Additive Concentration Research Articles

Investigation of Optical Properties of Polymeric Composite (PVA/PVP) Doped by Potassium Chromate

The practical out comes of the present study involves preparation of [Poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA)]/[ pyrrolidone (PVP)] (50:25 wt%) composites doped by Potassium Chromate (K2CrO4) purity of 99% with different volume concentration (1.6% up to 7.7%) by simple solution casting method. The optical properties of the films were verified using UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopic analysis. The optical constants such as absorption coefficient, refractive index,Extinction coefficient real and imaginary parts of dielectric constant have been investigated, results show that the optical constants are affected by concentration of Potassium Chromate addition in the (PVA:PVP) blend . The optical gap decreased from 3.5 eV for pure (PVA:PVP) polymer blend to 2.5 eV for [(PVA:PVP)/ Potassium Chromate 7.7 wt%] while the refractive index increased from 2.43 to 2.74 depended on Potassium Chromate additive.Hybrid polymeric composites of Potassium Chromate additive in (PVA:PVP) can be considered as a promising material for different electronic application.

Optimization and modeling of process parameters for nutrient recovery from sewage wastewater

ABSTRACT Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contamination in wastewater pose significant environmental challenges. Recovering these elements as struvite not only mitigates environmental pollution but also aligns with sustainable development goals by recycling valuable resources. This research hypothesizes that optimized recovery methods can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of struvite crystallization, addressing existing challenges in conventional techniques. To achieve optimal removal and recovery of N and P from sewage, a response surface model was employed. This model allowed for the identification of optimal process conditions and the elucidation of interactions among various components. Key variables impacting struvite recovery were identified using the Plackett–Burman design, while the central composite design was used for further optimization. The study determined the optimized parameters for phosphate recovery to be an Mg:P ratio of 1:2, pH of 10.5, additive concentration of 350 ppm, and a precipitation time of 30 min. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the residual amounts were below 50%. Additionally, the size and surface morphology of the final product were influenced by the process parameters, particularly the Mg:P ratio and pH. An inexpensive, quick, and efficient method to recover struvite fertilizer with a minimum demand of time and chemicals is established toward SDG 2 and 6.

Role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in reducing neurotoxicity and depression-like behaviors induced by doxorubicin in rats.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a broad-spectrum antitumor drug while its use is limited nowadays due to its neurobiological side effects associated with depression. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) derived exosomes are a promising regenerative therapy. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potentiality of BM-MSCs derived exosomes against the neurotoxicity induced by DOX. Twenty-four male albino rats were divided equally in to three groups as follow: group 1 (control), group 2 (rats injected intraperitoneally (i.p|) with DOX at a dose 2.5mg/Kg), and group 3 (rats injected with DOX and BM-MSCs derived exosomes i.p at a dose 1.5ml/Kg). During the experiment the behavior tests were noted, after three weeks rats were sacrificed, serum and brain samples were collected for biochemical, molecular and histopathological examinations. The results revealed that DOX causing impairment of the locomotor and increasing the anxiety like behavior of rats, marked neuropathological changes, significant elevation of MDA content and TNF-α concentration, reduction of phospholipase (PLD) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) protein concentration in addition, there were up regulation of JNK, NF-κB and p38 genes and down regulation of Erk1. Exosomal therapy improved the substantial neurotoxicity of DOX through modulating the markers involved in the neurotoxic signalling pathway of DOX that resulting in improving the pathological lesions and the animal behaviours.

Tuning Electrode and Separator Sizes For Enhanced Performance of Electrical Double‐Layer Capacitors

AbstractAn electrical double‐layer capacitor (EDLC) comprises two porous electrodes sandwiching an electrolyte‐permeable separator, which prevents the electrodes from short‐circuiting. While previous studies have mainly focused on electrolyte and electrode properties of EDLCs, the device configuration in terms of electrode and separator sizes received less attention, with separators often simplistically modelled as infinitely large reservoirs of ions. Herein, we investigate how the relationship between electrode and separator thicknesses impacts EDLC charging. We find that the assumption of bulk reservoir holds only under specific conditions. Moreover, we identify a tradeoff between stored energy density and pressure variations within the separator, potentially jeopardizing the EDLC durability. We also explore the influence of ionic liquid additives on EDLC charging. While prior research has shown that trace amounts of uncharged additives with strong electrode affinity can significantly enhance energy storage, we observe this effect as negligible for electrodes and separators of comparable sizes. Instead, we show how to optimize EDLC performance by fine‐tuning the concentration of additives and separator‐to‐electrode size ratio to maximize stored energy density.

Ceramic materials of low-temperature sintering from natural and technogenic rocks of the Tuva Republic

Abroad, they are actively engaged in “cold” sintering of materials, including ceramic, which is a mechanically and thermally conditioned mass transfer process that allows for low-temperature integration of various materials. The paper presents the results of research on low-temperature sintering and optimization of firing regimes for ceramic materials by introducing a salt complex with a liquidus temperature of 825оC into a charge based on natural and man-made rocks of the Republic of Tyva. The optimal concentrations of salt-containing additives in the ceramic mass, which affect the roasting properties of the resulting materials, have been determined. It was found that the introduction of a complex of salts into the ceramic charge promotes earlier sintering of the shard and the production of high-quality wall ceramics at lower temperatures, which leads to a reduction in energy costs during firing of products.

Human milk lactoferrin and lysozyme concentrations vary in response to a dietary intervention

It is known that human milk (HM)11Human milk. antimicrobial protein composition varies during lactation. However, the impact of maternal diet on these antimicrobial proteins, particularly lactoferrin and lysozyme remains unknown. In addition, it is unclear whether daily, circadian, and between breast variations exist for lactoferrin and lysozyme concentrations. We investigated the impact of a low sugar, low fat, high fibre dietary intervention on HM lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations. HM was sampled across a 3-week period; daily, at different times of day, and from both breasts to measure the level of intraindividual variation. The intervention significantly reduced maternal sugar, total fat, and saturated fat intake. HM lactoferrin concentration declined significantly over the course of the intervention however the effect size was relatively small. In addition, lactoferrin and lysozyme concentrations were variable over time, and differed significantly within and across the day but not between breasts.

Effect of Mucuna pruriens seed extract on depression-like behavior derived from mild traumatic brain injury in rats.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a severe health problem for which there is no specific treatment, leading to neurological or neuropsychological consequences. One of the most described disorders, even after mild TBI (mTBI), is depression, related to mechanisms involving reactive oxygen species (ROS). The Mucuna pruriens (M. pruriens) plant has various antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties. There is insufficient evidence of M. pruriens use for the treatment of neurobehavioral and depressive impairments induced by TBI and of the mechanisms underlying this effect, so we aimed to evaluate the ability of shortterm administration of M. pruriens extract to prevent neurobehavioral impairment and depression-like behaviors in a murine model of mTBI as well as evaluate the role of oxidative stress. Male Wistar rats underwent mTBI or sham surgery. Immediately after, they were treated with vehicle or M. pruriens extract (50 mg/kg ip/day for five days). We evaluated neurobehavioral recovery using the Neurobehavioral Severity Scale-Revised (NSS-R) and the immobility time in the forced swimming test 3, 7, 15, 30, and 60 days after mTBI. In addition, lipid peroxidation (LP) and GSH concentrations were determined in some brain areas (motor cortex, striatum, midbrain, and nucleus accumbens). M. pruriens extract did not decrease neurobehavioral impairment caused by mTBI. Nevertheless, it prevented depression-like behaviors starting three days after mTBI, reduced LP, and increased GSH in some brain areas. Conclusions: M. pruriens may prevent depression-like behaviors and reduce oxidative stress by decreasing LP and increasing concentrations of antioxidant compounds.

ФИЗИКО-ХИМИЧЕСКИЕ СВОЙСТВА МОДИФИЦИРОВАННЫХ БИТУМНЫХ ПРАЙМЕРОВ ДЛЯ ПРОТИВОКОРРОЗИОННОЙ ЗАЩИТЫ СЕЛЬСКОХОЗЯЙСТВЕННОЙ ТЕХНИКИ И ОБОРУДОВАНИЯ

Compositions based on bitumen primers can be used for anti-corrosion protection of agricultural machinery and equipment. Their physicochemical properties were studied. It has been shown that the thickness of coatings, which is responsible for the effectiveness of barrier protection, increases as expected with an increase in the number of applied coating layers, and decreases even with a slight increase in temperature and with an increase in the amount of solvent in the case of coating by dipping. Increasing the amount of solvent added to the bitumen primer from 40 wt. % up to 67 wt. % leads to a reduction in coating thickness by 55 times. Brush application produces thinner finishes than dip application. Moisture absorption for modified BP with 67 wt. % solvent is 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than that of BP with 40 wt. % white spirit, therefore, a decrease in protective effectiveness can be expected for these materials. According to experimental studies, the contact angles for the original BP exceed 900C, which indicates the presence of hydrophobic properties. The type and concentration of additives affect the contact angles. Introduction 5 wt. % of modifying additives, paraffin P2 and Emulgin, reduces the contact angle of BP, the addition of KO-SZhK, on the contrary, increases it, improving hydrophobic properties. BP with 40 wt. % white spirit, including those with additives, shows good adhesion to carbon steel 0.8 kp. At 67 wt. % solvent in the presence of drying oil and unrefined sunflower oil additives, adhesion worsens. Viscosity-temperature dependences in semi-logarithmic coordinates for modified BP are close to linear in the temperature range 20 -60 0C with a high approximation reliability index R2 = 0.9543 - 0.9833. Based on the physicochemical properties, high anti-corrosion properties can be assumed.

Investigating the effect of polymer additives on the rheology of SiC/clay paste for use in Direct Ink Writing method

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the impact of polyethylene glycol, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and polyvinyl alcohol on the rheological behavior, printability, and mechanical/physical properties of 3D‐printed scaffolds for high‐temperature applications using SiC/clay ceramic paste. Employing the Direct Ink Writing method, varying concentrations of each polymer (PEG: 2.5%–10% weight, CMC: .6%–1.8% weight, PVA: .25%–1% weight) were incorporated into the composition. The resulting SiC/clay paste, with adjusted additive content, was used to 3D‐print scaffold structures through Direct Ink Writing. Sintering of clay‐bonded SiC samples were carried out at 1300°C for 1 h in an ambient atmosphere. The research revealed that altering the additive amounts significantly influenced the rheological behavior, mechanical properties, and physical characteristics of the printed specimens. Notably, the ideal properties with additive concentrations (10% wt PEG, 1% wt PVA, and .6% CMC) were identified, providing the best outcomes in terms of printability and firing results. High density samples with 2.09, 1.93, and 1.79 g/cm3, high compression strength of 20.82, 14.5 and 12.53 MPa with 32.26%, 42.5%, and 52.63% open porosity for samples containing PVA, CMC, and PEG modifiers were obtained, respectively. Additionally, the study led to the development of a high solid loading printable paste with an 80% weight.

Thermo-pressed blend films of poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) with polylimonene for sustainable active food packaging

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends provide sustainable packaging solutions renowned for their robustness and biodegradability. Herein, we used a commercial PLA/PBAT blend (Ecovio® - E) to develop films by thermo-pressing, incorporating polylimonene (PLM) and comparing them with limonene (LIM) at 5% and 10% additive concentrations. Remarkably, E/PLM10% film exhibited an 84.9% reduction in Staphylococcus aureus count and a 62% decrease in Aspergillus niger count, surpassing LIM and PLA/PBAT. Additionally, PLM substantially improved the antioxidant activity of the films, achieving more than 40% DPPH scavenging and providing light-blocking capability, with E/PLM5% virtually halting UV-A transmission. Mechanical assessments showed that, although higher PLM levels reduced tensile strength, E/PLM5% matched control performance. FT-IR analysis confirmed PLM presence without chemical alterations, and minimal changes in crystallinity were observed via DSC and XRD, while TGA confirmed the attractive thermal stability of the films. Expanding on these findings, we evaluated film efficacy in cherry tomato preservation, including unpackaged controls. E/PLM5%-packaged tomatoes exhibited superior visual quality and fungal inhibition, proving a promising option for active food packaging due to their antimicrobial effectiveness, antioxidant activity, and UV-light protection. Therefore, this study represents significant progress in advanced packaging development, providing prolonged food preservation, sustainability, and retained performance even when prepared in simulated industrial conditions.

Molecular dynamics simulation on the variations in characteristics of aqueous solution with diverse additives: Inspirations for binary ice preparation

Ice slurry, as a novel energy storage medium, possesses the superiority of high energy storage density. The freezing point inhibitors are employed to regulate the supercooling phenomenon of water, while the macroscopic experiments are complicated to elucidate the action mechanism. Consequently, this paper adopts molecular dynamic simulation method to investigate the mean square displacement, radial distribution function, hydrogen bonds types, hydrogen bonds number and length of water at various concentrations of ethanol, NaCl, and SiO2 additives. The results indicate that the average number of hydrogen bonds of the system composed with 600 pure water molecules is 1127.24, and the average length of hydrogen bonds is 2.33 Å. Moreover, the addition of alcoholics and chlorides inhibits the hydrogen bonds between water and water molecules, and promotes the generation of hydrogen bonds, thus weakening the diffusion motion of water molecules. Whereas, it is observed that the addition of nanoparticles leads to agglomeration in pure water system, resulting an increase in the viscosity and a decrease in the diffusion rate of the system. The proposed microscopic model can effectively depict the potential interaction mechanisms of additives and water, which is contributing to develop effective freezing point inhibitors and improve the energy utilization efficiency.

Toxicokinetics of microplastics in Macrobrachium nipponense and their impact on the bioavailability of loaded pollutants

Microplastics (MPs) have unique toxicokinetic (TK) processes that differ from those of soluble pollutants. This study investigated the ingestion, migration, accumulation, and clearance of environmental aging MPs in the Japanese swamp shrimp (Macrobrachium nipponense). The concentrations of plastic additives and personal care products adsorbed onto MPs in natural river water were determined, and TK models for MPs and MPs-loaded pollutants were developed. Results showed that the formation of surface biofilms and alterations in the distribution of MPs in waters caused by environmental aging affect MPs bioavailability, which is mainly related to the feeding habits of shrimp. The decrease in MPs particle size caused by biological digestion and the increase in the number of oxygen-containing functional groups caused by environmental aging affect the TK process of MPs. The TK model of MPs-loaded pollutants revealed the cleaning effect of shrimp on pollutants adsorbed onto MPs during swallowing and spitting MPs. This cleaning effect significantly increases the bioavailability of MPs-associated pollutants in aquatic environments. This study provides a new perspective for understanding the interactions between environmental MPs and their associated pollutants in aquatic ecosystems.

Interpreting the main effects on the efficiency and morphology for establishing a procedure of electrodepositing Zn from purified chloride SPL solutions

Potentiodynamic and galvanostatic experiments have been used to investigate the electrodeposition of Zn and to develop a reliable recovery method from a purified spent pickling liquor (SPL) of hot dip galvanization. The main bjective was to find the suitable conditions to deposit high-grade Zn from the purified ZnCl2–HCl–NaCl solution in a conventional electrowinning cell holding the stationary electrolyte. The effects of pH (1.5–4.5) in and Zn concentration (30–150 g/dm3) in the stationary electrolytes were studied first by the potentiodynamic method to reveal the major characteristics of the cathodic process and to give reference for further practical examinations by the galvanostatic technique. The electrowinning experiments pointed out the effects of these major parameters, beside other practical factors, like apparent current density (c.d.) and additional NaCl concentration. The long-term galvanostatic experiments proved that the current efficiency (c.e.) increases significantly as the pH and the Zn concentration are increased. A c.e. of ~ 99% can be reached with an electrolyte of pH ~ 5, Zn concentration ~ 50 g/dm3 applying a c.d. in the 300–600 A/m2 range. Increasing the Zn concentration could considerably improve also the deposit morphology. The addition of NaCl can practically improve the c.e. if the Zn concentration is at least around 50 g/dm3. In contrast, this improvement is largely off-set by the negative effects of strong H2 evolution at low (e.g. < 10 g/dm3) Zn concentrations. Extremely high Cl− ion concentrations, however, inhibit the cathodic reaction by stronger chloro-complex formation. In this case the intensive H+ reduction causes hydroxide precipitation.

Optimizing additive Y2O3 concentration for improving corrosion resistance of ceramic coatings formed by plasma electrolytic oxidation on Zr-4 alloy

Abstract The corrosion resistance of ceramic coatings developed by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) can be improved by embedding particles. Optimizing the concentration of particles in the electrolyte is essential to obtain the best coating performance. This work aims to optimize the concentration of Y2O3 embedded in the PEO coatings on Zr-4 alloy to obtain the best corrosion resistance. Nanoparticles Y2O3 was suspended in the PEO electrolyte at a concentration of 2, 3 and 4 g l−1. The particles were successfully embedded in the PEO coating composed of ZrO2–SiO2. The electrochemical test in an aqueous solution and oxidation test at 600 °C revealed a consistent result that the best corrosion resistance was obtained in the coating formed in the 3 g l−1 Y2O3-containing electrolyte. At the corresponding optimum concentration, the coating contained high SiO2 and tetragonal (t) ZrO2 phase, which potentially formed a stable solid solution ZrO2–SiO2. The improved coating stability enhanced the corrosion resistance during both aqueous solution and high temperature exposure.

Analyzing the Effect of Electrolyte Quantity on the Aging of Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Despite a substantial impact on various economic and cell technology factors, the influence of electrolyte quantities is rarely addressed in research. This study examines the impact of varying electrolyte quantities on cell performance and aging processes using three different electrolytes: LP57 (1 M LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate:ethyl methyl carbonate (EC:EMC 3:7 w/w), LP572 (LP57+2 wt.% vinylene carbonate (VC)) and LP57 + absVC (18.351 mg VC). Comprehensive analytical post mortem investigations revealed that continuous excessive electrolyte decomposition determines the performance of cells using LP57, leading to enhanced irreversible lithium-ion loss and interphase thickening with increasing electrolyte volume. Impedance rise due to the growth of the interphase was also identified as the cause of degrading cell performance with rising amounts of LP572, attributed to an increasingly pronounced consumption of VC rather than electrolyte aging effects. By varying the electrolyte quantity while maintaining a constant amount VC within the cell system, the differences in cell performance were minimized, and observed deteriorating effects were suppressed. This study demonstrates the sensitive interdependence of electrolyte volume and additive concentration, practically affecting aging behavior. Comprehensively understanding the characteristics of each individual electrolyte component and tailoring the electrolytes to cell-specific cell properties proves to be crucial to optimize cell performance.

The intracellular accumulation of iron coincides with enhanced biohydrogen production by Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different doses (10–200 mg/L) of magnetite (FeO·Fe2O3), Fe0, Ni0, and FeCl3 on the efficiency of dark fermentative H2 production from cheese whey using Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum SP-H2. Energy conversion efficiency and hydrogen yield increased significantly by 22.7 % and 34.8 %, respectively, when 10 mg/L of magnetite was added, and hydrogenase activity increased by 23.6 % when 100 mg/L of Fe0 was added compared to the control (p < 0.001). Using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, it was found that during the early exponential phase of hydrogen evolution, T. thermosaccharolyticum cells accumulated up to 11.2 times more Fe (up to 2.8 wt%) in the presence of optimal concentrations of Fe additives compared to the control. Intracellular iron accumulation and hydrogen yield were positively correlated with acetate concentration (p < 0.001), suggesting an efficient acetate pathway for dark fermentation. During the stationary growth phase, with almost no H2 production, the intracellular iron content decreased by up to 67.9 %. The phenomenon of changes in the amount of metal in cells, depending on the phase of hydrogen production, was demonstrated for the first time. The findings suggest that intracellular metals can be used in cell metabolism to produce H2, and the mechanisms behind this process need further investigation. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the optimal forms and doses of metals for enhancing biohydrogen production, as well as possible research directions for the potential use of metals by microorganisms during additive-assisted dark fermentation of carbohydrate-rich wastes.

Reinforcing β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds for potential applications in bone tissue engineering: impact of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds manufactured through the foam replication method are widely employed in bone tissue regeneration. The mechanical strength of these scaffolds is a significant challenge, partly due to the rheological properties of the original suspension. Various strategies have been explored to enhance the mechanical properties. In this research, β-TCP scaffolds containing varying concentrations (0.25–1.00 wt%) of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were developed. The findings indicate that the addition of MWCNTs led to a concentration-dependent improvement in the viscosity of β-TCP suspensions. All the prepared slurries exhibited viscoelastic behavior, with the storage modulus surpassing the loss modulus. The three time interval tests revealed that MWCNT-incorporated β-TCP suspensions exhibited faster structural recovery compared to pure β-TCP slurries. Introducing MWCNT modified compressive strength, and the optimal improvement was obtained using 0.75 wt% MWCNT. The in vitro degradation of β-TCP was also reduced by incorporating MWCNT. While the inclusion of carbon nanotubes had a marginal negative impact on the viability and attachment of MC3T3-E1 cells, the number of viable cells remained above 70% of the control group. Additionally, the results demonstrated that the scaffold increased the expression level of osteocalcin, osteoponthin, and alkaline phosphatase genes of adiposed-derived stem cells; however, higher levels of gene expersion were obtained by using MWCNT. The suitability of MWCNT-modified β-TCP suspensions for the foam replication method can be assessed by evaluating their rheological behavior, aiding in determining the critical additive concentration necessary for a successful coating process.

Total reflection x‐ray fluorescence analysis of trace elements in highly saline samples

AbstractThe reliable trace analysis of high‐purity chemicals and environmentally relevant samples is more important than ever and has led to the development of novel analytical methods. Total reflection x‐ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis is an increasingly known method for the determination of heavy metals at low concentration levels in environmental and industrial sample systems. However, there is still a need for optimization to obtain fast and precise results, especially for highly saline samples like brines and salts used in battery production or sea water. In this study, multi‐element standard solutions containing analytes like Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, or Zn in a concentration range between 0.1 and 1 mg/L were analyzed in the matrices lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) and artificial seawater (ASW) containing 1000 mg/L Li and 24,000 mg/L NaCl, respectively, leading to matrix‐analyte ratios of up to 240,000:1. Different sample preparation methods were compared in order to achieve the highest possible repeatability (1) and signal‐to‐noise ratios (2) with the least amount of time (3). Various parameters such as sample volume, drying conditions, time, temperature and additive concentration were varied. The relative standard deviation (RSD%) was used as a measure of repeatability for three replicates per sample. For lithium carbonate, a method with a preparation time of only 2 min and a measurement time of 500 s could be developed, which allowed to obtain RSD% well below 5%, a high linearity (R2 &gt; 0.99) and limits of detection (LOD) in the range of 30 μg/L to 60 μg/L for most elements. Seawater analysis could be optimized with respect to signal‐to‐noise ratio, whereby the Kα‐line of the internal standard (Ga) was used for evaluation and the use of a desiccator was found to yield the best results.

Prediction of the Intra-T Lymphocyte Tacrolimus Concentration after Kidney Transplantation with Population Pharmacokinetic Modeling.

The intracellular tacrolimus concentration in CD3+ T lymphocytes is proposed to be a better representative of the active component of tacrolimus than the whole blood concentration. However, intracellular measurements are complicated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the relationship between intracellular and whole blood tacrolimus concentrations in a population pharmacokinetic model. Twenty-eight de novo kidney transplant recipients, treated with a once-daily oral extended-release tacrolimus formulation, were followed during the first-month post-transplantation. Additional whole blood and intracellular tacrolimus concentrations were measured at day 6 ± 1 (pre-dose, 4 and 8 hours post-dose) and day 14 ± 3 (pre-dose) post-transplantation. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using nonlinear mixed effects modeling software (NONMEM). The ratio between intracellular (n = 109) and whole blood (n = 248) concentrations was best described by a two-compartment whole blood model with an additional intracellular compartment without mass transfer from the central compartment. The ratio remained stable over time. Prednisolone dose influenced the absorption rate of tacrolimus, while hemoglobin, CYP3A4*22 allele carrier, and CYP3A5 expresser status were associated with the oral clearance of tacrolimus (P-value < 0.001). Furthermore, the intracellular tacrolimus concentrations were correlated with the intracellular production of interleukin-2 (P-value 0.015). The intracellular tacrolimus concentration can be predicted from a measured whole blood concentration using this model, without the need for repeated intracellular measurements. This knowledge is particularly important when the intracellular concentration is ready to be implemented into clinical practice, to overcome the complexities of cell isolation and analytical methods.

Application of N-doped NiCo2O4/NiO/Co3O4 composites rich in oxygen vacancies in electromagnetic wave absorption

In this work, N-doped and oxygen vacancy-rich NiCo2O4/NiO/Co3O4composites are synthesized by the direct calcination method. Noticeably, by changing the additive concentrations of urea dissolved in DMF (N-N dimethylformamide), the electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption abilities of NiCo2O4/NiO/Co3O4composite effectively. A maximum reflection loss (RLmax) value at 12.94 GHz for a 2.8 mm thick sheet is -29.76 dB, while its effective absorption bandwidth (RL < -10 dB) reaches 4.21 GHz. In-depth research of possible mechanisms of EMW absorption enhancement. Owing to its simple preparation method and superb EMW absorption properties, the NiCo2O4/NiO/Co3O4composites have a chance to be suitable candidates for high-property EMW absorbers.