environment. It is essential to understand how these parameters influence the final solid-state products' attributes, including appearance, moisture content, flow properties, and reconstitution time, as these can significantly affect the physical and chemical stability of the formulation. This review focuses on various drying techniques and their impact on the stability of RNA/LNP-based systems.

Numerical study of vortex–bubble interaction mechanism in bubble breaker using the volume of fluid and large eddy simulation method

Effectively removing or reducing the number of bubbles doped in a material is of great significance to stabilize product characteristics and improve production safety. In this paper, the volume of fluid method and large eddy simulation method are used to numerically simulate the bubble dynamics in unsteady turbulence near a four-blade propeller in a bubble breaker at different speeds. The results show that the final rupture position of the bubble occurs in the main vortex region. The interaction mechanism between the vortex and the bubble involves not only the impact of the small vortex on the bubble but also the influence of the tail vortex pair, which exerts two strong torsional stresses in opposing directions. This interaction ultimately results in the breakup of the bubble. In addition, three different fracture modes were observed: Ring Broken Mode (RBM), Dented pull out Broken Mode (DBM), and Tear Broken Mode (TBM). The bubble breaking process is quantitatively described in terms of vorticity change rate and critical Weber number (We). It is found that DBM does not occur at high rotational speed, and TBM occurs faster and more violently with increase in vorticity change rate. After multiple cycles, the vorticity change in RBM is similar to that at medium speed, and when the change rate reaches its maximum, the size of the fragmentation bubble becomes smaller.

Managerial Recommendations for Enhancing Green Consumption Behavior and Sustainable Consumption

The green consumerism movement is gaining steam in emerging nations with middle-income or higher populations, such as Vietnam, and is particularly well-liked in affluent countries. In addition, the importance of green consumerism is gaining significant traction, alongside efforts to promote ecologically friendly production and consumption. As the economy progressed, people's living standards improved, leading to a growing need for high-quality, safe products and services. This is particularly true for items that directly serve people and contribute to their everyday lives. Therefore, the article aims to evaluate the factors affecting green consumer behavior and sustainable consumption based on the structural equation model with the least squares method to test their hypotheses. The data were applied in the study through a survey of 360 consumers in 04 big cities in Vietnam. Research results showed that seven factors impact green consumption behavior, including (1) environmental awareness, (2) green product characteristics, (3) green marketing, (4) perceptions about green product prices, (5) social influence, (6) environmental policy, and (7) green consumption policy with significance 0.01. The finding explores green consumption behavior influencing sustainable consumption with a significance of 0.01. The practical implication helps managers, policymakers, and manufacturers consider applications to improve humanity and behavior green consumption in the global context of moving towards sustainable green development. The theory implication is to change behavior to improve greening production, reduce pollution and greenhouse emissions, and move towards sustainable development, bringing many practical economic and social benefits and intangible value for businesses. Simultaneously, the novelty of the study aids enterprises in staying abreast of this trend, enabling them to seize possibilities for fast growth, extend their market presence, and capitalize on governmental backing for businesses. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-06-07 Full Text: PDF

Development of classification and criteria of quality and safety of autologous platelet concentrates for regenerative injection therapy in traumatology and orthopedics

Regenerative injection therapy (synonyms – orthobiology, prolotherapy) is considered the newest direction of orthopedics, which studies the use of cell technologies and new materials to ensure reparative or physiological regeneration in various diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. The substantiation of the therapeutic effectiveness of autologous platelet concentrates, depending on the manufacturing features and characteristics of these biotechnological products, remains an urgent problem. The purpose of the study was to develop the classification and quality and safety criteria of autologous platelet concentrates for regenerative injection therapy in traumatology and orthopedics. Material and methods. A comparative study of 778 autologous platelet concentrates of various types, made from the blood of patients with osteoarthritis and aseptic necrosis of the hip and knee joints due to damage to ligaments and tendons, osteochondrosis of the spine, was conducted. In biotechnological products, the content of platelets and leukocytes was determined, the ratio of platelets and leukocytes among themselves and relative to their content in peripheral blood was calculated, respectively. During the production of autologous platelet concentrates, the visual characteristics of cell sediment and plasma were evaluated. Products of platelet cryolysates were subject to microbiological testing. Results. The classification of autologous platelet concentrates according to the concentration of platelets and leukocytes was developed, as well as the quality and comprehensive safety criteria of cellular forms of autologous platelet concentrates were determined: platelet index of autologous platelet concentrate, leukocyte index of autologous platelet concentrate, leukocyte-platelet index of autologous platelet concentrate. Visual characteristics of platelet concentrates were established: “ideal”, “classic”, “erythrocyte”, “low cell” and “alimentary” phenotype. Based on the results of a microbiological study, the safety of platelet concentrates for intra-articular administration to orthopedic and trauma patients was established. Conclusions. The developed classification of biotechnological products from human peripheral blood, as well as their quantitative and qualitative criteria, is the basis for the development of differentiated and personalized approaches to their use in diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system.

QbD - A novel approach for design, optimization and evaluation of sitagliptin mucoadhesive microspheres

Quality by Design (QbD) represents a highly systematic approach implementing the Design of Experiment (DoE) for finding the optimal product and process characteristics. Sitagliptin (SIT), a potent and selective dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) IV inhibitor. Typically, it improves the glycaemic control by increasing the active level of incretin peptides particularly glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide. A response surface CCD studied by using Design Expert Stat-Ease software. The study includes two factors (independent variable) viz., Sodium alginate (SA) (X1), Carbopol (CA) (X2 ), 2 levels (-1, +1), three response (dependent variables) viz., Particle size (Y1), % EE (Y2), t50 (Y3), 13 runs with 5 center point. The design trials of SIT loaded mucoadhesive microspheres (SIT-MS) were fabricated by ionotropic gelation method. The SIT-MS were characterized for design response and further CCD was applied for studying the influence of factors on response. The optimized formulas generated as per CCD was formulated, characterized and validated with predicted values. FTIR studies showed no interaction between drug and polymers. ANOVA suggest that few model terms are significant (p < 0.05) suggest significant first order linear and quadratic model. The R2 values suggest significant correlation between the factors and response. The quadratic polynomial equations suggest linear and quadratic terms influence on stated response and justified by 2D contour, 3D surface plot. The experimental values of optimized formulations ratified with predicted values. The QbD through CCD results concludes that DoE can be carried out successfully for formulation, characterization and optimization of SIT-MS.

Appeal and Sensory Characteristics of Oral Nicotine Products in Young Adults Who Vape E-Cigarettes.

This study applied a novel tobacco regulatory science paradigm to characterize inter-product variation in the appeal and sensory features of emerging commercial and therapeutic oral nicotine products (ONPs) among young adults that vape e-cigarettes. Twenty-three young adults without ONP experience who use e-cigarettes completed a single-blind, single-visit remote lab study. Participants rated appeal and sensory characteristics during 5-minute standardized self-administrations of 8 ONPs (4 fruit, 4 mint) from various brands (Lucy, Rouge, Solace, Nicorette, On!, Velo). Participants were randomized between-subjects to ONP type (pouches or gum). Gum ONPs were rated sweeter (B = 19.5, 95% CI = 4.3, 34.7), stronger in flavor (B = 25.6, 95% CI = 12.2, 39.0), and lower in tingling sensation (B = -14.0, 95% CI = -27.8, -0.2) than pouches. Fruit-flavored ONPs were sweeter (B = 12.9, 95% CI = 6.1, 19.7) and caused less burning (B = -12.0, 95% CI = -19.5, -4.5) than mint. Product type x flavor interactions found that gum vs. pouch enhanced sweetness and flavor strength more for fruit than mint, while pouch vs. gum increased burning and harshness more for mint. Nicorette White Ice was most appealing, while Rogue Fruit and Nicorette Mint were less so. Appeal correlated with most types of sensory experiences (rs = -.33-.54), except for tingling and burning. Nicotine gums may offer a more pleasant sensory experience than pouches for young adults who use e-cigarettes, with variation across brand/flavor variants. Results indicate that gum ONPs and fruit flavors may offer greater appeal and a more pleasant sensory experience than pouch ONPs and mint flavors for young adults who use e-cigarettes and are ONP-naïve, with heterogeneity in user experience across some brand/flavor variants. This study also introduces a method for assessing the appeal and sensory features of ONPs, which can inform regulatory efforts and strategies to reduce nicotine dependence among young adults who use e-cigarettes.

Viability and functional impact of probiotic and starter cultures in salami-type fermented meat products.

Salami, a well-known fermented meat product, is made from selected ground meat mixed with curing agents and spices. This work aimed to determine the viability of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (as a starter), Lactobacillus acidophilus (probiotic microorganism), and their mixture during the fermentation and ripening of a salami-type product, evaluate the microbiological and physicochemical changes and assess the sensory acceptability of the final product. L. acidophilus has not been sufficiently explored as a probiotic in fermented meats, especially in terms of its effects on fermentation and sensory qualities. Salami-type products were formulated and fermented for 48h at 32°C, and then ripening took place at 8°C for 13days. pH, titratable acidity, Lactobacillus counts, and contaminating microbiota were analyzed during the process. Sensory evaluation was analyzed in the final products. The salami-type formulation served as an effective medium for growing microorganisms, with the populations of starter and probiotic cultures exceeding 108CFU/g after fermentation and ripening for 15days. The pH of the end products was ∼5.1, titratable acidity ∼2.5%, and aw ∼0.83. During fermentation and ripening, a significant reduction in total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (>7 logs), coliforms, and Staphylococcus aureus (>8-fold reductions) were observed. The sensory evaluation results indicate that the product's attributes are not influenced by the type of bacteria used, as no significant difference was found (p > 0.05). The results show that L. acidophilus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, or their mixture can be used as a starter culture in fermented meat products. Using L. acidophilus, whether alone or in combination, is a viable option that preserves the characteristics of the fermented product and may enhance the benefits of probiotic consumption.

Individual Pharmacotherapy Management (IPM-II) for Patient and Drug Safety in Polypharmacy via Clinical Electronic Health Record Is Associated with Significant Fall Prevention.

Falls and fractures are emerging as a near-pandemic and major global health concern, placing an enormous burden on ageing patients and public health economies. Despite the high risk of polypharmacy in the elderly patients, falls are usually attributed to age-related changes. For the "Individual Pharmacotherapy Management (IPM)" established at the University Hospital Halle, the IPM medication adjustments and their association with in-hospital fall prevention were analysed. On the basis of the most updated digital overall patient view via his inpatient electronic health record (EHR), IPM adapts each drug's Summary of Product Characteristics to the patient's condition. A retrospective pre-post intervention study in geriatric traumatology on ≥70 years old patients compared 200 patients before IPM implementation (CG) with 204 patients from the IPM intervention period (IG) for the entire medication list, organ, cardiovascular and vital functions and fall risk parameters. Statistically similar baseline data allowed a comparison of the average 80-year-old patient with a mean of 11.1 ± 4.9 (CG) versus 10.4 ± 3.6 (IG) medications. The IPM adjusted for drug-drug interactions, drug-disease interactions, overdoses, anticholinergic burden, adverse drug reactions, esp. from opioids inducing increased intrasynaptic serotonin, psychotropic drugs, benzodiazepines, contraindications and missing prescriptions. IPM was associated with a significant reduction in in-hospital falls from 18 (9%) in CG to 3 (1.5%) in IG, a number needed to treat of 14, relative risk reduction 83%, OR 0.17 [95% CI 0.04; 0.76], p = 0.021 in multivariable regression analysis. Factors associated with falls were antipsychotics, digitoxin, corticosteroids, Würzburg pain drip (combination of tramadol, metamizole, metoclopramide), head injury, cognitive impairment and aspects of the Huhn Fall Risk Scale including urinary catheter. The results indicate medication risks constitute a major iatrogenic cause of falls in this population and support the use of EHR-based IPM in standard care for the prevention of falls in the elderly and for patient and drug safety. In terms of global efforts, IPM contributes to the running WHO and United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030).

Sensory and hedonic perception of meat versus ultra-processed plant-based meat analogs: A comparative study.

Nowadays, consumption habits are changing for different reasons, and animal products are being replaced by plant-based analogs. Some of these analogs are classified as ultra-processed foods (UPFs) according to NOVA criteria (food classification system). Within this scenario, little is known about consumers' sensory response regarding these new products. One main challenge of plant-based UPFs is imitating both the sensory characteristics and the hedonic experience of meat consumption. Although numerous studies explore the sensory profile of ultra-processed vegan products, we found no comparisons between the sensory profiles of plant-based analogs and their corresponding meat products. The present study aimed to compare the dynamic sensory profiles, specifically focusing on flavor and texture attributes, of animal-based food (beef and chicken meat) and their corresponding commercial ultra-processed plant-based meat analogs (seitan and Mediterranean chick'n pieces) and to establish the adequacy of the intensity of certain sensory characteristics (attributes) and their impact on the acceptability of meat analogs. This was conducted using the time-intensity technique with fourteen trained panelists and just about right scales with 59 consumers, evaluating the acceptability of the products with a 7-point hedonic scale. The dynamic perception results for the analogs significantly differed from those of beef and chicken, specifically showing higher intensity in "nonmeat" attributes such as gumminess, mushroom flavor, vegetable flavor, and spiciness. The attributes that characterize the chicken analog are more suitable than the attributes that characterize seitan. The acceptability of seitan was not significantly influenced by the attribute suitability results. However, poor juiciness showed a significant penalty on its acceptance for the chicken analog. These identified differences highlight the need to evaluate and adjust the sensory characteristics of plant-based products that attempt to imitate traditional meat products. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The time-intensity technique was effective in identifying differences in the consumption experience between meat and the respective plant-based analogs. Inadequate taste and texture characteristics can decrease the acceptability of the analogs. The identification of these characteristics is crucial for the food industry to understand consumer preferences regarding meat substitutes.

H2 Production Efficiency in PEM Water Electrolysis Cells – Evaluating the Effect of the Electrode-Electrolyte Interface on O2 and H2 Crossover

PEM water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) are a promising candidate to store fluctuating renewable energy due to their wide current density operating regime. This flexibility is a significant advantage compared to alkaline water electrolysis. However, this flexibility in current density is also a challenge to fully understand local and interfacial effects at different operating conditions minding the different scales that have to be considered in PEMWEs – from the nanometer-sized ionomer thin film to millimeter-sized channel structures for water supply and gas removal.Gas crossover is a big challenge in PEMWEs. It does not just limit the operating regime due to possible formation of explosive gas mixtures on the anode side. 1 It also contributes significantly to the overall efficiency of the system by causing some hydrogen that was produced by the electrical energy input to not reach the cathode exhaust. Crossover hydrogen is lost to the anode exhaust and crossover oxygen chemically recombines with hydrogen, which is therewith also lost when considering the overall hydrogen production efficiency. 2 Compared to PEM fuel cells, gas crossover characteristics in PEMWEs under operation are diverging more from steady-state permeation data. 1, 3 This can be caused by operation dependent two-phase flow characteristics of liquid water and gaseous product. While the anode is actively flushed with liquid water as reactant supply, the cathode of a PEMWE also experiences two-phase operation; either due to being flushed with water additionally or caused by the significant electro-osmotic drag at high current densities leading to water droplet formation in the cathode catalyst layer. The exact environment of the electrode-electrolyte interface will dictate the crossover behavior at different operating points but it is not well understood.In this study we shed some light on the effect of the interfacial two-phase characteristics on the gas crossover behavior at different operating conditions. Hydrogen and oxygen steady-state permeation over PEMWE membranes is studied using a mass spectrometer at different single- and two-phase flow conditions that can be decoupled from the electrochemical gas production and electro-osmotic drag effects due to active hydrogen and oxygen gas supply. By a thorough parameter variation we are able to distinguish solubility, diffusivity and fugacity effects on the overall permeability of the active gases. We show that common pure gas-phase measurements lead to gas permeabilities that show a severalfold difference compared to the results from the two-phase measurements.By comparing such steady-state permeation with gas crossover characteristics at different operating points a better understanding of the electrode-electrolyte interface composition during PEMWE full cell operation can be achieved. While the exact interfacial characteristics depend on the catalyst layer and transport media structure, this experimental data shall serve as a starting point for revisiting the tuning of structural parameters in order to achieve PEMWEs with improved hydrogen production efficiencies. Such dynamic effects will be important in large-scale cells where the two-phase characteristics can change along the cell, additionally. Bernt, M.; Schröter, J.; Möckl, M.; Gasteiger, H. A., Analysis of Gas Permeation Phenomena in a PEM Water Electrolyzer Operated at High Pressure and High Current Density. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2020, 167.Schalenbach, M.; Carmo, M.; Fritz, D. L.; Mergel, J.; Stolten, D., Pressurized PEM water electrolysis: Efficiency and gas crossover. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 2013, 38, 14921-14933.Trinke, P.; Haug, P.; Brauns, J.; Bensmann, B.; Hanke-Rauschenbach, R.; Turek, T., Hydrogen Crossover in PEM and Alkaline Water Electrolysis: Mechanisms, Direct Comparison and Mitigation Strategies. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2018, 165, F502-F513.

UHT processing in the context of plant-based beverages: A scientific review on product characteristics and the functional role of plant proteins

The surging demand for dairy alternatives has elevated plant-based beverages in the food industry, with Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) processing playing a pivotal role in ensuring their safety, extended shelf life, and quality. This review succinctly examines the impact of UHT processing on product characteristics, plant protein functionalities, and forthcoming trends, aiming to provide a comprehensive insight into the dynamic field. Ongoing UHT technology innovations address these challenges, concurrently enhancing environmental sustainability and sensory attributes. The article aims to explore and understand the intricate dynamics of UHT processing, highlighting both opportunities and challenges. Anticipated trends include diversified plant protein sources, enhanced sensory attributes, sustainable packaging, functional ingredient incorporation, and personalized products aligned with consumer preferences. These advancements mark a transformative era for the plant-based beverage industry, promising products that are not only more nutritious and flavorful but also environmentally conscientious.

Evaluating the environmental and financial performance of additive manufacturing at scale in the consumer goods industry

As corporate sustainability commitments and environmental regulations intensify, additive manufacturing users must balance the technology's maturing economic value with its application- and process-dependent environmental impact. With limited methods to navigate this multi-dimensional variability at scale, additive manufacturing stakeholders face challenges when making growth and investment decisions. To bridge this gap, this study applies system modeling methodologies to a case study of an additive manufacturing service unit in the sporting goods industry aiming to improve its product portfolio's economic and environmental impacts and scale its capabilities. A tradespace model compares the value of additive manufacturing to injection molding across product characteristics and life cycle decisions, and a flexible design analysis evaluates additive manufacturing scaling strategies, considering market and technology uncertainties. The tradespace analysis reveals that additive manufacturing reduces product environmental footprint by 95 % and unit cost by 93 % for 1-to-20-part production volumes compared to injection molding, while injection molding lowers environmental footprint by 72 % and unit cost by 56 % for 100-to-50,000-part production volumes compared to additive manufacturing. This analysis also suggests that additive manufacturing's economic and environmental value increases when located in geographies with low-carbon footprint energy and when manufacturing very low production quantities or small parts that maximize build capacity. The flexible design analysis indicates that expanding internal production capacity to a larger facility with renewable power, once higher demand is confirmed, can reduce part environmental footprint by up to 49 % and increase Net Present Value by more than 600 % compared to maintaining current operations that leverage external service bureaus. The results demonstrate the potential of these system modeling methodologies in integrating financial and environmental impact assessments at the company level for strategic scaling decisions. Future model developments are recommended to incorporate additive manufacturing's unique design impacts on the product life cycle, more nuance in the impact analyses, and the social component of the technology's sustainability.

FACTORS INFLUENCING CHINESE TOURISTS’ PURCHASE DECISION ON THAI AMULETS IN THAILAND

With the continuous development of tourism and the pursuit of spiritual blessings, Thai amulets have become a unique cultural product that attracts Chinese tourists. However, to date, there has been a lack of in-depth research on the decision-making factors of PRC tourists purchasing amulets in Thailand and the association between these factors. This study aimed to 1) conduct a comprehensive investigation to explore how Chinese tourists' characteristics affect their choices to buy Thai amulets in Thailand, and 2) explore how product characteristics of Thai amulets influence Chinese tourists' decisions to purchase Thai amulets in Thailand. Data was collected through a questionnaire administered to a sample of 400 Chinese tourists who visited Thailand and purchased Thai amulets. The statistics used to analyze the data were descriptive statistics, including frequencies, means, and standard deviations, and inferential statistics, including the independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, LSD, and multiple linear regression. The results found that differences in terms of gender, monthly income level, and religious affiliation affect purchase decisions differently. Product characteristics, including price, reputation, and advertising, have influenced the purchasing decisions of Chinese tourists in Thailand. This study provides strong support for understanding and promoting the purchasing decision-making process of Chinese tourists towards Thai amulets. The marketing strategies and recommendations to develop a more attractive program for Chinese tourists in Thailand are provided in detail.

Therapeutic drug monitoring of elexacaftor, tezacaftor, and ivacaftor before, during, and after pregnancy in women with cystic fibrosis: An observational study

BackgroundElexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) has improved health and increased life expectancy in many patients with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Family planning issues have become more important since then. Many women decide to remain on modulator therapy during pregnancy despite insufficient evidence-based recommendations for continuing ETI during pregnancy and lactation. MethodsIn this retrospective observational report, we present data on maternal serum concentrations of ETI, assessed via a therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) program established at our CF center for adults. Blood was taken during routine visits. We retrospectively analyzed the corresponding predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (ppFEV1), at five time points before, during, and after pregnancy. ResultsOf seven ETI-exposed pregnancies in six women between February 2021 and September 2023, the intake of ETI resulted in no maternal complications and healthy offspring. The dose was reduced in all women, 71.4 % before and 28.6 % during pregnancy, primarily as a result of side effects and/or increased ETI concentrations. Despite dose reductions, serum concentrations showed a broad distribution, with values below, within, and above the Cmax range according to the pharmacokinetic data in the manufacturer's product characteristics. Pulmonary function largely remained stable without pulmonary exacerbations requiring intravenous antibiotic treatment. ConclusionThis observational report shows the most extensive dataset for ETI concentrations during pregnancy. Individualized dose adjustments could help to resolve adverse side effects while continuing CFTR therapy. Specific populations, such as pregnant women, might benefit from a TDM. However, future research with more pharmacokinetic data from pregnant pwCF is needed.

In-Use Physicochemical Stability of Sandoz Rituximab Biosimilar in 0.9% Sodium Chloride Solution After Prolonged Storage at Room Temperature Conditions.

Often, stability studies do not cover all facets of ensuring patient safety for biologics, unless the impact of the in-use and out-of-fridge conditions is also assessed. This study investigated the physicochemical and biological stability of Sandoz rituximab biosimilar (SDZ-RTX). In a worst-case setting, two SDZ-RTX batches in vials were exposed to long-term conditions (5 ± 3°C) for at least the shelf-life period (36 months). These batches were exposed to out-of-fridge conditions of up to 25 ± 2°C/60 ± 5% relative humidity in total for 14days, and subsequently to 30±2°C/75 ± 5% relative humidity for 7 days. Thereafter, these batches were diluted to 1mg/mL in 0.9% NaCl in 250-mL polyethylene infusion bags and stored at either 25 ± 2°C/60 ± 5% relative humidity for 30 days or 30 ± 2°C/75±5% relative humidity for 14 days, representing in-use conditions. The stability of SDZ-RTX was assessed using a variety of analytical methods, including size-exclusion chromatography, cation exchange chromatography, non-reducing capillary electrophoresis sodium dodecyl sulfate, complement-dependent cytotoxicity-bioactivity, and subvisible particle count by light obscuration. Results for all assessments were within the stringent shelf-life acceptance criteria for SDZ-RTX for both batches under both in-use conditions. These data show that the physicochemical and biological quality of SDZ-RTX diluted in 0.9% NaCl infusion bags is assured, even after prolonged worst-case (out-of-fridge and in-use) storage at elevated temperatures up to 30°C, if the medication is prepared under aseptic conditions according to the Summary of Product Characteristics.

Optimization of the cooperative electronic commerce model for sustainable development in the context of ecological environment conservation

AbstractThis study aims to explore how to optimize the cooperative electronic commerce model in a sustainable ecological environment to meet the needs of consumers while maximizing social and economic benefits. The empirical research method is adopted, which mainly includes a literature review, case analysis, and questionnaire. Firstly, through a literature review, this study introduces and analyses the concept of sustainable ecological environment and the development and optimization direction of cooperative electronic commerce model in detail, providing a theoretical basis and thought guidance for subsequent research. Secondly, this study selects several representative cooperative electronic commerce platforms for case analysis. It explores their operation mode, product characteristics, service quality, and social benefits to summarize the experience and lessons of optimizing cooperative electronic commerce model. Finally, a questionnaire is designed to sample the consumers of cooperative electronic commerce. By analysing the results of questionnaire, the following conclusions are drawn. (1) 54.3% of respondents said they had used the cooperative electronic commerce model, with agricultural products purchasing (23.5%) and community service (18.9%) using it more frequently. (2) The cognition level of sustainable development was high overall, with 62.6% believing that it was essential for the future. (3) A multiple linear regression model explored the relationship between using the cooperative electronic commerce model and sustainable development cognition. The results reveal that adopting cooperative electronic commerce model has a significant positive impact on the cognition of sustainable development, which indicates that the promotion and use of this model can promote cognition and practice of sustainable development.

Erratum to: Predicting the Thermodynamic Characteristics of New Products of N,N-Dimethylhydrazine Transformation in the Gas Phase

Erratum to: Predicting the Thermodynamic Characteristics of New Products of N,N-Dimethylhydrazine Transformation in the Gas Phase