Elimination Process Research Articles

Interaction between Cr(VI) and Tubificidae in sludge reduction system: effect, reduction, and redistribution of Cr(VI).

The treatment of heavy metals in sewage treatment systems has gained more attention with the increase in heavy metal hazards. Tubificidae in sludge reduction have been widely studied; however, little is known about the effect of Tubificidae in the treatment of Cr-containing wastewater. In this study, the mechanism of Tubificidae in the sludge reduction system with Cr stress was studied. Predation experiments by Tubificidae in a Cr-containing sludge reduction system were conducted to investigate the changes in enzyme activities in the Tubificidae under different concentrations of Cr, and the distribution of Cr in the sludge reduction reactor was analyzed. The kinetic model of uptake and elimination of Cr in Tubificidae was established. The results showed that the maximum activation multiplier factor of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was 1.95 under the low concentration of Cr(VI), which indicated that Tubificidae had a certain detoxification. After the effect of Tubificidae on Cr(VI) experiments, the Cr concentrations in Tubificidae, sludge, and feces increased first and then decreased with exposure time, and the proportion of total Cr and Cr(VI) in the sludge decreased from 71.98% and 42.7% to 29.18% and 6.82%, respectively. The detoxification mechanism of the Tubificidae could be activated with Cr stress, and 63.22% of the Cr(VI) was converted to Cr(III). The bioconcentration factor (BCF) for theoretical equilibrium was 446, the maximum bioaccumulation factor (BAF) reached 0.97 on the 15th day. It can be seen that Tubificidae could be considered a good scavenger of environmental Cr(VI). The hyperbolic model fits the process of Cr uptake and elimination well and can be used as a predictive tool for Tubificidae accumulation.

Nitrilotriacetic acid-assisted Mn(II) activated periodate for rapid and long-lasting degradation of carbamazepine: The importance of Mn(IV)-oxo species.

Periodate-based (PI, IO4-) oxidation processes for pollutant elimination have gained increased attention in recent years. This study shows that nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) can assist trace Mn(II) in activating PI for fast and long-lasting degradation of carbamazepine (CBZ) (100% degradation in 2min). PI can oxidize Mn(II) to permanganate(MnO4-, Mn(VII)) in the presence of NTA, which indicates the important role of transient manganese-oxo species. 18O isotope labeling experiments using methyl phenyl sulfoxide (PMSO) as a probe further confirmed the formation of manganese-oxo species. The chemical stoichiometric relationship (PI consumption: PMSO2 generation) and theoretical calculation suggested that Mn(IV)-oxo-NTA species were the main reactive species. The NTA-chelated manganese facilitated direct oxygen transfer from PI to Mn(II)-NTA and prevented hydrolysis and agglomeration of transient manganese-oxo species. PI was transformed completely to stable and nontoxic iodate but not lower-valent toxic iodine species (i.e., HOI, I2, and I-). The degradation pathways and mechanisms of CBZ were investigated using mass spectrometry and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. This study provided a steady and highly efficient choice for the quick degradation of organic micropollutants and broadened the perspective on the evolution mechanism of manganese intermediates in the Mn(II)/NTA/PI system.

MODELS FOR ASSESSING AND PREDICTING THE SUBSURFACE TRANSPORT OF CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WASTEWATER IN THE EFFLUENT CHANNEL OF KCM AD - PLOVDIV, SOUTHERN BULGARIA

Until the end of the 20th century, the uncontrolled discharge of highly polluted emissions from the non-ferrous metals companies in Bulgaria was the cause of heavy contamination in vast areas around these industrial sites. In the last two decades, after the introduction of good environmental practices and the closure of polluting industries, a deceleration of the negative processes and a gradual cleaning of the already polluted waters and soils are observed. In order to evaluate and predict these processes, numerical 2D models of the conditions for the subsurface transport of contaminants from the wastewater in the effluent channel of KCM AD-Plovdiv are developed using the VS2DI computer programme. The scheme of convection-diffusion mass-transport is applied, taking into account the concomitant processes of reversible elimination, mechanical dispersion and mixing. Employing the developed models, the fate and transport of pollutants typical for this type of industrial sites – sulphate ions and cadmium (SO4 and Cd) are studied, taking into account their concentration in the wastewater before and after the application of modern technologies and equipment for remediation of contaminated water. The computer simulation encompasses the period from the construction of the effluent channel till 2035.

Consumers left at the mercy of chefs for potency, consistency, safety and regulation—the edibles industry of cannabinoids—A critical review

SummaryFibre and bioactive cannabinoids are obtained naturally from cannabis. Till now, almost 144 cannabinoids have been found and more are being unveiled. Cannabinoids which are in natural or in altered forms are more exposed to light, oxygen and high temperature. The recent approval of cannabis legalisation has increased the cannabis application in the food‐processing industries. Studies regarding the safety and quality assurance of food systems of cannabis edibles are limited. Moreover, with cannabinoids, there are many other phytochemicals like flavonoids, terpenoids, lignans and polysaccharides. Within the matrix of cannabis, these polysaccharides are able to exhibit probiotic or prebiotic properties and also can improve the microbiome composition in the gut. Through the processes of metabolism and excretion, bioactive phytochemicals of cannabis especially cannabinoids can modify structurally during the enterohepatic detoxification and fermentation process of the gut. Edibles are now being used widely in food industries for consumer use. In this review, we discussed edibles in the food industry, their potential hazards regarding food safety and their future implementation. Furthermore, consumer perception and acceptance of the edibles products and the challenges involved in developing the edibles products would be discussed in detail in this article. By understanding the edibles, legislation, safety and consumers' willingness, edible food could be acceptable among worldwide consumers in the near future.image

Hepatotoxicity screening and ranking of structurally different pyrrolizidine alkaloids in zebrafish.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are phytotoxins distributed in ∼6000 plant species. PA-contaminated/containing foodstuffs/herbs/supplements pose a potential threat to human health. Various regulatory authorities established different PA margins of exposure assuming an equal hepatotoxic potency of structurally diverse PAs, although they exhibit different toxic potencies. Therefore, understanding hepatotoxic potencies of different PAs would facilitate a more appropriate risk assessment of PA exposure. In this study, a zebrafish model, which mimics physiological processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, was selected to evaluate acute hepatotoxic potency of different PAs (7 PAs and 2 PA N-oxides) and explore possible physiological pathways involved in PA-induced hepatotoxicity. After 6 h oral administration, PAs caused distinct structure-dependent hepatotoxicity with a series of biochemical and histological changes in zebrafish. Based on the measured toxicological endpoints, the relative toxic potency order of different PAs was derived as lasiocarpine ∼ retrorsine > monocrotaline > riddelliine > clivorine > heliotrine > retrorsine N-oxide ∼ riddelliine N-oxide≫>platyphyline. Further, compared to control group, different upregulation/downregulation of mRNA expression in PA-treated groups indicated that inflammation, apoptosis, and steatosis were involved in PA-induced hepatotoxicity in zebrafish. These findings demonstrate that zebrafish model is useful for screening and ranking hepatotoxicity of PAs with diverse structures, which would facilitate the more accurate risk assessment of PA exposure.

Interaction of Intestinal Microbiota with Medications.

It is well known that the response to and metabolism of the drugs entering the human body varies widely across individuals. One of the reasons is that such interpersonal differences may be related to gut microbes. On one hand, drugs or xenobiotics entering the human body may affect the composition of the gut microbiome; on the other hand, the gut microbiota may alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (abbreviated as ADME) process of drugs or xenobiotics vice versa. However, the majority of studies focused on the interaction of general population cohorts with the gut microbiota, which is incompatible with the real clinic. For example, the gut microbiota is closely associated with the progression and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, a common functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Under the disease status, the composition of the gut microbiota is altered affecting the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and toxicity of xenobiotics. Concerning irritable bowel syndrome, a few studies reported that the xenobiotics administration process was gut microbial-mediated, while it also affected drug efficacy and toxicity. Thus, the correlation between gut microbiota and xenobiotics administration, especially the drugs administered, should be elucidated. This review paper links differences between the gut microbiome and drug metabolism, which play a significant role in the implications for medical therapy and drug development in irritable bowel syndrome indications. The human intestinal microbiota permeates the ADME process of orally administered drugs and has the potential to further modify the efficacy and toxicity of agents through the mediation of various enzymes, while at the same time, medications could also alter the composition and function of the human intestinal microbiota.

Copula-Based Severity–Duration–Frequency (SDF) Analysis of Streamflow Drought in the Source Area of the Yellow River, China

In classical severity–duration–frequency (SDF) analysis, the dependence between drought characteristics is not effectively considered. The present study aims to propose the SDF relationships of streamflow drought in the source area of the Yellow River (SAYR) using a copula-based approach. Comparison of multiple time-varying threshold levels and the integration and elimination of drought events were considered. Selection of marginal probability distribution and copula-based joint probability distribution was properly conducted with multiple means. Copula-based joint and conditional probabilities were computed. The findings support carrying out integration and elimination processing on the preliminarily identified streamflow droughts through a run analysis with a time-varying threshold level of the 80% quantile of daily streamflow. The Gaussian copula was selected as the optimal model for constructing bivariate joint probability distribution, with generalized extreme value and log-normal as the suitable marginal probability distributions of streamflow drought duration and severity. The proposed copula-based SDF relationships of streamflow drought events can provide more critical information in addition to univariate frequency analysis, benefitting from the joint and conditional probabilities. The multivariate probabilistic analyses can effectively consider the connection and interaction between drought characteristics, while conditional probability distribution allows analyzing the impact of one drought characteristic on another. The results also indicate a relatively high risk of streamflow drought with short duration and low severity in the region, requiring effective drought-mitigation strategies and measures.

A refined toxicokinetic model for quantifying the interaction between Cd and Cu in zebrafish larvae

The interaction between metals is ubiquitous, but there is still a lack of quantitative models considering the interaction between metals, which leads to the deviations in predicting the joint toxicity of metals. The present study estimated the uptake rate constants (kin) and elimination rate constants (kout) and elucidated how the presence of one metal (Cu or Cd) affects the absorption and excretion of another metal (Cd or Cu) in zebrafish larvae. The results showed that Cd and Cu inhibited each other in the process of absorption and excretion by comparing separately kin and kout of Cd or Cu with the other metal Cu or Cd mixed concentrations increased, thereby affecting the Cd and Cu bioaccumulation in the zebrafish larvae. Then the interactions between Cd and Cu in the uptake and elimination processes were quantified to obtain a refined toxicokinetic model. Verification with independent experiment data showed that the refined toxicokinetic model could significantly improve the prediction of the Cd or Cu bioaccumulation in the zebrafish larvae. This study contributes to understand the toxicokinetic process of the Cd-Cu mixture in the zebrafish larvae, and the developed model could be used to predict the toxicity of the metal mixtures.

Evaluation of ceftriaxone pharmacokinetics in hospitalized Egyptian pediatric patients

This study aimed to evaluate ceftriaxone pharmacokinetics that affects the achievement of targets in the treatment of critically ill children (meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, peritonitis, and infective endocarditis( who were admitted to Zagazig University Pediatric hospital in Egypt to monitor for the drug adverse effects.Blood samples were obtained from 24 hospitalized pediatric patients (ages ranging from 2.5 months to 12 years) after administering the calculated dose of ceftriaxone via intravenous bolus route. Then, ceftriaxone plasma concentrations were measured using a validated HPLC method with ultraviolet detection. The pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted using Phoenix Winnonlin Program® software.Data for total and free ceftriaxone best fitted on a one-compartment model with the first-order elimination process. Clearance of ceftriaxone is reduced for patients with reduced kidney function and increased with those with augmented renal clearance. The volume of distribution and the free fraction are increased in these patients, especially those with hypoalbuminemia with a shorter half-life time were detected. A slight increase in total bilirubin and liver enzymes has been observed after treatment with ceftriaxone in these patients. Conclusion: In most critically ill pediatric patients, the current ceftriaxone treatment regimen (50 to 100 mg/kg) offers adequate pathogenic coverage. The clearance of free ceftriaxone in all patients correlates well with their renal function (eGFR), with r2 = 0.7252. During therapy with ceftriaxone at all doses ranging from 50 to 100 mg/kg, a rise in total bilirubin was observed in these patients. Moreover, liver enzymes (ALT and AST) increased moderately (p 0.0001). So, it is recommended to monitor total bilirubin and liver enzymes during the treatment with ceftriaxone, especially for a long duration (more than 5 days) or use another agent in patients with high baseline values.What is Known:• The dosing regimen of ceftriaxone (50 to 100 mg/kg) provided optimum therapeutic outcomes.• Some studies show data for total and free Ceftriaxone best fitted on a one-compartment model while other studies show data for total and free Ceftriaxone best fitted on a two-compartment model.What is New:• Up to my knowledge this is the first study ,considering individual pharmacokinetic analysis, conducted on hospitalized Egyptian pediatric population most of them with reduced kidney function with ages ranging from 2.5 months to 12 years. Data for total and free Ceftriaxone best fitted on a one-compartment model with linear clearance of the free ceftriaxone.• In all patients, total bilirubin and liver function tests were mildly increased, making them at risk for cholestasis or ceftriaxone-induced cholestatic hepatitis.

What do jus cogens norms do for the international community?

This paper aims to delve into the qualities and content of norms of general international law classified as peremptory (jus cogens). To do so, three questions will be answered: (i) how does jus cogens arise, (ii) how is jus cogens changed and eliminated and (iii) what is jus cogens “utility”? The first question will be answered by adopting a two-stage formal criterion, based on the provisions of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. In this section, it will be demonstrated that jus cogens may have trivial content. Next, it will be argued that the process of modification and elimination of jus cogens depends to a great extent on the non-verification of the necessary conditions for its emergence. Finally, the “utility question” will deal with the alleged constitutionalist function of jus co- gens and its relevance, namely by limiting the power of the States and strengthening the rule of law.

Mass Spectrometric Interrogation of Earwax: Toward the Detection of Ménière's Disease.

Many diseases remain difficult to identify because the occurrence of characteristic biomarkers within traditional matrices such as blood and urine remain unknown. Disease diagnosis could, therefore, benefit from the analysis of readily accessible, non-traditional matrices that have a high chemical content and contain distinguishing biomarkers. One such matrix is cerumen (i.e., earwax), whose chemical complexity can pose challenges when analyzed by conventional methods. A combination of cerumen chemical profiles analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and direct analysis in real time-high-resolution mass spectrometry (DART-HRMS) were investigated to ascertain the possible presence of the rare otolaryngological disorder Ménière's disease. This illness is currently identified via "diagnosis by exclusion" in which the disease is distinguished from others with overlapping symptoms by the process of elimination. GC-MS revealed a chemical profile difference between those with and without a Ménière's disease diagnosis by a visually apparent diminution of the compounds present in the Ménière's disease samples. DART-HRMS revealed that the two classes could be differentiated using three fatty acids: cis-9-hexadecenoic acid, cis-10-heptadecenoic acid, and cis-9-octadecenoic acid. These compounds were subsequently quantified by GC-MS and overall, the amounts of these fatty acids were decreased in Ménière's disease patients. The average levels for non-Ménière's disease samples were 7.89 μg/mg for cis-9-hexadecenoic acid, 0.87 μg/mg for cis-10-heptadecenoic acid, and 4.94 μg/mg for cis-9-octadecenoic acid. The average levels for Ménière's disease samples were 1.70 μg/mg for cis-9-hexadecenoic acid, 0.13 μg/mg for cis-10-heptadecenoic acid, and 2.07 μg/mg for cis-9-octadecenoic acid. The confidence levels for cis-9-hexadecenoic acid, cis-10-heptadecenoic acid, and cis-9-octadecenoic acid were 98.7%, 99.9%, and 95.4%, respectively. The results suggest that assessment of the concentrations of these fatty acids could be a useful clinical tool for the more rapid and accurate detection of Ménière's disease.

The elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Togo: Successes and challenges.

As of May 2022, 15 countries have declared that they have reached their trachoma elimination targets, but only 13 of them, including Togo, have been validated by the World Health Organization as having eliminated the disease as a public health problem. The aim of this study was to describe the broad interventions that have supported the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Togo from its inception in 2006 to the validation of its elimination in 2022. A review and compilation of data and information contained in the country's submission to World Health Organization for validation of trachoma elimination as a public health problem was conducted. Data from national and local surveillance systems and reports on actions taken after achieving the elimination target were also included. Togo has achieved the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem by 2022. The prevalence of follicular trachoma among children aged 1-9 years is <5% in all nationally defined administrative units suspected of having trachoma after stopping mass treatment for at least 2 years. The prevalence of trichiasis among persons aged 15 years and older is less than 0.2% in all administrative units previously endemic for trachoma and evidence of the ability to manage incident cases of emerging trichiasis in the community has been demonstrated. The key of the success in the elimination process was primarily the political commitment of the health authorities with financial and technical support from various international organizations. The elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Togo is a real success story that can serve as an example for the elimination of other neglected tropical diseases in Africa. But regular monitoring and surveillance is essential to avoid the re-emergence of such disease in the country.

Use Straw in the Removal of Petroleum Hydrocarbons from Industrial Wastewater for South Refinery Company in Basrah Province

In this study, a straw was employed at the coagulation and flocculation of total petroleum hydrocarbons from industrial wastewater in the refinery oil company in Basra province, using the design of experiments approach using the method of (analyzing screening designs). Independent factors in the experiments (pH, dose of the substance used for removal, and time of the experiment). Furthermore, the link between the test's independent variables and their impact on the elimination process. As previously stated, the results revealed that the square model is the optimum model in this study, and the maximum removal was 100% at PH (3), dose (2) g, and time (30) minutes, and a comparison was made between the experimental design DOE and the multiple linear regression MLR to determine the effectiveness of the system used, which proved its great effectiveness. MLR was too distant from the real consequences of DOE removal when there was a strong convergence between the real and expected impacts of DOE removal.

High Resolution Forest Masking for Seasonal Monitoring with a Regionalized and Colourimetrically Assisted Chorologic Typology

Comparisons of recent global forest products at higher resolutions that are only available annually have shown major disagreements among forested areas in highly fragmented landscapes. A holistic reductionist framework and colourimetry were applied to create a chorologic typology of environmental indicators to map forest extent with an emphasis on large-scale performance, interpretability/communication, and spatial–temporal scalability. Interpretation keys were created to identify forest and non-forest features, and a set of candidate tree cover indices were developed and compared with a decision matrix of prescribed criteria. The candidate indices were intentionally limited to those applying only the visible and NIR bands to obtain the highest possible resolution and be compatible with commonly available multispectral satellites and higher resolution sensors, including aerial and potentially UAV/drone sensors. A new High-Resolution Tree Cover Index (HRTCI) in combination with the Green band was selected as the best index based on scores from the decision matrix. To further improve the performance of the indices, the chorologic typology included two insolation indices, a water index and a NIR surface saturation index, to exclude any remaining spectrally similar but unrelated land cover features such as agriculture, water, and built-up features using a process of elimination. The approach was applied to the four seasons across a wide range of ecosystems in south-eastern Australia, with and without regionalisation, to identify which season produces the most accurate results for each ecoregion and to assess the potential for mitigating the spatial–temporal scaling effects of the Modifiable Spatio-Temporal Unit Problem. Autumn was found to be the most effective season, yielding overall accuracies of 94.19% for the full extent, 95.79% for the temperate zone, and 95.71% for the arid zone. It produced the greatest spatial agreement between two recognised global products, the GEDI forest heights extent and the ESA WorldCover Tree cover class. The performance, transparency, and scalability of the approach should provide the basis for a framework for globally relatable forest monitoring.

THE BIRTH WEIGHT CHARACTERISTICS IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS IN THE PROVINCE OF NORTH SUMATERA, INDONESIA

The infant mortality rate remains public health problem. Low birth weight prevalence has been estimated around 60%-80% of all neonatal deaths. Birth weight problems can be associated by infant factors, demographic factors, and maternal factors. Likewise, the difference in area of residence that can affect birth weight. This study aims to investigate the differences birth weight both rural and urban areas in North Sumatera. This study used secondary data which is originated from the Indonesia Demographic Health Survey (IDHS) in 2017. The sample of this study was 991 children. The existence of a process of data elimination due to missing data, thus obtaining 499 children who were used as research samples. Data analysis used the Mann Whitney test to see if there was a difference in the average birth weight between variables. Most of the baby's weight was born within normal limits as much as 85.6%. The results of the Mann Whitney test show that there is a relationship between birth weight and area of residence and birth weight in rural areas is higher than in urban areas.

Pharmacological management of irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common longstanding condition with a variety of symptoms including constipation, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps or bloating. There are no specific causes of IBS; therefore, symptoms and management are individualised to each patient. Management strategies involve lifestyle advice on diet and exercise, medications and psychological therapies. IBS can be extremely debilitating to patients' quality of life and is usually diagnosed as a process of elimination of other gastrointestinal conditions that can have similar symptoms, such as inflammatory bowel disease. Medications to manage IBS include laxatives, antispasmodics, antimotility agents and neuromodulators, as IBS is believed to be a disorder of the gut–brain axis.

Nanocomposite with high adsorption activity developed using stabilized silver modified alumina and TiO2-NPs incorporated into β-cyclodextrin-graphene oxide

Multifunctional nanocomposites Ag/Al2O3/TiO2@β-cyclodextrin-graphene oxide (AATG) incorporating graphene oxide sheets, TiO2, and Ag/Al2O3 nanoparticles were prepared in two steps. We benefited from the inherent properties of β-cyclodextrin to create a stable aqueous graphene solution capable of self-assembling in situ grown TiO2 nanoparticles on graphene nanosheets. Ag/Al2O3 catalysts with a high surface-to-volume ratio were prepared by a combustion technique in solution with urea as a new fuel. The synthesized nanoparticles were also characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analysis, and BJH pore analysis. FE-SEM was used to evaluate the morphology of β-cyclodextrin-graphene oxide, Ag/Al2O3 and AATG nanoplatforms. This research examined the use of AATG as a novel nanocomposite for removing methylene blue from water and compared its effectiveness with that of TiO2@β-cyclodextrin-graphene oxide (TG) as an intermediate material to assess the impact of the final composite and its components on absorption. The effect of pH, temperature, time, and dye concentration on the reaction rate was investigated. The results showed that at pH above 4, the adsorption rate of MB by AATG gradually increased to about 98%. The results also show that methylene blue is more effectively removed at higher temperatures, implying that the adsorption is temperature dependent and the elimination process is endothermic. The adsorption kinetics, isothermal studies, and thermodynamic analysis were also evaluated. The adsorption data showed excellent agreement with pseudo-second order models (R2 > 0.99) and the Langmuir isotherm.The AATG nanocomposites showed excellent adsorption activity, making them potential candidates for water treatment.

Methane Dehydrogenation and Coking Resistance on Ni(111) Surfaces of SOFC Anodes with Different Cu Doping Ratios under a Consistent DFT Framework

Carbon deposition on nickel-based anodes is a key problem for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) using hydrocarbon fuels. One of the solutions is doping with other elements. In this work, DFT calculations were used to systematically study the processes of continuous CH4 dehydrogenation, carbon formation, and carbon elimination on Ni(111) surfaces doped with different amounts of Cu. The Cu doping concentrations on the Ni surface are set as 0, 1/9, 4/9, 5/9, 8/9, and 1 ml, namely Ni(111), NiCu1, NiCu4, NiCu5, NiCu8, and Cu9. The adsorption energies and adsorption sites of the important substances were obtained by calculation. In addition, the kinetics and thermodynamics of the main reactions and potential carbon removal pathways are discussed. Prior studies have shown that the introduction of Cu weakens the interaction between the Ni-based surface and the absorber, thereby enhancing the activity of various species on the surface of Ni-based catalysts. Second, the methane cracking path on the Ni-based surface is CH4 → CH3 → CH2 → CH, and the paths on the other five surfaces are the same. We found that the addition of Cu can weaken the adsorption of C, inhibit the activity of CH4 dehydrogenation, and promote the binding of C to the intermediate medium on the Ni-based surface, thus improving the ability of carbon deposition resistance. Finally, based on our DFT calculations, several potential carbon removal pathways are discussed in detail, and it is believed that the problem of carbon removal on SOFC anodes should focus on the oxidation of CH while preventing its direct cracking.

Effect of Gamma-Irradiation Dose on the Yield and Acute Toxicity of Seed Potato Tubers of the Meteor Variety

The influence of the dose of presowing γ-irradiation of tubers on the anatomical and morphological structure, yield, and tasting properties of potatoes of the Meteor variety has been studied. Morphological disorders—beak-shaped and heart-shaped tubers of a large fraction and small tubers in the form of embryos—were found in potatoes grown from tubers irradiated with doses of 500–600 Gy, although no external anatomical and morphological differences were noted in the stems and leaves of potato plants in the course of the vegetative development regardless of the presowing irradiation dose of tubers. Irradiation of seed tubers with doses of 200–300 Gy led to the highest yield and profitability and the best tasting qualities of grown potatoes. Experiments on the toxicity of potato tubers irradiated with doses of 100–1500 kGy and juice released during their radiolysis with doses of 1200–5000 kGy showed no negative effect on the animals that consumed them. At the same time, the physiological processes of digestion, excretion, and metabolism in experimental animals were not inhibited and the level of glucose in their blood remained within physiological reference values. The experimentally established highest doses of γ-irradiation of potatoes and the doses of introducing aqueous dispersions of the irradiated products into mice (gram of substance per 1 kg of live weight of the animal) that did not cause clinical manifestations were 10 g/kg for powdered potato tubers irradiated with a dose of 1500 kGy and 20 g/kg for dried juice powder released in the course of irradiation of potato tubers with a dose of 2000 kGy.

Factors Influencing ADME Properties of Therapeutic Antisense Oligonucleotides: Physicochemical Characteristics and Beyond.

Therapeutic antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) represent a diverse array of chemically modified singlestranded deoxyribonucleotides that work complementarily to affect their mRNA targets. They vastly differ from conventional small molecules. These newly developed therapeutic ASOs possess unique absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) processes that ultimately determine their pharmacokinetic, efficacy and safety profiles. The ADME properties of ASOs and associated key factors have not been fully investigated. Therefore, thorough characterization and in-depth study of their ADME properties are critical to support drug discovery and development processes for safe and effective therapeutic ASOs. In this review, we discussed the main factors affecting the ADME characteristics of these novels and evolving therapies. The major changes to ASO backbone and sugar chemistry, conjugation approaches, sites and routes of administration, etc., are the principal determinants of ADME and PK profiles that consequentially impact their efficacy and safety profiles. In addition, species difference and DDI considerations are important in understanding ADME profile and PK translatability but are less studied for ASOs. We, therefore, have summarized these aspects based on current knowledge and provided discussions in this review. We also give an overview of the current tools, technologies, and approaches available to investigate key factors that influence the ADME of ASO drugs and provide future perspectives and knowledge gap analysis.