Depletion Of Reserves Research Articles

Challenges Faced by the Sri Lankan School Libraries in the Period of Covid and the Current Economic Crisis: Special Reference to the Western Province School Libraries

Sri Lanka is an island which has a school going population of 4.2 million students and23592 teachers, distributed among10155 schools throughout the nation. The main objective of thisstudy was to explore how the Sri Lankan school libraries, especially those in the western province,managed the challenges faced during the Covid phase and also during the years 2020-2022, owingto the prevailing economic crisis. By the year 2022 Sri Lanka was facing a severe economic crisisas a result of the depletion of the country's foreign reserves, which resulted in the shortages of food,fuel, medication, cement, and other essential items. The school libraries too faced manychallenging issues due to the economic crisis, with regard to the purchasing of books and readingmaterials and the training of staf . Therefore, a program was organized for a group of students inthe Western Province so as to encourage them to read and develop their skills in creative writingand critical thinking.

TNF-α and IFN-γ prestimulation enhances the therapeutic efficacy of human amniotic epithelial stem cells in chemotherapy-induced ovarian dysfunction

BackgroundExposure to a harsh ovarian microenvironment induced by chemotherapeutic agents seriously affects the remodeling of ovarian function and follicular development, leading to premature ovarian failure or insufficiency (POF/POI). For decades, the effectiveness of stem cell therapies in POI animal models has been intensively studied; however, strategies to enhance the therapeutic effect of stem cells remain challenging.MethodsIn this study, we first observed the pathological changes of the ovaries at different time points during chemotherapy, including the number of follicles, granulosa cell proliferation, oxidative stress damage, ovarian fibrosis, and inflammatory reaction. Moreover, we investigated whether activated hAECs stimulated by the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were more effective than native hAECs in repairing ovarian injury induced by chemotherapy.ResultsThe inhibitory effect of chemotherapy drugs on ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) in growing follicles mainly occurred on day 3 after chemotherapy in a mouse model. Then, continued ovarian injury, including oxidative damage and cell death cascades, resulted in the depletion of follicular reserves and inflammation-related ovarian fibrosis. Cytokine array demonstrated that activated hAECs secreted high levels of paracrine cytokines related to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, angiogenesis, and immunomodulation. An in vivo study showed that the engraftment rate of activated hAECs in damaged ovaries was higher than that of native hAECs. Furthermore, activated hAECs in damaged ovaries had significantly upregulated expression of the antioxidant proteins thioredoxin1/2. In addition, activated hAECs had increased numbers of mature follicles and ameliorated the ovarian microenvironment by promoting angiogenesis and reducing ovarian fibrosis.ConclusionsThese results indicated that secondary ovarian damage induced by chemotherapy, including oxidative stress damage, chronic inflammatory response, and ovarian tissue fibrosis should be attended. Prestimulation with the proinflammatory factors TNF-α and IFN-γ could enhance the therapeutic efficacy of hAECs against chemotherapy-induced ovarian dysfunction, which may become a new feasible strategy to improve the therapeutic potential of hAECs in regenerative medicine.Graphical

Overactivation or Apoptosis: Which Mechanisms Affect Chemotherapy-Induced Ovarian Reserve Depletion?

Dormant primordial follicles (PMF), which constitute the ovarian reserve, are recruited continuously into the cohort of growing follicles in the ovary throughout female reproductive life. Gonadotoxic chemotherapy was shown to diminish the ovarian reserve pool, to destroy growing follicle population, and to cause premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Three primary mechanisms have been proposed to account for this chemotherapy-induced PMF depletion: either indirectly via over-recruitment of PMF, by stromal damage, or through direct toxicity effects on PMF. Preventative pharmacological agents intervening in these ovotoxic mechanisms may be ideal candidates for fertility preservation (FP). This manuscript reviews the mechanisms that disrupt follicle dormancy causing depletion of the ovarian reserve. It describes the most widely studied experimental inhibitors that have been deployed in attempts to counteract these affects and prevent follicle depletion.

The Unfolded Protein Response in a Murine Model of Alzheimer's Disease: Looking for Predictors.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents the most frequent type of dementia worldwide, and aging is the most important risk factor for the sporadic form of the pathology. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the main cellular actor involved in proteostasis, appears significantly compromised in AD due to the accumulation of the β-amyloid (Aβ) protein and the phosphorylated Tau protein. Increasing protein misfolding activates a specific cellular response known as Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), which orchestrates the recovery of ER function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of UPR in a murine model of AD induced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of Aβ1-42 oligomers at 3 or 18 months. The oligomer injection in aged animals induced memory impairment, oxidative stress, and the depletion of glutathione reserve. Furthermore, the RNA sequencing and the bioinformatic analysis performed showed the enrichment of several pathways involved in neurodegeneration and protein regulations. The analysis highlighted the significant dysregulation of the protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK), inositol-requiring protein 1α (IRE1α) and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF-6). In turn, ER stress affected the PI3K/Akt/Gsk3β and MAPK/ERK pathways, highlighting Mapkapk5 as a potential marker, whose regulation could lead to the definition of new pharmacological and neuroprotective strategies to counteract AD.

Marine heatwave duration and intensity interact to reduce physiological tipping points of kelp species with contrasting thermal affinities.

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are widely recognized as pervasive drivers of ecosystem change, yet our understanding of how different MHW properties mediate ecological responses remains largely unexplored. Understanding MHW impacts on foundation species is particularly important, given their structural role in communities and ecosystems. We simulated a series of realistic MHWs with different levels of intensity (Control: 14 °C, Moderate: 18 °C, Extreme: 22 °C) and duration (14 or 28 d) and examined responses of two habitat-forming kelp species in the southwest UK. Here, Laminaria digitata reaches its trailing edge and is undergoing a range contraction, whereas Laminaria ochroleuca reaches its leading edge and is undergoing a range expansion. For both species, sub-lethal stress responses induced by moderate-intensity MHWs were exacerbated by longer duration. Extreme-intensity MHWs caused dramatic declines in growth and photosynthetic performance, and elevated bleaching, which were again exacerbated by longer MHW duration. Stress responses were most pronounced in L. ochroleuca, where almost complete tissue necrosis was observed by the end of the long-duration MHW. This was unexpected given the greater thermal safety margins assumed with leading edge populations. It is likely that prolonged exposure to sub-lethal thermal stress exceeded a physiological tipping point for L. ochroleuca, presumably due to depletion of internal reserves. Overall, our study showed that exposure to MHW profiles projected to occur in the region in the coming decades can have significant deleterious effects on foundation kelp species, regardless of their thermal affinities and location within respective latitudinal ranges, which would probably have consequences for entire communities and ecosystems.

Development of cellulose films by means of the Ioncell® technology, as an alternative to commercial films

In recent years, the search for alternatives to petroleum derived products, such as plastic films, has become a priority due to the growing depletion of fossil reserves and the pollution of water resources by microplastics, microscopically small plastic particles which are harmful to ocean and aquatic life. Cellulose-based films, e.g., cellophane and cuprophane, have been on the market for almost a century. Despite being a more ecological option compared to plastic films, the manufacture of these cellulose films involves high production costs and the use of harmful chemicals. As an alternative, a sustainable and eco-friendly process based on the Lyocell-type Ioncell® technology is presented to produce cellulose films. Regenerated cellulose films are created by continuous extrusion via dry-jet wet spinning of an ionic liquid–cellulose solutions. The influence of the polymer concentration (8–13 wt%) and processing temperature (50–100 °C) on the properties of the films were studied by the determination of the thickness, mechanical properties, physical appearance, morphology, chemical composition, and hydrophobicity. The obtained films are thin (12–21 μm), transparent (transmittance = 91%) and of homogeneous structure. Moreover, they exhibit excellent mechanical properties: stress values up to 210 MPa and elongations up to 19% in machine (longitudinal) direction. These values clearly outperform commercial cellophane, which presents stress values of 125 MPa and elongations of 22%. The films presented herein hold great potential to become an eco-friendly and sustainable option to commercial films.

Regenerative Potential of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Immobilized by Using Electron-Beam Synthesis Nanotechnology in an Experimental Model of Ovarian Reserve Depletion

Regenerative Potential of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Immobilized by Using Electron-Beam Synthesis Nanotechnology in an Experimental Model of Ovarian Reserve Depletion

Utility Aspects of Sugarcane Bagasse as a Feedstock for Bioethanol Production: Leading Role of Steam Explosion as a Pretreatment Technique

Lignocellulosic biomass is a powerful approach to produce sustainable biofuels and the further achievement of the goal of biomass conversion into a second-generation clean energy that can cope with the depletion of fossil reserves and rising energy requirements. In the conversion process, a pretreatment is essential to overcome the recalcitrance of the lignocellulosic biomass; accelerate its disintegration into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin; and, in turn, obtain an optimal yield of fermentable sugars in the enzymatic hydrolysis. In addition to this, it should be industrially scalable and capable of enhancing fuel properties and feedstock processability. Here, steam explosion technology has stood out due to its results and advantages, such as wide applicability, high efficiency in the short term, or lack of contamination despite its conventionality. This gentle and fast pretreatment incorporates high temperature autohydrolysis and structural alteration by explosive decompression. The steam explosion method has been one of the most effectual, especially for the hydrolysis of cellulose from agricultural wastes due to the lower quantity of acetyl groups in the composition of hemicellulose. In this aspect, sugarcane bagasse is a promising feedstock for bioethanol production due to its high cellulosic content and elevated availability. The objective of this review has been to compile the latest information on steam explosion pretreatment, stages, equipment, variables involved, by-products generated, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the technique. At the same time, its feasibility and viability using sugarcane bagasse as feedstock has been discussed. Finally, the effectiveness of the technique with different feedstocks has been evaluated.

Oral iron powder for prehabilitation in hip and knee arthroplasty: A randomized controlled trial to optimize hemoglobin concentration

BackgroundOne of the key aspects to enhance the suitability for surgery in elective arthroplasty is the optimization of hemoglobin concentration. In this randomized controlled trial, we investigated the efficacy of an oral iron supplement and its impact on blood management practices. Materials and methodsA total of 60 older adults undergoing elective hip or knee surgery were randomized to follow a month and a half of supplementation with a water-soluble powder containing iron and vitamins. We monitored iron homeostasis and the use of blood resources. ResultsThe trial was completed by 58 subjects. We observed a significant inter-group change in hemoglobin and its mean corpuscular concentration (P<0.05), vitamin B6, B9 (P<0.001), and B12 (P<0.05). Albeit not statistically significant, fewer patients in the intervention group had hemoglobin over the threshold for blood unit request before (11 vs. 14) or transfusion evaluation after surgery (1 vs. 6), or actually received a blood transfusion (1 vs. 3). The extent of preoperative iron deficiency and hematocrit were predictive for postoperative blood units (AUC=0.9). ConclusionIron homeostasis improved in the intervention group, while the changes in the control group were consistent with the depletion of iron reserves. The iron-based formulation enriched with vitamins was safe but showed a slight impact on blood management practices. The potential of optimizing patient blood management encourages the planning of large-scale studies, possibly combining a diet therapy to promote the consumption of foods rich in iron long before the operation.

Industrial hydrocarbon production and the new opportunities for green energy

Subject. This article discusses the issues of development of the petrochemical and oil refining industry of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Objectives. The article aims to assess the prospects for the use of renewable energy sources and the modernization of traditional manufacturing industries. Methods. For the study, we used the methods of graphic and statistical analyses. Results. The article finds that with the depletion of proven oil reserves in the Republic of Bashkortostan, the fuel balance can be restored through oil supplies from the Arctic areas and that the development of green energy in the region is primarily associated with the production of composite fuel. Relevance. The results of the study can be used when designing plans for the production of innovative products by enterprises of the fuel and energy complex.

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia-pyometra syndrome impairs the preantral follicle reserve in domestic bitches (Canis familiaris)

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH)-pyometra syndrome is the most common uterine pathological condition reported in breeding bitches, however, their described effects on fertility are limited to uterine disorders and conception rates. As the preantral follicle population represents the available reserve of gametes recruited during the lifespan, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CEH-pyometra syndrome on the: (i) preantral follicle morphology, (ii) developing follicle rates, and (iii) preantral follicle and stromal cell densities. Ovarian fragments from bitches subjected to elective or therapeutic ovariohysterectomy were allocated according to uterine diagnosis as follows: control (n = 7, clinically healthy), CEH-mucometra (n = 8, uterine lumen filled with a sterile mucus), and pyometra (n = 17, presence of a purulent mucus) groups. Overall, the control group had 3.4 and 4.1-fold higher probability (P < 0.0001) of the presence of normal preantral follicles compared with CEH-mucometra and pyometra groups, respectively. Moreover, ovarian fragments from the pyometra group showed an increase in the percentage of developing follicles (P < 0.05) compared to the control. Both CEH-mucometra and pyometra groups showed lower (P < 0.05) preantral follicle and stromal cell densities (P < 0.05) compared to the control. In summary, the CEH-pyometra syndrome decreased the percentage of morphologically normal follicles and enhanced the developing follicle rates. Additionally, a reduction of preantral follicle and stromal cell densities suggests that the inappropriate uterine environment induced by CEH-pyometra syndrome can lead to premature depletion of ovarian reserve.

Xrcc5/KU80 is not required for the survival or activation of prophase-arrested oocytes in primordial follicles.

The non-growing, meiotically-arrested oocytes housed within primordial follicles are exquisitely sensitive to genotoxic insults from endogenous and exogenous sources. Even a single DNA double-strand break (DSB) can trigger oocyte apoptosis, which can lead to accelerated depletion of the ovarian reserve, early loss of fertility and menopause. Therefore, repair of DNA damage is important for preserving the quality of oocytes to sustain fertility across the reproductive lifespan. This study aimed to evaluate the role of KU80 (encoded by the XRCC5 gene) - an essential component of the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway - in the repair of oocyte DNA DSBs during reproductive ageing, and following insult caused by the DNA-damaging chemotherapies cyclophosphamide and cisplatin. To investigate the importance of KU80 following endogenous and exogenous DNA damage, ovaries from conditional oocyte-specific Xrcc5 knockout (Xrcc5 cKO) and wildtype (WT) mice that were aged or exposed to DNA damage-inducing chemotherapy were compared. Ovarian follicles and oocytes were quantified, morphologically assessed and analysed via immunohistochemistry for markers of DNA damage and apoptosis. In addition, chemotherapy exposed mice were superovulated, and the numbers and quality of mature metaphase- II (MII) oocytes were assessed. The number of healthy follicles, atretic (dying) follicles, and corpora lutea were similar in Xrcc5 cKO and WT mice at PN50, PN200 and PN300. Additionally, primordial follicle number and ovulation rates were similar in young adult Xrcc5 cKO and WT mice following treatment with cyclophosphamide (75mg/kg), cisplatin (4mg/kg), or vehicle control (saline). Furthermore, KU80 was not essential for the repair of exogenously induced DNA damage in primordial follicle oocytes. These data indicate that KU80 is not required for maintenance of the ovarian reserve, follicle development, or ovulation during maternal ageing. Similarly, this study also indicates that KU80 is not required for the repair of exogenously induced DSBs in the prophase-arrested oocytes of primordial follicles.

Influence of Seed Storage and Priming on Naturally Aged Seeds of Aromatic Joha Rice

Joha is a fine grain aromatic rice of Assam, well known in the world market. This rice is protected and tagged as a geographical indication. This study evaluated priming effects on naturally aged seeds of two varieties, Kon Joha and Keteki Joha, after 0, 3, 6 and nine months of storage under ambient conditions. Seeds were hydro-primed, osmo-primed with 5% and 10% PEG, halo primed with 1% and 2% KCl and primed with 5 ppm and 10 ppm GA3 for 12 and 24 hours. Seed moisture percentage, germination percentage, germination index, mean germination time, seedling length and dry weight, seed vigour index, field emergence, seed reserve utilization rate, seed reserve use efficiency, seed reserve depletion percentage, and biochemical parameters like electrical conductivity, lipid peroxidation and α-amylase were observed. Seed quality was gradually deteriorating due to ageing over the storage period. The rate of deterioration was faster for seedling vigour traits than germination parameters. There was a varietal difference in the rate of deterioration; it was slower in Kon Joha, an indigenous variety which also showed dormancy. The priming treatments were able to ameliorate the effect of seed ageing on seed germination, seedling growth and biochemical parameters in Kon Joha. Treatments with 1% KCl, 10 ppm GA3 and 5% PEG enhanced the germination parameters and vigour indicators. KCl (1%) priming was the best priming agent; 24 hours of priming for all agents was better than 12 hours.

Production of sustainable biodiesel from alkaline pretreated dairy effluent using Yarrowia lipolytica

AbstractBiodiesel (BD) has grown in popularity over the last few years due to the global energy crisis, in addition to the depletion of reserves and the shortage of oil. The current study investigates the utilization of dairy effluent as a substratum for Yarrowia lipolytica, an oily yeast employed in biofuel generation. The dairy effluent has high biochemical oxygen demand, dissolved solids and, low pH. In this study, based on carbon nitrogen ratio (C/N), the alkaline pretreatment method (KOH 5%) was adopted to grow Y. lipolytica in dairy effluent. After 5 days of growth at 29°C, pH 6.9 (initial pH of dairy effluent), and stirring speed 120 rpm, the growth of Y. lipolytica produced 42.3 g/L biomass. Utilizing an ex‐situ transesterification method, the biomass was metamorphosed into BD. Using a modified version of Folch, Bligh, and Dyer's approach, lipid removal was done as the initial step. Moreover, the lipid was transesterified in a KOH catalyst, yielding 61% BD. Utilizing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, the produced fatty acid methyl ester was examined.

PIROLISIS CAMPURAN BIOMASSA LIMBAH SEKAM PADI DAN LIMBAH PLASTIK LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE MENGGUNAKAN KOMPOR BIOMASSA

&lt;p class="abstrak"&gt;&lt;em&gt;The demand for fuel oil is increasing day by day, resulting in the depletion of oil and gas reserves in Indonesia. Rice husk waste biomass and low-density polyethylene plastic are wastes that can be utilized as alternative fuel sources by pyrolysis method. Pyrolysis is the process of burning organic and synthetic materials in conditions of little or no oxygen by utilizing heat from high temperature combustion. Pyrolysis method processing requires a heater to burn the material during the process. Efforts that can be made are the use of biomass stoves as the right solution because of the availability of abundant and cheap raw materials, biomass stoves can also provide solutions to reduce the impact of environmental pollution smoke. The purpose of this study was to determine the temperature produced by the biomass stove and the effect of the comparison of the composition of the biomass mixture of rice husk waste and low density polyethylene plastic waste on the quantity of pyrolysis oil. This research uses experimental method with quantitative descriptive analysis technique. This research was conducted by pyrolyzing a mixture of rice husk biomass waste and low density polyethylene plastic waste with variations in composition ratio of 0%:100%, 25%:75%, 50%:50%, 75%:25%, and 100%:0%. The pyrolyzed oil was then filtered and tested for quantity. The test results show that the biomass stove can be used as a heater in a pyrolysis device with a capacity of 4 kg of coconut shell briquettes. The use of coconut shell briquettes as fuel has the advantage of being able to produce higher heat and last longer than charcoal. The biomass stove can produce the highest pyrolysis temperature reaching 665.5°C at the bottom, 541°C in the middle, and 430.3°C at the top. There is an effect of variation in the composition of the mixture of rice husk waste and low-density polyethylene plastic waste on the quantity of pyrolysis oil. The composition of more rice husk waste compared to low density polyethylene plastic waste produces less quantity of pyrolysis oil, while the comparison of the composition of more low density polyethylene plastic waste compared to rice husk waste produces pyrolysis oil with more quantity. This can be seen from the quantity of pyrolysis oil produced ranging from 265 ml to 853.3 ml. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

OR19-01 Srd5a1 Undergoes Distinct Changes in Methylation and Is Differentially Expressed During Pre-Pubertal Development in the Ovary and Hypothalamus

Abstract Disclosure: B. Bar-Sadeh: None. P. Melamed: None. The steroidogenic enzyme, 5α-reductase-1, is responsible for conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, and production of other 5α-reduced steroids and their derivatives, including in the brain. We reported previously that Srd5a1 levels are reduced in mice hypothalamic preoptic area (POA) and ovaries following early-life immune stress, which appeared to underlie delayed puberty onset and faster depletion of the ovarian reserve. This drop in ovarian Srd5a1 expression was concomitant with hypermethylation at two CpGs in its first intron, and also at the orthologous site in buccal DNA of women who experienced childhood immune challenge1. We thus hypothesized that this region of Srd5a1 acts as a transcriptional enhancer and is regulated by DNA methylation. Here we examined Srd5a1 expression and methylation at these CpGs across normal mouse development and in cultured cells. Ovarian Srd5a1 increased 8-fold and CpG methylation decreased by as much as 75% between PND10-30. During this time estradiol (E2) levels rise, and E2 exposure increased Srd5a1 mRNA levels in primary ovarian cells and KK-1 cell line. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) confirmed binding of estrogen receptor to the locus of the CpGs, and identified an adjacent region strongly enriched with H3K4me1, characteristic of transcriptional enhancers. In the POA, in sharp contrast, Srd5a1 mRNA levels decreased by 70% between PND7-10 and then stayed quite constant, with little correlation to CpG methylation levels. The neonatal drop in POA Srd5a1 coincides with an increase in glucocorticoid (GC) levels, and we had seen lower Srd5a1 expression in mice following early-life stress, we thus treated GT1-7 hypothalamic neuronal cells with dexamethasone. This treatment reduced Srd5a1 expression, and ChIP confirmed that the GC receptor binds the enhancer locus. Srd5a1 expression was 12-fold higher in the ovarian KK1 cells compared to the neuronal GT1-7 cells, in accordance with much higher methylation levels in the latter. We thus used these cells to investigate the role of this CpG methylation, using gRNAs targeting dCas9-TET1 for demethylation in GT1-7 cells, or dCas9-DNMT3 for inducing methylation in KK1 cells. In GT1-7 cells, methylation at the first CpG dropped &amp;gt;50%, though was unaltered at the second CpG, and no effect was seen on Srd5a1 expression or its response to E2. In contrast, methylation in KK1 cells increased at the second CpG only, by more than 2.5 fold, and this abolished the response to E2. These distinct changes in Srd5a1 expression during development, together with our findings in cultured cells suggest a cell-specific GC-activated repression of Srd5a1 in the POA, and its E2-activated stimulation in the ovaries regulated by methylation at one of these CpGs. Reference: 1. Bar-Sadeh, B., Amichai, O.E., Pnueli, L., Begum, K., Leeman, G., Emes, R.D., Stöger, R., Bentley, G.R., and Melamed, P. (2022). BMC Biol. 20, 11. Presentation Date: Saturday, June 17, 2023

Explantation of a light-adjustable intraocular lens: case report with laboratorial analyses

Introduction: A case in which a light-adjustable lens (LAL) underwent explantation and extensive laboratory analyses is reported. Patient and Clinical Findings: A 61-year-old man underwent uneventful cataract surgery with in-the-bag implantation of a first-generation LAL in the right eye. Examination on the second postoperative day revealed limbus-to-limbus corneal edema, moderate anterior chamber cells, and a mid-dilated, minimally responsive pupil, suggesting toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS). Diagnosis, Intervention, and Outcomes: Endothelial keratoplasty was performed 2 months after LAL implantation. The patient reported noncompliance with required UV-protective eyewear, and an attempted light adjustment confirmed macromer reserve depletion, likely secondary to ambient UV contamination. Gross and microscopic examinations of the explanted LAL showed a decentered round elevation on the optic. The light transmittance (%T) curve was normal, with 95.9%T on average in the visible spectrum. Optical coherence tomography revealed irregular curvatures of the anterior and posterior optic surfaces. Wavefront analysis displayed aberrations and large power variations, which corresponded to decreased focus and contrast through the optic. Conclusions: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of LAL implantation complicated by TASS, leading to a prolonged clinical course and nonadherence to proprietary UV-protective spectacles. Extensive laboratory analyses of the explanted LAL demonstrated findings that can be expected with uncontrolled polymerization of the LAL.

Progress in the Study of the Drivers of the Transformation of Arable Land Use

The sustainable use of arable land is a necessity to ensure future global food security. Arable land provides most of the food and necessities of life for human beings, and is the key to achieving the "poverty-free" (Sustainable Development Goals 1, hereinafter referred to as SDG1), "zero hunger" (SDG2), "sustainable cities and communities" (hereinafter referred to as SDG2) and "sustainable cities and communities" (hereinafter referred to as SDG2) objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Programme. SDG1 (hereinafter referred to as "SDG1"), "Zero Hunger" (SDG2), "Sustainable Cities and Communities" (SDG11), and "Climate Action" (SDG13) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Programme (SDP), "terrestrial organisms" (SDG15), and other key resource-environmental elements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Cropland expansion and cropland intensification have been important strategies for increasing food production, but with the global depletion of cropland reserves, increasing food production by expanding the area of cropland is no longer viable, and the pressure for food security has shifted to the existing cropland, which accounts for 38 per cent of the global terrestrial area. In the last 20 years, global food production has almost doubled, but the area of arable land has increased by only 9%. Demand for food is accelerating in tandem with rapid global economic and social development, population expansion and improved diets. The global demand for food is expected to increase by about 70 to 100 per cent by 2050, which not only puts enormous pressure on existing arable land but also poses a great challenge to the future food security of the world. The sustainable use of existing arable land is the only way to meet the growing demand for food and avoid a global food crisis.

OBTAINING AN EFFECTIVE BUTADIENE-SYNTHESIS CATALYST FROM ETHANOL

Butadiene is the main monomer used in modern industrial production of general purpose synthetic rubber. Currently, up to 99 % of butadiene-1,3 is obtained during oil refining, however, due to hydrocarbon reserve depletion, the search for alternative methods for butadiene-1,3 obtaining from renewable resources is an urgent task. One of the most promising renewable sources of raw materials is ethanol. Currently, this process is unprofitable due to low selectivity for the target butadiene. Therefore, in this work, an attempt was made to create a new heterogeneous catalyst that allows increasing the selectivity of the process of obtaining butadiene-1,3 from ethanol. In general, in the promising and demanded products production based on butadiene on the global market, the consumption of monomer from 2010 to 2030 should increase by 2 times from 526 to 1235 thousand tons per year. With a projected butadiene productivity of 1038 thousand tons per year, the deficit by 2030 will remain at the level of 200 thousand tons per year, which can be eliminated in two ways: by successful implementation of the Russian Gas and Petrochemical Development Plan for the period up to 2030, taking into account the weighting of pyrolysis raw materials with priority on naphtha; thanks to the development and introduction of new butadiene production methods as the target product. Therefore, this work is devoted to butadiene production from alternative raw materials on effective heterogeneous catalysts.

Experimental Investigation of Compression Ignition Engine Combustion, Performance, and Emission Characteristics of Ternary Blends with Higher Alcohols (1-Heptanol and n-Octanol)

Concerns about the depletion of petroleum reserves and rising pollution led researchers to search for alternate and environmentally compatible fuels for compression ignition engines. As an excellent alternative fuel additive to biodiesel–diesel blends, higher alcohol exhibits outstanding fuel properties (such as high energy content and cetane number) and can operate in diesel engines without requiring engine changes. This study focuses on investigating the ternary blends comprising higher alcohols, namely 1-heptanol and n-octanol, in hybrid biodiesel (animal fat oil–rice bran oil–cottonseed oil) and diesel on compression ignition engine characteristics. The performance, combustion, and emissions of a diesel engine fuelled with mono (D100), binary (B20), and ternary fuel blends (B20H10, B20H20, B20O10, and B20O20) were analysed at a constant engine speed of 1500 rpm. The test fuels met the American Society for Testing and Materials standards for fuel properties and exhibited stable behaviour during testing. Experimental results showed that at 100% load, the least brake-specific fuel consumptions for diesel fuel, B20, B20H10, B20H20, B20O10, and B20O20 were 254.1 g/kWh, 302.14 g/kWh, 281.25 g/kWh, 310.94 g/kWh, 292.8 g/kWh, and 313.80 g/kWh, respectively. Meanwhile, the maximum brake thermal efficiency values were obtained as 38.65%, 37.01%, 37.76%, 36.84%, 37.12%, and 36.38%, respectively. At 100% load, the peak heat release rates for diesel, B20, B20H10, B20H20, B20O10, and B20O20 were found to be 64.65 J/deg, 59.07 J/deg, 62.34 J/deg, 56.12 J/deg, 57.95 J/deg, and 51.9 J/deg, respectively. The addition of 1-heptanol and n-octanol as oxygenated additives into the ternary blend resulted in decreased carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emissions while increasing carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions compared to diesel fuel. Overall, the study concludes that ternary blends with 1-heptanol and n-octanol as additives improve performance and combustion behaviour and reduce exhaust emissions compared to binary blends.