Complete Disintegration Research Articles

Valorization of chicken feathers for polyhydroxyalkanoates production using Rohodococcus quinshengii LS18 and the biodegradation studies with the extracted polymer and its blends.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are promising polymer in the battle against plastic pollution. Here, Rhodococcus qingshengii LS18 bacterial strain recovered from abattoir soil was identified as significant PHA producer (2.16g/L PHA). Amongst five animal wastes tested, chicken feathers (2.2g/L) were found to be best for PHA production from R. qingshengii LS18. Finest conditions for PHA production after statistical optimization were found at 120h with 40g/L chicken feathers and 1g/L urea at 80rpm which showed 2.6 times increment in PHA production as compared to One-factor-at-a-time optimization (OFAT). The extracted PHA was analysed using NMR, FTIR, XRD and GCMS. The melting temperature (Tm) of microbial PHA was recorded at 176.63°C as per DSC analysis and this polymer suffered complete disintegration at ~ 300°C as per the TGA profile which is better than the standard PHA (~ 283.14 ± 10°C). Blending of microbial PHA was done to overcome the brittleness with sole extracted PHA and for better degradation capability. Best PHA blend obtained with gelatin and Egg shell powder (ESP) in ratio 2:1:1 where 94% Elongation at break, 62% Elongation at max load and 9.81MPa Tensile strength was found. Here, biodegradation rate of PHA blend in unaltered garden soil (at 30-40 °C, humidity ~ 30%, pH 7.4) was recorded to be 94% on 60th day of soil burial experiment. The study concludes that R. qingshengii LS18 is a promising PHA producer having the ability to utilize chicken feathers in optimised conditions and can be used for packaging applications in the form of PHA blends.

Abrasion Behaviour of Natural and Composite Polytetrafluoroethylene Seal Materials Against Stainless Steel in Lunar Regolith Conditions

In this paper, the abrasive effects of lunar simulant regoliths (LHS-1, LMS-1) have been investigated. Sealing performance of different sealant pin materials on stainless steel has been tested by the pin-on-disc method. Pin materials included block types such as pure polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), composite PTFE, as well as braided PTFE and hybrid-composite braided PTFE. Tribological properties were evaluated based on measured friction, wear, surface roughness and scanning electron micrographs. Most significant differences were observed in the sealing effect of the pins between the braided and the block-type pin materials. The stainless steel/pin pairs showed significantly higher (0.4–0.5) friction coefficients for the braided pins than the block ones (0.2–0.3), while there was not a significant difference in the abrasive effect of the different lunar regoliths. Although significant wear of the steel part occurred only with the block-type pins, this disadvantage was apparent in comparison with the braided pins. The abrasive particles caused deformation and eventually complete disintegration of the braided pins. Both the coefficient of friction and the wear could be estimated by a multiple linear regression model, in which different regolith size was the dominant independent parameter for the various pins.

Release of Biopolymers from Saccharomyces cerevisiae Biomass Through Thermal and Non-Thermal Technologies.

Components of yeast cell walls, such as β-glucans and mannoproteins, show promise for developing sustainable biopolymers for food packaging. Efficient extraction, however, is challenging due to the complexity of the yeast cell wall. This study explored high-pressure homogenisation (HPH) and pulsed electric fields (PEFs), alone and with heat treatment (TT), on bakery yeast (BY) and brewery spent yeast (BSY) biomasses. In the treated samples we assessed carbohydrates, proteins, β-glucans, and mannoproteins and evaluated cell wall disruption microscopically. HPH caused complete cell disintegration, enhancing intracellular release, while PEF primarily permeabilised the membranes. Combined HPH and PEF treatments significantly increased cell wall stress, leading to partial disintegration. Notably, the β-glucans released reached 3.90 g/100 g dry matter in BY and 10.44 g/100 g dry matter in BSY, demonstrating significant extraction improvements. These findings highlight the potential of HPH and PEF for enhancing β-glucan recovery from yeast biomass, offering a promising route for sustainable biopolymer production for food packaging.

Enhancing degradation of PLA-made rigid biodegradable plastics with non-thermal plasma treatment

This study evaluated the efficacy of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Non-Thermal Plasma (DDBD-NTP) as a pretreatment method to enhance the degradation of rigid biodegradable plastics (RBP) during composting, specifically focusing on polylactic acid (PLA) products such as drinking cups (CS) and spoon handles (SH). Using a Single-Factor-At-A-Time (SFAT) design, the impact of NTP parameters, including input voltage and treatment duration, on the physicochemical properties was evaluated, and the subsequent degradation rate of RBP was assessed by measuring the degree of disintegration in a home-scale composter. The filamentary discharge mode of the DDBD plasma system selectively altered the surface characteristics of RBP without significantly affecting their bulk properties. High-voltage treatments significantly increased surface roughness and accelerated degradation rates, while low-voltage and short-duration treatments enhanced oxidation, as indicated by the increased O/C ratio (85.5% for SH and 66.1% for CS), showing a non-linear response to plasma intensity. Furthermore, NTP treatment reduced water contact angles (up to a 39.79% reduction for SH and 82.65% for CS), indicating enhanced hydrophilicity. All NTP-treated samples demonstrated significantly higher degradation rates compared to both untreated and thermally treated counterparts. Notably, ‘high-voltage for short-duration’ treatments, such as CS-3 and SH-3, exhibited the highest degradation rates among the samples. CS-3 achieved complete disintegration (100%) within 20 days, markedly exceeding the 2% observed in untreated CS samples. Similarly, SH-3 reached 36% disintegration after 35 days, considerably surpassing the 9% seen in untreated SH samples. The findings indicate that NTP treatment is a viable and sustainable method to enhance the biodegradation of plastic waste.

Exploration of Antibiofilm Activities of Pediococci Strains Against Diarrheal Multi-Drug Resistant E.coli Strains

ABSTRACT The present study reports the potential of cell-free supernatant (CFS) from different probiotics for its antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against Multi-Drug Resistant Diarrheal E. coli (MDR-DEC) strains. The CFS from Pediococcus acidilactici 100 exhibited maximum antimicrobial activity with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of 23.33 mg/mL and 33.33 mg/mL, respectively. The CFS was able to inhibit the process of biofilm formation as well as eradication of preformed biofilms by 72–73%. A complete disintegration of aggregation of cells was observed in treated biofilms through advanced microscopic techniques. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed a decrease in roughness (30%) and height of treated biofilms (2–17%). Organic acids, fatty acids, phenolic compounds and other derivatives were determined in CFS fractions using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. The findings demonstrated the potential of CFS components from Pediococci strains against biofilms of MDR-DEC strains.

Foam‐to‐Foam Recycling Potential of PU‐Foams by Integration of Amino Esters

AbstractThe increasing market demand for flexible polyurethane foams (PUFs) is prompting the academic and industrial community to seek solutions for their end‐of‐life management. In this study, this issue is addressed by incorporating β‐amino ester (BAE) moieties into the foam structure. This addition results in flexible hybrid PU‐BAE foams that can be thermally reprocessed and chemically recycled, with cell sizes ranging from 780 to 990 µm and densities between 90 and 150 kg m−3. These foams demonstrate thermomechanical reprocessability, yielding stable PU‐BAE elastomers, with glass transition temperature values ranging from 14 to 25 °C. Stress relaxation experiments reveal remarkably fast relaxation times for these hybrid elastomers (23 s at 160 °C). Furthermore, a systematic investigation of the chemical recyclability of these foams via glycosylation is conducted under mild conditions, achieving complete disintegration within 20 min at 65 °C. Finally, the chemically recycled product is converted into a foam again, achieving a closed loop foam‐to‐foam recycling process. These findings indicate that the integration of BAE into PUFs leads to an enhanced chemical recycling rate, providing a promising avenue for addressing end‐of‐life concerns in PUF‐applications.

Photobiological response of mast cells to green and red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in cutaneous burns.

This study assessed the effects of red and green LEDs on mast cells (MCs) in third-degree burns in 75 Wistar rats, divided into control, red LED (RED), and green LED (GREEN) groups. Animals were irradiated daily with RED (630 nm, 300 mW, 0.779 W/cm2, 9 J/cm2, 30 s) and GREEN (520 nm, 180 mW, 0.467 W/cm2, 60 J/cm2, 30 s). Histological sections stained with toluidine blue were analyzed for total and subtype MCs. Standardized MC counting was performed across the viable lesion area, considering lesion margins, through intact connective tissue and the integrity of skin appendages. No statistically significant differences in MCs 2 (with released granules and intact cell border) were found between groups. Irradiated groups showed increased total MCs at 7, 14, and 21 days (p < 0.05), with a decrease in MCs 1 (intact MCs) at all time points compared to control (p < 0.05). Significant changes in MCs 3 (with massive degranulation and partial or complete disintegration of the cell border) degranulation were noted in RED at 7, 14, and 21 days (p < 0.009) and in GREEN at 14 (p < 0.009) and 32 days (p < 0.028). Results suggest red and green LEDs modulate MC recruitment and degranulation in third-degree burns.

Application of Microbial-Induced Carbonate Precipitation for Disintegration Control of Granite Residual Soil

Granite residual soil is widely distributed in Southeastern China. Such soils exhibit mechanical characteristics such as loose, rich cracks and easy disintegration, resulting in severe soil erosion disasters under rainfall conditions. Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a green alternative for soil stabilization. In this study, a new strategy for the disintegration control of granite residual soil using MICP technology is proposed. The effects of the bacterial solution concentration, the cementation solution concentration, and the treatment cycle are investigated through a disintegration test. The optimal treatment parameters for granite residual soil using MICP technology are determined by analyzing the disintegration processes and residual quality indicators of disintegration. The results show that the treated samples have three types of disintegration: complete disintegration, incomplete disintegration, and non-disintegration. The precipitated calcium carbonate (CaCO3) bonds the soil particles and fills the pores. Taking into account the effectiveness and cost and a bacterial solution concentration OD600 = 0.75, five cycles of MICP treatment with a cementation solution concentration of 1.2 mol/L is optimal for the disintegration control of granite residual soil. The cementation-action effects of CaCO3 are verified through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests with an energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscope. These findings suggest that MICP is a promising candidate to control the disintegration of granite residual soil.

The Impact of Abiotic and Biotic Conditions for Degradation Behaviors of Common Biodegradable Products in Stabilized Composts.

This work examines the influence of the degradation behaviors of biotic and abiotic conditions on three types of biodegradable products: cups from PLA and from cellulose, and plates from sugarcane. The main objective of this study was to evaluate if biodegradable products can be degraded in composts that were stabilized by backyard composting. Furthermore, the impact of crucial abiotic parameters (temperature and pH) for the degradation behaviors process was investigated. The changes in the biopolymers were analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. This work confirmed that abiotic and biotic conditions are important for an effective disintegration of the investigated biodegradable products. Under abiotic conditions, the degradation behaviors of PLA were observable under both tested temperature (38 and 59 °C) conditions, but only at the higher temperature was complete disintegration observed after 6 weeks of incubation in mature compost. Moreover, our research shows that some biodegradable products made from cellulose also need additional attention, especially with respect to incorporated additives, as composting could be altered and optimal conditions in composting may not be achieved. This study shows that the disintegration of biodegradable products is a comprehensive process and requires detailed evaluation during composting. The results also showed that biodegradable products can also be degraded post composting and that microplastic pollution from biodegradable polymers in soil may be removed by simple physical treatments.

Гражданская религия как коммуникативная среда: концептуальный анализ

The article presents a conceptual analysis of civil religion as a special form of combining the sacred and the political. Having stated the need for social researchers to address the religious side of society in general and its political implications in particular, the author tries not only to reconstruct the genealogy of the term “civil religion”, but also to trace the differences between civil and political religion. Based on the analysis of the origins of the concept of civil religion, the author shows that its components — “civil” and “religious” — were introduced from two sources that are completely different in their spirit: the social philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the sociological project of Emile Durkheim. Robert Bellah managed to combine the heuristics of both sources and offer a specific language for describing externally secular, but internally religious societies. Having thoroughly analyzed the three features of civil religion identified by Bellah, the author focuses on its functioning as a communication environment — a specific set of values that taboo or stimulate the articulation of certain political issues. The communication environment not only ensures the satisfaction of the needs of the state, within which a civil-religious cult is established, but also maintains a consensus on basic values, the undermining of which is fraught with the complete disintegration of society. According to the author’s conclusion, in order to talk about the presence of a civil religion in a polity, this polity must meet several criteria, including unambiguous consensus about sacred values, political decision-making justified via theology and values, as well as the “topological” nature of the development of a political cult. This is the main reason why this form of political life is relatively rare.

Structure and mechanical properties of a refractory Al7.5(NbTiZr)92.5 medium-entropy alloy subjected to long-term annealing and oxidation

Recently, Al-containing refractory high/medium-entropy alloys (RH/MEAs) have attracted special attention from materials scientists worldwide. Some of these alloys demonstrated an excellent combination of high-temperature strength and room-temperature tensile ductility provided by the formation of a structure consisting of body-centred cubic (bcc) matrix and B2 nanodomains/particles. However, oxidation resistance and phase stability, and, more importantly, the resulting mechanical properties of the Al-containing RH/MEAs, which are critical characteristics for high-temperature structural materials, remain unexplored. Herein, these aspects were extensively investigated for the Al7.5(NbTiZr)92.5 (in at%) alloy having an initial bcc + B2 structure. The alloy was subjected to long-term (500 h) annealing or oxidation tests at 600, 700, and 800 °C followed by the evaluation of mechanical properties during uniaxial tension at 22 and 600 °C. Microstructural studies of the specimens exposed to long-term annealing showed the formation of Zr5Al3 particles that precipitated along the grain boundaries and within grain interiors. The volume fraction of these particles was the highest (∼16 %) after annealing at 600 °C and the lowest (∼0.5 %) after annealing at 800 °C. Oxidation tests revealed that the alloy was prone to pesting phenomena, which intensified with the temperature. The alloy could sustain pesting only up to 10 h at 600 °C, while it experienced a complete disintegration into powder after 5 h at 800 °C. The poor oxidation resistance originated from the formation of volumetric, non-protective (Al,Nb,Ti,Zr)O4 oxide. While insignificantly affecting the strength, long-term annealing or oxidation deteriorated the ductility of the Al7.5(NbTiZr)92.5 alloy both at 22 and 600 °C. The Zr5Al3 phase embrittled the alloy after long-term annealing at 600 or 700 °C, but marginally reduced the ductility in the 800°C-annealed specimens due to the low volume fraction and relatively homogeneous distribution of this phase. The oxidation for 1 h decreased the room-temperature ductility owing to the premature macroscopic localisation of plastic deformation induced by synergistic effects from the volumetric (Al,Nb,Ti,Zr)O4 oxide. This study highlights the necessity for the examination of a set of properties of promising RH/MEAs to critically assess perspectives of these alloys to find applications as new high-temperature materials in aircraft and aerospace sectors.

Towards personalized patient 3D Monte Carlo dosimetry for Lu-177-psma prostate treatments

Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-labeled Lu-177 therapy is a novel nuclear medicine therapy for metastatic prostate cancer, increasingly adopted worldwide due to the benefits observed in different patient studies. Administered in several cycles, each with a single injection and with a standard activity, the therapy requires customized dosimetry to evaluate efficacy and toxicity. The uptake of Lu-177-PSMA-617 in different organs strongly depends on the patient's anatomy, metastasis distribution, and the activity injected, underscoring the need for personalized dosimetry. This study aims to conduct dosimetry research on patients after several cycles of Lu-177-PSMA administration by Monte Carlo simulation using MCNP6.2. In order to make this study as realistic as possible, a high-resolution anthropomorphic computational phantom is used, the “Mesh-type Reference Computational Phantom” (MRCP) described in ICRP publication 145. This methodology is applied to different distributions of metastatic tissue, based on SPECT images where activity distribution within the patient's body is localized. Since Lu-177-PSMA-617 is deposited in those regions where prostate cancer metastasis has occurred, in Monte Carlo simulations these organs are considered as a source of irradiation with different emission activities probabilities depending on the patient. Once the organ activity distribution is determined, the simulation is performed in MCNP6.2 and the 3D dose distribution in the phantom is evaluated. Based on Monte Carlo results, doses at organs at risk are evaluated, estimating the total absorbed doses until the complete disintegration of Lu-177.Simulation results enable personalized adjustment of injected Lu-177 according to the needs of the clinical case. This approach has proven to be a valuable tool for assessing individual patient doses, treatment effectiveness, and healthy organ irradiation levels.

Molecular dynamics study on roles of surface mixed hydrate in the CH4/CO2 replacement mechanisms

The CH4/CO2 replacement method is a promising approach for the exploitation of natural gas hydrates, offering dual benefits of extracting CH4 and sequestering CO2. This technique not only facilitates the extraction process but also mitigates the greenhouse effect and maintains geological stability, thereby contributing to sustainable energy utilization and environmental preservation. Currently, there are multiple viewpoints about the replacement mechanism. Furthermore, mixed hydrates can form on the surface during the replacement process. The unclear mechanism of CH4/CO2 replacement and the obstruction of mass transfer caused by the mixed hydrate impede its practical applicability. Clarifying the effects of surface mixed hydrate in replacement mechanisms can offer valuable insights for identifying optimal operating conditions in practical exploitation applications. Therefore, the present study aims to reveal the significant roles of surface mixed hydrates in the replacement mechanism by employing the molecular dynamics simulation methodology. The results showed that under the mechanism of cage complete rupture, the surface mixed hydrate decomposes rapidly to form a thickening water zone. Additionally, each layer of the hydrate cage structure undergoes a process from deformation or partial rupture to sudden complete disintegration, which is concomitant with an abrupt change of potential energy. Under the mechanism of cage incomplete rupture, the surface mixed hydrates hinder mass transfer and decelerate the reaction rate. A similar situation arises when the number of the surface mixed hydrate layers is increased. Therefore, the key to distinguishing the replacement mechanism lies in whether the environmental conditions are sufficient to break the potential energy barrier of the surface mixed hydrate and disrupt its cage structure.

The Cosmic Black Hole

Concurrent with advancements in cosmology, various theories have been proposed about the origin of the universe or its ultimate fate. These theories include the Steady State Theory, Oscillating Universe Theory or Cyclic model, Multiverse Theory, String Theory/M-Theory, Quantum Gravity or Loop Quantum Cosmology, The Big Bang Theory, Inflationary Universe Theory, and the No-Boundary Proposal. Among these, the Big Bang theory has been widely accepted by most scientists, with the Inflation theory serving as its complementary addition. On the other hand, theories such as the big rip, flat universe, and big crunch have also addressed the ultimate fate of the cosmos. However, T-Consciousness Cosmology presents a new hypothesis to explain how the universe was born from a black hole named the ‘Cosmic Black Hole,’ or the initial seed of the universe. This hypothesis not only addresses how this particular type of black hole forms, contingent on the reversion of the cosmos according to the Spherical Cosmos model but also details its fundamental differences from known black holes, referred to as “intra-cosmic black holes.” The reversion of the cosmos in the ‘Spherical Cosmos Model,’ is described through a mechanism known as space Rebound, which is distinct from the Big Crunch. The Terminal Edge of the cosmos is defined as the maximum radius at which space mesh is capable of rebound during the universe's volume increase. In the process of the rebound of space to its ultimate extent, objects within the cosmos face complete disintegration and transform into waves called absolute waves. Due to the inherent rotation of the cosmos and its reversion from the Terminal Edge, these waves collide and create gravitational centers in the central regions of the spherical cosmos, forming new types of matter known as light-dark matter, dark-dark matter, and thermal matter. Each of these mentioned materials represents a new type of matter introduced by T-Consciousness Cosmology. Additionally, according to this model, the cosmos contracts into a very tiny point with a final quench, where all types of matter and fundamental forces unite, forming a new type of absolute matter called ‘Taheri Absolute Matter’ (TAM). The spherical cosmos model also divides time into various types: ‘Longitudinal’ and ‘Transverse,’ and unlike the theory of relativity, where time is considered a dimension, it classifies it as one of the types of transverse time introduced as an entropic force. In essence, this type of force (time) acts against the force of gravity and, by disintegrating all types of objects from fundamental to large scale, acts as an agent of stress or tension release from the space mesh.

Extracellular sombrero vesicles are hallmarks of eosinophilic cytolytic degranulation in tissue sites of human diseases.

Eosinophil sombrero vesicles are large tubular carriers resident in the cytoplasm of human eosinophils, identifiable by transmission electron microscopy, and important for immune mediator transport. Increased formation of sombrero vesicles occurs in activated eosinophils in vitro and in vivo. In tissue sites of eosinophilic cytolytic inflammation, extracellular eosinophil sombrero vesicles are noted, but their frequency and significance in eosinophil-associated diseases remain unclear. Here, we performed comprehensive quantitative transmission electron microscopy analyses and electron tomography to investigate the numbers, density, integrity, and 3-dimensional structure of eosinophil sombrero vesicles in different biopsy tissues from 5 prototypic eosinophil-associated diseases (eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis/nasal sinuses, ulcerative colitis/intestines, hypereosinophilic syndrome/skin, dermatitis/skin, and schistosomiasis/rectum). The morphology of extracellular eosinophil sombrero vesicles was also compared with that of cytoplasmic eosinophil sombrero vesicles, isolated by subcellular fractionation from peripheral blood eosinophils. We demonstrated that (i) eosinophil cytolysis, releasing intact sombrero vesicles and membrane-bound granules, is a consistent event in all eosinophil-associated diseases; (ii) eosinophil sombrero vesicles persist intact even after complete disintegration of all cell organelles, except granules (late cytolysis); (iii) the eosinophil sombrero vesicle population, composed of elongated, curved, and typical sombreros, and the eosinophil sombrero vesicle 3-dimensional architecture, diameter, and density remain unchanged in the extracellular matrix; (iv) free eosinophil sombrero vesicles closely associate with extracellular granules; and (v) free eosinophil sombrero vesicles also associate with externalized chromatin during eosinophil ETosis. Remarkably, eosinophil sombrero vesicles appeared on the surface of other cells, such as plasma cells. Thus, eosinophil cytolysis/ETosis can secrete intact sombrero vesicles, alongside granules, in inflamed tissues of eosinophil-associated diseases, potentially serving as propagators of eosinophil immune responses after cell death.

Abstract 5751: Ultrasound responsive injectable hydrogels for on-demand drug delivery

Abstract In this work, we developed ultrasound-responsive and injectable hydrogels for local and on-demand release of chemotherapeutics to solid tumors. Injectable hydrogels were prepared by using a zwitterionic monomer, sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), without using any crosslinker. Gelation was performed at -20 oC using APS/TEMED as initiator, allowing the formation of strong electrostatic interactions between poly(SBMA) chains to physically crosslink the hydrogels. Monomer and initiator concentrations were carefully optimized to achieve injectable hydrogels with mechanical and thermal stability. To render ultrasound responsivity to the hydrogels, we loaded the hydrogels with hydrophobically (dodecyl) modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (hMSNs) with sizes around 50 nm. When insonated with low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIUS), the hMSNs incept acoustic cavitation (i.e., growth and collapse of microsized bubbles), which in turn generates mechanical effects in the hydrogels such as shock waves or water jets. We found that loading the hydrogels with hMSN did not affect their injectability, and they remained mechanically stable at 37 °C for more than a week. hMSN-loaded hydrogels demonstrated strong ultrasound responsivity even at low particle concentrations (0.1 mg/mL) and ultrasound powers (25 W, 0.02% duty cycle). Finally, we loaded the hydrogels with a chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin (DOX, 0.2 mg/mL). DOX-loaded hydrogels demonstrated minimal release without LIUS treatment (&amp;lt;20% in a day). Application of LIUS (150 W, 1% duty cycle) for 5 min resulted in almost complete mechanical disintegration of the hydrogels, resulting in a burst DOX release. We also showed that the amount of released DOX could be controlled by tuning the LUIS power and its duration. In summary, we developed injectable hydrogels with strong ultrasound responsivity. These hydrogels hold great promise for local and on-demand drug delivery to solid tumors, which is currently under investigation in our laboratory. Citation Format: Li Xiang, Gulsu Sener, Adem Yildirim. Ultrasound responsive injectable hydrogels for on-demand drug delivery [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5751.

A Study of the Composting Capacity of Different Kinds of Leathers, Leatherette and Alternative Materials

The leather industry is in the midst of a shift towards sustainability and circular economy principles, placing a strong emphasis on the biodegradability of its products. There has been a notable upswing in the traction gained by eco-friendly leather alternatives. Concurrently, a diverse spectrum of commercial substitutes for conventional leather has surfaced, encompassing a range from synthetic constructs like leatherette to plant-based options. The objective of this study was to evaluate the composting capabilities of genuine leather and three alternatives, namely leatherette, Piñatex®, and Desserto®, in conjunction with leather subjected to treatment with alginate derivatives. The composting evaluation was conducted in accordance with ISO standards, simulating an intensive aerobic composting process. Results revealed that bovine leather samples treated with alginate derivatives underwent complete degradation within 21 to 25 days, and conventional wet-blue production resulted in total degradation after 31 to 35 days. In contrast, vegetable-tanned bovine leather manifested initial signs of degradation after 60 days, but fell short of achieving complete disintegration even after a protracted 90-day incubation period. Alternative materials showed no degradation after the 90-day composting test, indicating a potentially lower degradation capacity compared to leather, likely attributed to the presence of non-biodegradable materials like PU and PVC, among others. The negligible degradation observed in alternative materials after 90 days of composting highlights their inferior composting performance compared to leather.

Bacteria-based Sodium Alginate Formulation to Control Toxic Microcystis Blooms

Cyanobacterial bloom formation in freshwaters is a major socio-economic and health concern across the globe. Presently used chemical and physical control strategies are inefficient in complete removal of blooms and chemical application often lead to secondary pollution in water. Hence, the current study aimed to develop a bacteria-based formulation to control toxic bloom-forming Microcystis aeruginosa in freshwaters. Two bacterial strains, Exiguobacterium acetylicum and Pseudomonas previously isolated from Sri Lankan freshwaters and characterized for M. aeruginosa cell lysis and their microcystin (MC) toxin degradation were used in the study. Initially, suitability of bacterial strains to develop into solid formulations was evaluated through biofilm formation, antibiotic sensitivity and strain compatibility. Both strains formed biofilms on the surface of microtiter plates indicating their ability to attach and colonize on solid surfaces. The multiple antibiotic resistance indices for both strains were below the threshold risk level (0.2) against the seven tested classes of antibiotics. This result indicates that there is a low risk in introducing these bacterial strains to the natural environment. Further, plate assay showed that the two strains were compatible to stay together showing no antagonistic effect on the growth of each other. Having fulfilled all three criteria tested, the two strains were immobilized into beads (~5 mm) prepared from sodium alginate at 1:1 ratio of 1×108 cells/mL bacterial inoculum. Different weights (1.0, 2.0, 3.0 g) of bacteria-immobilized beads were enclosed in sachets made with Cambrella synthetic fabric. They were introduced to M. aeruginosa grown in BG-11 medium (OD=0.2, 730 nm) and kept at 26 °C. During incubation, growth stimulation of M. aeruginosa was visually observed in 1.0 and 2.0 g beads-containing cultures, whereas, gradual discoloration of colonies was observed with 3.0 g of beads. Microscopic observations also proved complete disintegration of M. aeruginosa colonies and lysis of cells in discolored cultures. After 15 days, M. aeruginosa cell lysis was estimated as a measure of chlorophyll degradation. The highest (8.4%) cell lysis was observed in cultures containing 3.0 g of beads. This indicates that bacteria cell lysis activity depends on the load of bacteria-immobilized beads. Degradation of MC toxin was estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The highest (57.6%) MC degradation was observed in cultures with 3.0 g of beads after 15 days of incubation. The efficiency of bacteria release from beads was tested by placing sachets in sterilized water. At 15 days, bacterial count in water was x107 CFU/mL, with all loadings of immobilized-bacteria indicating highly efficient bacteria release from the formulation. In conclusion, this study highlights that bacteria-based sodium alginate formulations can be made as a source of inoculum to control M. aeruginosa growth and MC degradation. &#x0D; Keywords: Bacteria-based formulations, Cell lysis, Microcystis blooms, Microcystin

Pathological evaluation of the effects of the drug clozalbent f on tissues and cytostructure of the trematode &lt;i&gt;Fasciola gigantica&lt;/i&gt; (Cobbold, 1855)

The aim of the study was a pathomorphological evaluation of the effect of the new drug Clozalbent F (Clozalbent F) on populations of the trematode Fasciola gigantica (Cobbold, 1855) with monoinvasion of fasciolеsis in cows. In the experiment, on days 7-10 after a single oral application to cows spontaneously infected with trematodes Fasciola gigantica, the effects of the drug Clozalbent F (Clozalbent F) at a dose of 1.25 g/10 kg of live weight appear in the form of irreversible pathomorphological changes in organs and tissues marit and premarital. In the body of trematodes, carbohydrate, protein, water and salt metabolism is disturbed, toxins are formed, and hydropic dystrophy of tissues increases with large amounts of water in them. Hydration of F. gigantica cells and tissues causes them to swell, then decay and necrosis. Under the influence of Closalbent F, vacuoles are formed in the tegument of trematodes in the intercellular spaces filled with turbid moisture. The drug enters the body of F. gigantica through the neo-dermis, causing irreversible path changes (destruction, disorganisation, decomposition, autolysis, protein, carbohydrate, hydropic dystrophy, necrobiosis and necrosis) of cells and tissues in mature trematodes. On the 7-10th day of the experiment, after the action of the Clozalbent F at a dose of 1,25 g/10 kg of live weight, F. gigantica marita showed complete disintegration of tegument, suckers and genitalia cells, which was confirmed by histological methods (TS, BFS, SA, CHIC) and testifying to its high efficiency and biosafety fasciolеsis in cow.

The evolution of the internal political situation in Libya after the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime

Researchers from Western countries and some Russian scientists initially enthusiastically classified anti-government protests and uprisings in the 2010s in a number of Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa as «Arab Spring» or «Arab Awakening».However, the consequences of these «springs» and «awakenings» in some countries of the abovementioned region caused less delight and more anxiety. Indeed, if Tunisia after its «Arab Spring» returned to stable development, in Egypt one general (Hosni Mubarak) was replaced by another (Abdul-Fattah al-Sisi), then in Yemen, and especially in Libya, as a consequence of the «Arab awakenings» civil wars occurred, that are still ongoing, and threaten the complete disintegration of the above-mentioned countries.Based on the above, it is quite obvious that the analysis of the causes, the content of the main stages and consequences of the evolution of the internal political situation in Libya after the overthrow of the regime of M. Gaddafi in October 2011 is not only an urgent scientific, but also a political task. The purpose of the article is to analyze the reasons for the destabilization of the internal political situation in Libya since October 2011, the content of its key stages and consequences. When writing the text of the article, the following scientific methods were used: problem-chronological, comparativehistorical, periodization method, historical-genetic, historical-retrospective, etc. The development of the internal political situation in Libya since October 2011 has led the Libyan state to total disintegration. The Libyan statehood, which until October 2011 was not particularly strong and stable, is confidently drifting towards fragmentation and autonomy within not only individual regions, but even individual cities.