Fiber Degradation Research Articles

Effect of Partial or Complete Replacement of Dietary Inorganic Trace Minerals Supplement with an Advanced Chelated Source on Nutrient Digestibility in Sheep

The delicate balance of trace mineral supplementation is critical for optimizing rumen function and overall ruminant health. This study evaluated the solubility of an advanced chelate technology-based supplement and assessed its impact on rumen degradability and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) when replacing inorganic sources. The solubility of the advanced trace minerals supplement (ACTM) was assessed at pH 5 and pH 2. In situ ruminal degradability of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and fiber fractions was evaluated using two fistulated rams fed diets supplemented with either ACTM or inorganic trace minerals. ATTD was determined in 6 lambs fed diets supplemented with 100% ACTM, 50% ACTM, and 50% inorganic (50% ACTM), or 100% inorganic sources in a Latin square design. Results showed solubilities ranging from 6.75% to 11.81% at pH 5, increasing to 69.24% to 80.47% at pH 2. ACTM supplementation significantly enhanced the rumen degradability of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) at 6 h of incubation (p ≤ 0.05). The 100% ACTM treatment significantly decreased rumen pH (p = 0.051) and improved DM, OM, NDF, and ADF digestibility, as well as trace mineral absorbability compared to 100% inorganic (p ≤ 0.05). These findings highlight the potential of ACTM supplementation to enhance ruminal degradability, promote better trace mineral absorption, and improve the ATTD of nutrients compared to inorganic sources.

Evaluation of the Highly Ordered Structure, Ligature, and Enzymatic Degradation of Poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate] Elastic Porous Fibers.

We prepared biocompatible elastic fibers with high porosity and high tensile strength from poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate], which is a microbial polyester that can be produced from renewable carbon resources by isothermal crystallization. It was possible to control the pore size by adjusting the isothermal crystallization time. Most of the pores were approximately less than 10 μm in diameter, did not penetrate, and were distributed discontinuously throughout the fibers. The elasticity of the fibers was apparently attributable to the generation of tie molecules with planar zigzag conformations between lamellar crystals and to the deformation of the pores. The ligature area occupied by the porous fibers in surgical knots was reduced by 75% compared with that of nonporous fibers. This is expected to make the ligature more difficult to untie and reduce the feeling of foreign matter. X-ray tomography revealed that the porous fibers had a relatively small fiber diameter owing to the collapse of the porous area. The rate of enzymatic degradation of the porous fibers was more than four times that of nonporous fibers. These results suggest that this elastic porous fiber will have many applications, including in the medical and marine material fields.

Synergistic Effects of Mannan Oligosaccharides and Onion Peels on In Vitro Batch Culture Fermentation of High Concentrate and Forage Diets

The current study evaluated the effect of combining mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) and onion peel (OP) on ruminal in vitro total gas (GP), greenhouse gas emissions, dry matter and fiber fraction digestibility, partitioning factor (PF24; mg degradable DM per mL gas), microbial mass, and volatile fatty acids using two dietary substrates: high forage (HF) and high concentrate (HC) diets. The study was arranged as a 2 × 2 × 6 factorial design with two dietary substrates, two time points (6 and 24 h), and six treatments. The treatments included a control group with no MOS or OP administration and groups administered with 2% of a mixture containing MOS and OP in the following ratios: 1:0 (MOS), 0:1 (OP), 1:1 (MOS:OP), 1:2 (MOS:2OP), and 1:3 (MOS:3OP). No significant diet × treatment interactions were observed for any of the measured parameters. However, treatments decreased (p < 0.05) the undegraded portion of HC, and treatment × substrate interactions were significant (p < 0.05) for PF24 and microbial mass. The treatments in the HC diet produced higher GP (p < 0.001) at 6 h compared to the treatments in the HF diet. Administration of MOS:2OP to the HC diet increased GP at 24 h of incubation, while the lowest GP was observed with the OP in the HF diet. The administration of MOS, OP, and MOS:2OP to the HC diet decreased methane production at 24 h of incubation. Additionally, MOS:2OP and MOS:3OP increased (p < 0.001) degradable acid detergent fiber (dADF) in the HC diet at 6 h of incubation. Both OP and MOS:3OP decreased the degradability of acid detergent lignin in the HC diet (p < 0.001). The OP also resulted in the lowest DM disappearance (p < 0.001) at 24 h of incubation in the HF diet, while the MOS:3OP had the highest dADF. At the end of incubation, the highest productions of total volatile fatty acids and acetate were observed (p = 0.002) with the MOS:OP administration in the HC diet, whereas the lowest values were observed with MOS and OP administration to the HF diet. The inclusion of mannan oligosaccharide and onion peel combinations as additives improved substrate (HC and HF) fermentation, leading to higher GP and volatile fatty production, and modulated fiber degradability by improving the breakdown of acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin.

Effect of Fiber Cross-Sectional and Surface Properties on the Degradation of Biobased Polymers

Biobased polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) break down naturally under certain environmental conditions. The efficiency of degradation can be linked directly to fiber surface properties, which influence polymer accessibility. Here, the degradation of PLA and PBS fibers with six different cross-sections was investigated. The fibers were aged by hydrolysis and UV exposure in an accelerated weathering test, followed by an ISO 20200 laboratory-scale disintegration test with non-aged fibers as controls. The polymers were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography, comparing the polymer granulate, virgin fibers, and UV-exposed fibers. It was found that the molecular mass and crystallinity of PBS changed more than PLA during spinning. Several PLA samples were completely degraded, whereas all the PBS samples remained intact. Furthermore, surface openings appeared on the PLA fibers during weathering, suggesting greater sensitivity to UV exposure and hydrolysis than PBS. A clear correlation between the fiber surface area and the degradation rate was observed for all samples, but the correlation was positive for PLA and negative for PBS. The slower degradation of PBS fibers with a larger surface area may reflect the ability of PBS to preserve itself by further crystallization during degradation processes at temperatures higher than the glass transition point. The data clearly show that the analysis of single degradation mechanisms is insufficient to predict the behavior of material under real-world conditions, where different degradation mechanisms may work in parallel or consecutively, and may show interdependencies.

Preparation and characterization of ferulic oligosaccharides from different sources by cell-free GH10 and GH11 xylanases

The feruloyl oligosaccharides (FOs) produced by the decomposition of plant hemicellulose have broad potential applications in the food and biomedical areas. FOs were prepared through the specific enzymatic degradation of insoluble dietary fiber from different sources by cell-free GH10 and GH11 xylanases. The cell-free GH10 and GH11 xylanases were obtained by the heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. The enzymatic hydrolysis conditions were optimized as follows: temperature 50 °C, pH 5.5, hydrolysis time 12 h, GH10 xylanase addition 101.74 U, and GH11 xylanase addition 121.60 U. The compositions and structural characterization of wheat bran FOs (WB-FOs), corncob FOs (CC-FOs), and buckwheat straw FOs (BS-FOs) were identified by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Degrees of polymerization (DP) of WB-FOs, CC-FOs, and BS-FOs were 3–11, 3–7, and 3–6, respectively. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation was investigated in vitro. The results demonstrated that BS-FOs possessed excellent UV resistance and photostability, followed by effectiveness in WB-FOs and CC-FOs. These results have improved our understanding of the relationship between FOs with different structural types and their UV radiation.

High barley intake in non-obese individuals is associated with high natto consumption and abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria in the gut: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveBarley, abundant in β-glucan, a soluble dietary fiber, holds promise in obesity prevention. Given the microbial metabolism of dietary fiber in the gastrointestinal tract, we investigated the role of gut microbiota in non-obese individuals consuming high levels of barley.MethodsOur study enrolled 185 participants from “The cohort study on barley and the intestinal environment (UMIN000033479).” Comprehensive physical examinations, including blood tests, were conducted, along with separate assessments of gut microbiome profiling and dietary intake. Participants were categorized into high and low barley consumption groups based on the median intake, with non-obese individuals in the high intake group identified as barley responders while participants with obesity were designated as non-responders. We compared the relative abundance of intestinal bacteria between these groups and used multivariate analysis to assess the association between intestinal bacteria and barley responders while controlling for confounding factors.Results and discussionAmong the fermented food choices, responders exhibited notably higher consumption of natto (fermented soybeans) than non-responders. Moreover, after adjusting for confounders, Butyricicoccus and Subdoligranulum were found to be significantly more prevalent in the intestines of responders. Given natto’s inclusion of Bacillus subtilis, a glycolytic bacterium, and the butyrate-producing capabilities of Butyricicoccus and Subdoligranulum, it is hypothesized that fiber degradation and butyrate production are likely to be enhanced within the digestive tract of barley responders.

Influence of co-dopants on the reduction of radiation-induced gain degradation in erbium-doped fiber

Influence of co-dopants on the reduction of radiation-induced gain degradation in erbium-doped fiber

High strength C/Si‒Ni‒C composites fabricated by reaction melt infiltration with Si‒Ni alloy at lower temperature

AbstractSilicon‒nickel alloy (Si‒Ni) was first used for fabricating continuous carbon fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites by reaction melt infiltration process. Based on Si‒Ni phase diagram, 66.7 at.% Si‒Ni was chosen, which has a lower liquidus temperature of 1115°C. The C/Si‒Ni‒C composites were infiltrated at temperature of 1270°C‒1390°C, and the prepared composite consists of C, SiC, NiSi, and NiSi2 phases. The density of the composite is higher than 2.29 g/cm3 and their open porosity is below 3%, indicating the composite was infiltrated completely by the Si‒Ni alloy. The C/Si‒Ni‒C composite exhibits significantly higher flexural strength and fracture toughness compared to the C/C‒SiC composite infiltrated with pure silicon at 1500°C. Specifically, the flexural strength and fracture toughness of the C/Si‒Ni‒C composite infiltrated at 1390°C increase by 140% and 300%, respectively. The improvement of mechanical properties contributed to the low reactivity between silicon‒nickel with carbon fibers, and the lower infiltration temperature, which can reduce degradation of carbon fiber as reinforcement. Moreover, the NiSi2 and NiSi alloy phases in the C/Si‒Ni‒C composite replace the brittle silicon phase in the C/C‒SiC composite, which can obviously enhance the fracture toughness.

Experimental study on the long-term performance of sisal fiber reinforced high-performance concrete subjected to drying-wetting cycles

Plant fibers have been gradually used in cement concrete. However, the long-term performance of high-performance concrete (HPC) reinforced with plant fibers has yet to be studied. This paper investigated the degradation of sisal fiber in HPC subjected to 9 months of drying-wetting cycles. The mechanical properties of HPC specimens were tested, and the degradation of sisal fibers in the HPC matrix was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffractometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope. After drying-wetting cycles for 9 months, the mechanical properties of the HPC specimens showed little change (within 10 %); the lignin content of sisal fiber was significantly reduced (the C1/C2 value was decreased by 68.9 %), and a portion of the cellulose was also subjected to alkaline hydrolysis, but there was no significant mineralization phenomenon. Therefore, sisal fiber reinforced HPC has good long-term performance under drying-wetting cycle conditions, but its durability under the coupling of multiple deterioration factors still needs further exploration.

Impact of Inoculation with Pediococcus pentosaceus in Combination with Chitinase on Bale Core Temperature, Nutrient Composition, Microbial Ecology, and Ruminal Digestion of High-Moisture Alfalfa Hay

This study evaluated the effects of Pediococcus pentosaceus (PP) and chitinase combinations on the conservation and nutritive value of alfalfa high-moisture hay (HMH). P. pentosaceus [1012 colony forming unit/g fresh forage] combined with (g/tonne of fresh forage) 1.5 (PP + LC), 7.5 (PP + MC), or 15.0 (PP + HC) g of LANiHay01 chitinase (Exp. 1) or with LANiHay02 (PP + Fe; 1.5 g), LANiHay01 (PP + Pe; 1.5 g), or Sigma (PP + Si; 55 mg) chitinase/tonne (Exp. 2) were used in 2016. In 2017, PP was applied alone or in combination with LANiHay01 at 1.5 g (PP + LC) or 7.5 g (PP + MC) chitinase/tonne (Exp. 3 and 4). Deionized water and propionic acid (4.0 L/tonne of fresh forage in Exp. 1 and 2 and at 6.0 L/tonne of fresh forage in Exp. 3 and 4) were applied as neutral (CON) and positive control (CON+), respectively. The maximum temperature (r2 = 0.66) and NH3-N concentration (r2 = 0.80) of the HMH were positively related to total microbial populations. PP + MC had lower (p ≤ 0.05) yeast and mold counts than CON in Exp. 3 and 4 while the neutral detergent fiber degradability was greater (p < 0.01) for PP + MC and PP + LC than CON in Exp. 1 and 3, respectively. P. pentosaceus in combination with chitinase has the potential in conserving the nutrient quality of alfalfa HMH.

Characterizing temporal stability of supercontinuum generation in higher-order modes supported by liquid-core fibers

The generation of tailored supercontinua is essential for studying ultrafast light-matter interactions and for a variety of practical applications requiring broadband light. Liquid-core fibers (LCFs) have emerged as an innovative nonlinear photonic platform, demonstrating high efficiency in nonlinear frequency conversion. In this study, we showcase that LCFs provide a stable platform for ultrafast supercontinuum generation in a selected higher-order vector mode at 1.55μm\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$1.55\\;\\upmu \\hbox {m}$$\\end{document}. Specifically, we demonstrate soliton fission and double-dispersive wave generation using a radially polarized mode in a CS2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\hbox {CS}_{2}$$\\end{document}-silica liquid-core fiber. The experiments were performed in a temperature-controlled laboratory, showing excellent stability with no evidence of fiber degradation, material degradation, or drift-induced changes in mode excitation over extended periods under standard environmental conditions. Our results confirm that liquid-core fibers are a reliable platform for nonlinear photonics, suitable for applications such as computationally tailored supercontinuum generation, single pulse spxectroscopy, and tailored light sources, all of which rely on consistent and stable nonlinear frequency conversion.

Study of Degradation of Optical Fiber in Copper Coating

It has been shown that the strength of copper-coated optical fiber in air at elevated temperatures decreases over time, primarily due to degradation of the copper coating due to oxidation, which leads to the appearance and growth of point defects on the surface of silica glass. In this case, the optical fibers remain operational at 600°C for ~1.5 hours, and at 500°C for ~16 hours. The activation energy of the process is in the range of 120–123 kJ/mol. The results obtained make it possible to predict the stability of the optical fibers in air at 300°C for ~1.5 years, and at 250°C for ~17 years.

Investigation of Titanium Nitride as an Effective Interphase for Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Silicon Carbide Ceramic Matrix Composites.

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) have played a significant role in increasing the efficiency of gas turbine engines. CMCs combine the high temperature resistance of ceramics with the high mechanical strength of ceramic fibers into a single unit. Interphase layers are a crucial component in CMCs, as they prevent ceramic fibers from oxidation and introduce strengthening mechanisms into the composite. Hexagonal boron nitride and pyrolytic carbon are the most commonly used interphase layers in the aerospace industry. Other than that, very few materials have been evaluated as interphase layers. In this study, we explore the possibilities of using titanium nitride as an interphase layer in single-tow CMCs (mini composite) representative of a unidirectional composite at a smaller scale. T-300 carbon fibers were coated with TiN by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor infiltration using TiCl4, N2, and H2. The deposition temperature, precursor flow rate ratio, total precursor flow rate, and deposition time were optimized to obtain high-quality coatings. The best coating was produced at 800 °C, 4:1 H2 [TiCl4]/N2 ratio, 125 standard cubic centimeters per minute (N2 + H2 [TiCl4]) total flow precursor flow rate, and 2 h of deposition time. At these conditions, the coatings displayed good fiber coverage, good fiber adhesion, minimum fiber linkage, and minimum surface roughness. There was minimum fiber degradation after TiN coating, with a retention of 95% of the initial Young's modulus and 26% of the ultimate tensile strength of the carbon fiber. Adding the TiN interphase coating to the Cf/SiC CMC increased the ultimate tensile strength of the composite by 1122% and Young's modulus by 150%.

Dietary patterns drive loss of fiber-foraging species in the celiac disease patients gut microbiota compared to first-degree relatives

BackgroundCeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals that primarily affects the small intestine. Studies have reported differentially abundant bacterial taxa in the gut microbiota of celiac patients compared with non-celiac controls. However, findings across studies have inconsistencies and no microbial signature of celiac disease has been defined so far.ResultsHere, we showed, by comparing celiac patients with their non-celiac 1st-degree relatives, that bacterial communities of related individuals have similar species occurrence and abundance compared with non-relatives, regardless the disease status. We also found in celiac patients a loss of bacterial species associated with fiber degradation, and host metabolic and immune modulation, as ruminiclostridia, ruminococci, Prevotella, and Akkermansia muciniphila species. We demonstrated that the differential abundance of bacterial species correlates to different dietary patterns observed between the two groups. For instance, Ruminiclostridium siraeum, Ruminococcus bicirculans, and Bacteroides plebeious, recognized as fiber-degraders, appear more abundant in non-celiac 1st-degree relatives, which have a vegetable consumption pattern higher than celiac patients. Pattern of servings per day also suggests a possible link between these species’ abundance and daily calorie intake.ConclusionsOverall, we evidenced that a kinship approach could be valuable in unveiling potential celiac disease microbial traits, as well as the significance of dietary factors in shaping microbial profiles and their influence on disease development and progression. Our results pave the way for designing and adopting novel dietary strategies based on gluten-free fiber-enriched ingredients to improve disease management and patients' quality of life.

Food hydroxycinnamic acids alleviate ageing in dermal cells

Dermal damage is inducible by several factors including UV exposure, oxidative stress and inflammation exacerbating skin senescence and degradation of the skin elastic fibers accumulated in ageing accordingly. Which, phenolics of food hydroxycinnamates with a myriad of health benefits are potentially applicable for ageing treatment. Particularly those of food hydroxycinnamic acids, i.e., caffeic, sinapic and rosmarinic acids, that would be efficient against skin ageing. Effectiveness of caffeic, sinapic and rosmarinic acids alleviating ageing was indicated in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) and co-culture of human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and HDF. Caffeic acid was exhibited as the strongest (p < 0.01) anti-senescent phenolic examined. The studied food hydroxycinnamic acids were shown to induce collagen synthesis in aged HDF with the noted activities inhibiting MMP-1 and IL-6. Their photoaging protections were proved in the co-culture model with significant (p < 0.001) inhibitions against IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1 and MMP-9 (collagen and elastin degrading enzymes). Which, caffeic acid was demonstrated as the most potent photoaging agent among its counterparts. Caffeic, sinapic and rosmarinic acids were proved to be the efficient nutrients for ageing treatment. These functional food hydroxycinnamates are proven on their anti-senescent and photoprotection activities, and capable to maintain homeostasis of dermal cells. Food-derived hydroxycinnamic acids are therefore recommended for innovative product alleviates skin ageing.Graphical

Mechanisms of Degradation of Insoluble Dietary Fiber from Coconut Chips by Ultra-High Pressure

Coconut chips are a popular leisure food, but the residual crumbly feeling after chewing affects the eating experience. To address this problem, we investigated the mechanism of degradation of insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) from coconut chips by ultra-high pressure (UHP). The optimal conditions for UHP treatment were 100 MPa and 40 min. After UHP treatment, the hardness decreased by 60%, and the content of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) increased by 55%. So far, the meaning of SDF has not been defined. The microstructure of IDF was damaged and the surface was rough. There was no obvious change in the chemical structure. The position of the characteristic diffraction peaks was basically unchanged, but the crystallinity dropped by almost three times. The thermal stability decreased, and the composition of the monosaccharides changed. Together, UHP treatment can improve the problem of the residual crumbly feeling after chewing coconut chips and improve the quality of the product.

Modeling and Optimization of Sisal Fiber Degradation Treatment by Calcined Bentonite for Cement Composite Materials

ABSTRACT The treatment of sisal fiber by pozzolanic materials like kaolin and silica-fume has been explored; however, no study has modeled and optimized the effect of sisal fiber degradation treatment using calcined bentonite. Therefore, the present study investigate the effects of treating sisal fiber with different doses of calcined bentonite, bentonite calcination temperatures, and times on fiber breaking load, degradation resistance, and water absorption using the central composite design-response surface method (CCD-RSM). The best performance of the optimum treated sisal fiber selected from the CCD-RSM based on the established goal of maximizing breaking load and degradation resistance with minimum water absorption, it was obtained a calcined bentonite dose of 30.067%, a bentonite calcination temperature of 800°C, and a calcination time of 179.99 min. Based on these factors, experimentally found sisal fiber breaking load 12.87 N, degradation resistance 98.44%, and water absorption 39.05%, all are within the 95% confidence level compared to the optimum numerical suggested values. Hence, the optimum treated sisal fiber improved breaking load by 33.37% and degradation resistance by 98%, while it reduced water absorption by 60.95%, compared to raw sisal fiber. Besides these, the optimum treated sisal fiber exhibits higher surface roughness and lower porosity than the raw sisal fiber.

Acoustical characterization and modelling of the effects of eco-friendly flame retardant treatments on hemp fiber stacks

Vegetal wools are a bio-based insulator which building applications are limited due to their flammability. To overcome this problem while respecting their bio-based nature, it seems relevant to identify and apply an environmentally friendly fireproof treatment. However, the impact of this treatment on the acoustic performance of the vegetal wools is not examined in the literature. The objective of this work is to evaluate the efficacy of two phosphorus-based fireproof treatment methods i.e., impregnation and pulverization, and their impact on the acoustic properties of hemp fiber stacks. To assess the efficacy of the fireproof treatment, the amount of phosphorus grafted and the thermal degradation of the hemp fibers were evaluated through inductive coupled plasma (ICP) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. On the acoustic side, the impedance tube test results showed that the treatment can negatively impact the acoustic performance of hemp fiber samples, by the reduction of the sound absorption coefficient. To better understand the effects of treatments on the porous structure characteristics of the samples, parameters such as porosity, resistivity, tortuosity, etc. are determined and the acoustic absorption of the stacks is simulated using the JCAL modelling method.

Microbial degradation of the waste jute fiber and sawdust fiber-based epoxy composites in drainage system

The non-biodegradable nature of polymers presents a considerable environmental hazard, mainly when they accumulate in drainage systems and pollute the water. The application of natural fiber composites has the potential to offer a feasible resolution to address this problem, as natural fibers possess inherent biodegradability. This study examined the degradation ability of epoxy composites made with 5 wt% waste jute fiber and 5 wt% waste sawdust fiber when subjected to drainage water for one year. The composites comprising jute fiber and sawdust demonstrated a reduction in tensile strength by 57 % and 40 %, respectively, because of biodegradation caused by microorganisms. The microorganism consumed the fiber for energy, resulting in significant weight and flexural strength loss. The weathered waste jute and sawdust fiber composite samples displayed an additional peak at a wavenumber of 1700 cm−1 for FTIR analysis, indicating the presence of the C=O group and reflecting CO2 production. The SEM image reveals the presence of clusters, biofilms, and colonies of microorganisms on the surface of the composites, indicating that the microbes were utilizing the fibers and matrix as a substrate for growth and multiplication. This research contributes to the understanding of the degradation mechanisms of sustainable composites and provides insight into the advancement of eco-friendly materials to reduce water pollution.

Subacute Toxicity and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of the Synthetic Cannabinoid 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA in Rats: A Forensic and Toxicological Perspective

Background: 4-MDMB-BUTINACA, a next-generation synthetic cannabinoid, presents significant public health and forensic challenges due to its evolving nature and potential toxicity. Methods: This study evaluates the subacute toxic effects and pharmacokinetics of 4−Fluoro MDMB−BUTINACA (4F-MDMB-BUTINACA) in adult male albino rats, administered orally for seven days at doses of 1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, and 15 mg/kg. The hematological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters were assessed and compared to controls. Results: The pharmacokinetics were determined using GC–MS/MS with a positive chemical ionization and granisetron as an internal standard. A histological analysis revealed inflammatory cell aggregation, congestion, hemorrhage, edema, and fibrosis in various tissues, with renal examinations showing tubule degradation, glomerular atrophy, Bowman’s space expansion, edema, and hemorrhage. The liver exhibited cellular infiltration, while cardiac muscle fibers showed myocardial fiber degradation and inflammatory cell aggregation. Biochemical assays indicated significant alterations (p &lt; 0.05) in the serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, total protein, albumin, triglycerides, urea, MCHC, MCV, RDW, platelets, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils compared to the controls. Conclusions: The validated bioanalytical method revealed rapid absorption of 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA, with a plasma half-life of 2.371 h, a volume of distribution of 2272.85 L, and a plasma clearance rate of 664.241 L/h. In conclusion, 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA is a highly toxic synthetic cannabinoid, particularly affecting the liver, kidneys, and heart.