Good Correlation Research Articles

Evaluation of AQUIOS STEM, a novel method for automated CD34+ stem cell enumeration using flow cytometry.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a potentially curative treatment for various diseases. The measurement of CD34+ cells is crucial to schedule the peripheral blood stem cell collection and assess the engraftment potential of the apheresis product. The AQUIOS STEM system has been introduced as a novel application on the AQUIOS CL, a fully automated flow cytometer, for the enumeration of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) in accordance with the The International Society for Hematotherapy and Graft Engineering guidelines. This study aimed to assess the potential of the novel AQUIOS STEM system versus currently used systems including the FACSCanto-II and the FACS Lyric flow cytometer in a multicenter study. A total of 91 samples were used for the validation of the AQUOIS STEM system, including an analytical performance evaluation by means of assessing precision, sample stability, intersample carryover, and linearity and a method comparison with the present FACS systems in use to assess analytical and clinical decision agreement. Results showed excellent precision, with coefficient of variations <15% for dedicated quality control material and patient samples. There was no significant carry over. The fresh apheresis samples were stable when stored overnight at room temperature and at 4°C. Analytical comparison with the current systems demonstrated good correlation in peripheral blood, and minimal, clinically neglectable systematic and proportional bias in fresh apheresis products but a low correlation coefficient in cryopreserved products. The STEM system on AQUIOS CL allows automated enumeration of CD34+ stem cells, demonstrating good analytical performance and promising overall outcomes in peripheral blood and fresh apheresis products.

Development and validation of four TaqMan real-time PCR diagnostics for the identification and quantification of Pratylenchus crenatus, Pratylenchus neglectus, Pratylenchus penetrans and Pratylenchus thornei

Summary Pratylenchus crenatus, P. neglectus, P. penetrans and P. thornei are globally the most commonly occurring species of root-lesion nematodes (RLN). Correct identification and quantification of these nematodes is important for strategic management interventions such as rotation choice and nematicide use. A real-time quantitative PCR can provide a fast and reliable alternative to morphological identification, which requires significant taxonomic experience. A TaqMan hydrolysis probe method based on the 28S rDNA D2-D3 expansion region was developed and validated for the identification and quantification of these four root-lesion nematode species. Standard curves for each target RLN species were generated by plotting known gene copy number, obtained by a ten-fold serial dilution of purified plasmids, with corresponding Ct values. Each standard curve had a strong linear correlation () between Ct value and gene copy number. There was consistent amplification of samples with target species from different geographic locations within the UK, whereas a lack of amplification was noted for selected non-target species: P. coffeae, P. pseudocoffeae, P. vulnus, P. fallax, Globodera rostochiensis, Meloidogyne hapla, Trichodorus primitivus and Bitylenchus hispaniensis. Specificity and sensitivity of the methods were confirmed by three experiments that explored different life stages, increasing the number of target species, and had mixed Pratylenchus samples. Finally, estimates obtained by qPCR methods were compared with counting carried out by microscopy showing a good correlation (). The TaqMan real-time PCR developed in this study provides a specific, fast and accurate quantification of P. crenatus, P. neglectus, P. penetrans and P. thornei.

Dimensions of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Cotton and Bacterial Cellulose: Comparison of Microscopy and Scattering Techniques.

Different microscopy and scattering methods used in the literature to determine the dimensions of cellulose nanocrystals derived from cotton and bacterial cellulose were compared to investigate potential bias and discrepancies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), depolarized dynamic light scattering (DDLS), and static light scattering (SLS) were compared. The lengths, widths, and heights of the particles and their respective distributions were determined by AFM. In agreement with previous work, the CNCs were found to have a ribbon-like shape, regardless of the source of cellulose or the surface functional groups. Tip broadening and agglomeration of the particles during deposition cause AFM-derived lateral dimensions to be systematically larger those obtained from SAXS measurements. The radius of gyration determined by SLS showed a good correlation with the dimensions obtained by AFM. The hydrodynamic lateral dimensions determined by DDLS were found to have the same magnitude as either the width or height obtained from the other techniques; however, the precision of DDLS was limited due to the mismatch between the cylindrical model and the actual shape of the CNCs, and to constraints in the fitting procedure. Therefore, the combination of AFM and SAXS, or microscopy and small-angle scattering, is recommended for the most accurate determination of CNC dimensions.

Digitized Continuous Magnetic Recordings for the August/September 1859 Storms From London, UK

AbstractDedicated scientific measurements of the strength and direction of the Earth's magnetic field began at Greenwich and Kew observatories in London, United Kingdom, in the middle of the nineteenth century. Using advanced techniques for the time, collimated light was focussed onto mirrors mounted on free‐swinging magnetized needles which reflected onto photographic paper, allowing continuous analog magnetograms to be recorded. By good fortune, both observatories were in full operation during the so‐called Carrington storm in early September 1859 and its precursor storm in late August 1859. Based on digital images of the magnetograms and information from the observatory yearbooks and scientific papers, it is possible to scale the measurements to International System of Units (SI units) and extract quasi‐minute cadence spot values. However, due to the magnitude of the storms, the periods of the greatest magnetic field variation were lost as the traces moved off‐page. We present the most complete digitized magnetic records to date of the 10‐day period from 25 August to 5 September 1859 encompassing the Carrington storm and its lesser recognized precursor on 28 August. We demonstrate the good correlation between observatories and estimate the instantaneous rate of change of the magnetic field.

Comparison of the Mechanical Properties and Approach to Numerical Modeling of Fiber-reinforced Composite, High-Strength Steel and Aluminum

The performance of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite materials under quasi-static and high strain rate loading can be predicted with a high level of accuracy using the non-linear finite element analysis (FEA) method. Experimental validation tests under uniaxial tensile loading have shown a good correlation with FEA predictions for thermoset polymer composites, using commercially available epoxy resin MTM710 with carbon fiber reinforcement and for comparative tests on DP600 steel and aluminum alloys (AC170 and 5754 series). The physical and numerical results comparison of composite, aluminum, and high-strength steel indicates that the composite may be used as an alternative to aluminum and high-strength steel since the composite was shown to have almost the same strength as steel and higher strength than aluminum with the advantage of being lightweight and possessing similar mechanical behavior under quasi-static conditions. The results demonstrated that the strain rate range used did not significantly affect the strength of the composite materials. The selection of materials can be optimized reliably by FEA based on mechanical properties, cost, and weight. This will significantly reduce the new product introduction timescale, which is essential for the wider use of polymer composites for structural applications, especially in the automotive industry.

Nanodosimetric quantity-weighted dose optimization for carbon-ion treatment planning.

Dose verification of treatment plans is an essential step in radiotherapy workflows. In this work, we propose a novel method of treatment planning based on nanodosimetric quantity-weighted dose (NQWD), which could realize biological representation using pure physical quantities for biological-oriented carbon ion-beam treatment plans and their direct verification. The relationship between nanodosimetric quantities and relative biological effectiveness (RBE) was studied with the linear least-squares method for carbon-ion radiation fields. Next, under the framework of the matRad treatment planning platform, NQWD was optimized using the existing RBE-weighted dose (RWD) optimization algorithm. The schemes of NQWD-based treatment planning were compared with the RWD treatment plans in term of the microdosimetric kinetic model (MKM). The results showed that the nanodosimetric quantity F3 - 10 had a good correlation with the radiobiological effect reflected by the relationship between RBE and F3 - 10. Moreover, the NQWD-based treatment plans reproduced the RWD plans generally. Therefore, F3 - 10 could be adopted as a radiation quality descriptor for carbon-ion treatment planning. The novel method proposed herein not only might be helpful for rapid physical verification of biological-oriented ion-beam treatment plans with the development of experimental nanodosimetry, but also makes the direct comparison of ion-beam treatment plans in different institutions possible. Thus, our proposed method might be potentially developed to be a new strategy for carbon-ion treatment planning and improve patient safety for carbon-ion radiotherapy.

Evaluation of the Embrittlement in Reactor Pressure-Vessel Steels Using a Hybrid Nondestructive Electromagnetic Testing and Evaluation Approach.

The nondestructive determination of the neutron-irradiation-induced embrittlement of nuclear reactor pressure-vessel steel is a very important and recent problem. Within the scope of the so-called NOMAD project funded by the Euratom research and training program, novel nondestructive electromagnetic testing and evaluation (NDE) methods were applied to the inspection of irradiated reactor pressure-vessel steel. In this review, the most important results of this project are summarized. Different methods were used and compared with each other. The measurement results were compared with the destructively determined ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) values. Three magnetic methods, 3MA (micromagnetic, multiparameter, microstructure and stress analysis), MAT (magnetic adaptive testing), and Barkhausen noise technique (MBN), were found to be the most promising techniques. The results of these methods were in good agreement with each other. A good correlation was found between the magnetic parameters and the DBTT values. The basic idea of the NOMAD project is to use a multi-method/multi-parameter approach and to focus on the synergies that allow us to recognize the side effects, therefore suppressing them at the same time. Different types of machine-learning (ML) algorithms were tested in a competitive manner, and their performances were evaluated. The important outcome of the ML technique is that not only one but several different ML techniques could reach the required precision and reliability, i.e., keeping the DBTT prediction error lower than a ±25 °C threshold, which was previously not possible for any of the NDE methods as single entities. A calibration/training procedure was carried out on the merged outcome of the testing methods with excellent results to predict the transition temperature, yield strength, and mechanical hardness for all investigated materials. Our results, achieved within the NOMAD project, can be useful for the future potential introduction of this (and, in general, any) nondestructive evolution method.

Estimation of Seismic Attenuation from Ambient Noise Coda Waves: Application to the Hellenic Subduction Zone

ABSTRACT The decay of surface-wave coda in ambient noise cross correlations can facilitate the estimation of seismic attenuation. The coda quality factor (Qc) can be measured in longer period bands using ambient noise cross correlations, which is the main advantage of using them over earthquakes. The classic model of Aki and Chouet (1975) has been applied previously to estimate coda Q in the Alps using ambient noise cross correlations. The Alps represents an ideal environment for ambient noise study, because it has very high and near-uniform station density, and the region is away from oceanic noise sources. However, many regions around the world do not have uniform station density and may be seismically more active than the Alps. One such region is the Hellenic subduction zone (HSZ), because it has a high rate of seismicity, sparser station coverage, and is surrounded by seas from outside and within. In this study, we estimate ambient seismic noise Qc in 2.5–5, 5–10, and 10–20 s period bands for the HSZ, which did not exist previously. Then, we mitigate the effects of lapse time and window length, distance, azimuth, as well as the number of stacked days on the Qc. Mapping of Qc measurements in such a geographically heterogeneous setting poses additional challenges, which we solve using a novel approach that adaptively selects paths based on their lengths and azimuthal distribution. The major tectonic zones are identified in the resulting Qc maps in the form of low Qc such as the North Anatolian fault, the Kefalonia transform zone, the Gulf of Corinth, the volcanic centers, and so on. The results also show a good correlation with large topographical features such as the Hellenides and the Thessalian plains, which have also been noticed from Qc analysis in other parts of the world.

Transcutaneous fluorescence spectroscopy: development and characterization of a compact, portable, and fiber-optic sensor.

The integrity of the intestinal barrier is gaining recognition as a significant contributor to various pathophysiological conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), and malnutrition. EED, for example, manifests as complex structural and functional changes in the small intestine leading to increased intestinal permeability, inflammation, and reduced absorption of nutrients. Despite the importance of gut function, current techniques to assess intestinal permeability (such as endoscopic biopsies or dual sugar assays) are either highly invasive, unreliable, and/or difficult to perform in certain patient populations (e.g., infants). We present a portable, optical sensor based on transcutaneous fluorescence spectroscopy to assess gut function (in particular, intestinal permeability) in a fast and noninvasive manner. Participants receive an oral dose of a fluorescent contrast agent, and a wearable fiber-optic probe detects the permeation of the contrast agent from the gut into the blood stream by measuring the fluorescence intensity noninvasively at the fingertip. We characterized the performance of our compact optical sensor by comparing it against an existing benchtop spectroscopic system. In addition, we report results from a human study in healthy volunteers investigating the impact of skin tone and contrast agent dose on transcutaneous fluorescence signals. The first study with eight healthy participants showed good correlation between our compact sensor and the existing benchtop spectroscopic system [correlation coefficient , ]. Further experiments in 14 healthy participants revealed an approximately linear relationship between the ingested contrast agent dose and the collected signal intensity. Finally, a parallel study on the impact of different skin tones showed no significant differences in signal levels between participants with different skin tones (). In this paper, we demonstrate the potential of our compact transcutaneous fluorescence sensor for noninvasive monitoring of intestinal health.

Feasibility of Melting NbC Using Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion

High melting point materials such as ceramics and metal carbides are in general difficult to manufacture due to their physical properties, which imposes the need for new manufacturing methods where electron beam powder bed fusion (EB‐PBF) seems promising. Most materials that have been successfully printed with EB‐PBF are metals and metal alloys with good electrical conductivity, whereas dielectric materials such as ceramics are generally difficult to print. Catastrophic problems such as smoking and spattering can occur during the EB‐PBF processing owing to inappropriate physical properties such as lack of electrical, and thermal conductivity and high melting point, which are challenging to overcome by process optimization. Due to these difficulties, a limited level of understanding has been achieved regarding melting ceramics and refractory alloys. Herein, three different substrates of niobium carbide (NbC) are melted using EB‐PBF. The established process parameter window shows a good correlation between EB‐PBF process parameters, surface, and melt characteristics, which can be used as a baseline for a printing process. Melting NbC is proven feasible using EB‐PBF; the work also points out challenges related to arc trips and spattering, as well as future investigations necessary to create a stable printing process.

Use of air things radon detector in liquid samples (serum and urine)

This study involved the assessment of 222Rn concentrations in liquid samples (namely serum and urine) obtained from individuals who were smokers and non-smokers across five distinct age groups in the Najaf Governorate of Iraq. The measurements were conducted using a portable digital Air Things device commonly employed for detecting radon gas in residential environments. This device was placed in a container that is placed in liquid samples, which makes it work to capture the existing radon. The mean value of radon concentrations in serum and urine samples for smokers was 5.64 ± 2.80 Bq/m3 and 3.56 ± 2.31 Bq/m3, respectively. While, the mean value of radon concentrations in serum and urine samples for non-smokers was 2.32 ± 0.67 Bq/m3 and 1.61 ± 1.00 Bq/m3, respectively. By comparing the radon concentrations for serum and urine samples with age and smoking groups, the value of P-Value (p < 0.01) was increased significantly statistically. Also, it is found that a positive and good correlation for radon concentrations between serum and urine. Although the levels of radon were found to be under the globally accepted thresholds, the results of 222Rn in all samples of serum and urine in smokers were higher than in non-smokers. Thus, it may be concluded that cigarette smoking is used as a biomarker of the presence of radon gas.

Estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from rice and annual upland crops in Red River Delta of Vietnam using the denitrification–decomposition model

Abstract This study used the denitrification–decomposition (DNDC) model and ArcGIS 10.1 to calculate and quantify the greenhouse gas (GHG) potential from rice and annual upland crops in the Red River Delta of Vietnam. GHG emissions were monitored, analyzed, and calculated at experimental sites. The operating mechanism, sensitivity analysis of the parameters, calibration, and verification of the DNDC model for the GHG emission calculation were studied and performed, and a set of parameters was built. A good correlation between actual and simulated values was shown. From the data set of meteorological stations in and around the Red River Delta, the current land-use map, the topographic and soil map, a complex map of meteorology–soil–land use was built. Each unit of this map contains complete information about climate, soil, and crops as input data for modeling GHG emissions from crop production. From the spatial analysis and collected input data, GHG emissions were measured and calculated for the cultivated field of the Red River Delta (annual rice and upland crops) using the DNDC model. The model's outputs were used to build thematic maps on the distribution of global warming potential (CH4, N2O) for each unit of the complex map of climate, soil, and crops.

Long-term (1993–2018) particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentration trend in the atmosphere of Seoul: Changes in major sources and health effects

This study assessed the long-term concentration trend and profiles of twelve polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) occurring as airborne particulate matter in Seoul, Republic of Korea (Korea) between 1993 and 2018 to evaluate the human health effect and the effectiveness of air quality management policies. Total PAHs (∑PAHs of 12 compounds), benzo [a]pyrene (BaP), and BaP toxic equivalent (BaPTEQ) concentrations increased from 1993 to 1999 but decreased thereafter. Moreover, the BaP concentration has remained below 1 ng/m3 since 2010–2011. Benzo [b+k]fluoranthene (B [b+k]F) accounted for the largest ∑PAHs fraction (approximately 24%) for the entire period. Based on the PAH profiles, as well as the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) results and diagnostic ratio analysis, vehicular emissions and coal combustion were identified as major sources of the PAHs in Seoul. Additionally, contribution of vehicular emissions increased from 2002 to 2003 to 2018, whereas that of solid fuel combustion decreased in the same period. PAH levels increased 8-fold in winter compared to summer mainly due to increases in local and regional emissions. The implementation of policies to regulate the use of solid fuels and vehicular emissions in Korea effectively reduced Elemental Carbon (EC) and PAH emissions, as demonstrated by CO, EC, and PAHs reductions and a good correlation between EC and PAHs. Moreover, aggressive air quality management policies in China have also contributed to decreasing PAH concentration trend in Seoul. Following the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) estimations method for 8 different population groups, males in the 0–1 age group was the only group still at potential risk of PAH inhalation in 2018, while other groups have been in the acceptable risk since 2012–2013.

Effect of Fly Ash Replacement Content on the Autogenous Shrinkage of Self-Compacting Concrete.

Based on an experimental program, autogenous shrinkage of self-compacting concrete (SCC) has been investigated by varied factors such as partial replacement by fly ash content, the unit quantity of binder, and water-binder ratio of mixture design, The results indicate that the autogenous shrinkage of self-compacting concrete decreases with increasing fly ash content and water-binder ratio and that when the unit quantity of binder is 550 kg/m3, the autogenous shrinkage of self-compacting concrete is smaller than that with unit binder quantity of 500 kg/m3 or 600 kg/m3. These observations suggest that a good correlation exists between the autogenous shrinkage and the mineral mixture design.

Zein Multilayer Electrospun Nanofibers Contain Essential Oil: Release Kinetic, Functional Effectiveness, and Application to Fruit Preservation.

In this study, sequential electrospinning was employed to produce a multilayer film consisting of zein nanofibers (Z) and Zataria multiflora essential oil (ZMEO) with different layers. The layers include: Z (without ZMEO), Z1 (one layer of Z + ZMEO), Z3 (three layers of Z + ZMEO), and Z5 (five layers of Z + ZMEO). Then, the effect of this antimicrobial packaging was investigated in relation to increasing the shelf life of strawberries at 4 °C for 12 days. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the fibers demonstrated a uniform and smooth structure without any beads. The use of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that ZMEO was physically encapsulated into multilayer Z, resulting in an enhancement in thermal stability. The multilayer film showed a sustained release pattern of the encapsulated ZMEO for Z3, lasting for 90 h, and Z5, lasting for 180 h. This was in contrast to the rapid release within 50 h observed with Z film. The release kinetics for Z5 showed a good correlation with both the Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas models, while for Z1 and Z3 films, Fickian diffusion was identified as the underlying mechanism. The findings of this study indicated that the multilayer film released ZMEO through a combination of diffusion and polymeric erosion. During a 12-day period of cold storage, strawberries that were treated with Z5 showed significant preservation of their anthocyanin (32.99%), antioxidant activity (25.04%), weight loss (24.46%), titratable acidity (11.47%), firmness (29.67%), and color (10.17%) compared to the control sample. The findings indicated that the sequential electrospinning technique used to create the multilayer nanofibrous film could be used in various fields, such as bioactive encapsulation, controlled release, antimicrobial packaging, and food preservation.

Comparison of water mobility and distribution in Dioscorea opposita Thunb. cv. Tiegun during hot‐air and microwave drying processes

SummaryLow‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF‐NMR) was employed to investigate changes in mobility as well as distribution of water in yam slices in the course of hot‐air drying (HAD) and microwave drying (MD) processes. Moisture content, effective moisture diffusivity, and water activity were also analysed. According to the results, a total of three water fractions with various T2 relaxation times were observed in fresh yam slices: T21 (0.9–2.6 ms), T22 (30–130 ms), and T23 (130–1245 ms). With the increment in drying temperature and the rise of microwave power in the course of drying, there was a significant decline in the transverse relaxation time and peak amplitude of T23. The overall moisture content exhibited a good correlation with Atotal during both HAD and MD processes, with coefficients equivalent to 0.9194 and 0.9024, respectively. With rising drying temperature and microwave power, there was a corresponding rise in effective moisture diffusivity. In comparison with HAD, the rate of water diffusion and evaporation in yam slices dried by MD was higher. Taking into account the drying efficiency and moisture state, MD was suggested as a preferable drying technology for dehydrating yam slices.

Experimental and theoretical insight into the effect of a novel composite dispersant on the properties of coal pitch water slurry

To optimize the utilization efficiency of coal pitch (CP), an innovative composite dispersant was designed and employed in the preparation of coal pitch water slurry (CPWS) by effectively combining modified sodium lignosulfonate (MLS) and amphoteric polycarboxylate (AAD) based on the principle of complementary advantages. The effects of the proportion of MLS to AAD on the characteristics of CPWS were systematically analyzed and assessed by various technical methods, including apparent viscosity, rheological behavior, static stability, adsorption behavior, etc. Results indicated that the CPWSs utilizing distinct composite dispersants belonged to the category of yield pseudoplastic fluids and had a good correlation with the Herschel-Bulkley model. Among them, the CD-2, composite dispersant with a mass ratio of MLS:AAD = 1:1, exhibited superior performance in terms of viscosity reduction and stabilization properties. It demonstrated the maximum adsorption capacity (5.23 mg/g) and adsorption layer thickness (7.22 nm) compared to other dispersants. Meanwhile, it could significantly increase the wettability (with a contact angle of 74.5°) and the absolute Zeta potential value (32.5 mV) of CP. The density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and extended Derjaguin-Landua-Verwey-Overbeek (eDLVO) theory were carried out to investigate the interaction mechanism of composite dispersant with CP and the interaction energy among CP particles. The differences in energy levels between the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and the highest occupied molecular orbital (HUMO) of MLS and AAD were significantly smaller than that of H2O. The hydrophobic groups of composite dispersants were efficiently adsorbed onto CP, while the hydrophilic groups adsorbed water molecules, with an adsorption energy reaching −169.36 kcal/mol. The steric hindrance of composite dispersant exerted a crucial influence on the dispersion of CPWS, enabling CP particles to be stabilized in water. The present study offers a novel approach to enhance the characteristics of CPWS and establishes a theoretical foundation for the design of efficient composite dispersants.

A strategy for the investigation of toxic mechanisms and protection by efflux pumps using Schizosaccharomyces pombe strains: Application to rotenone

Effects not related with the inhibition of complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain are studied in S. pombe, which lacks it. This study aims: First, the use of a strategy with S. pombe strains to investigate the toxicity, mechanisms of action, interactions and detoxication by efflux pumps. Second, to investigate the mechanisms of toxic action of rotenone. In the dose-response assessment, the yeast presented a good correlation with the toxicity in Daphnia magna for 15 chemicals. In the mechanistic study, the mph1Δ strain presented marked specificity to the interaction with microtubules by carbendazim. DNA damage caused by hydroxyurea, an inhibitor of deoxynucleotide synthesis, was identified with marked specificity with the rad3Δ strain. The sty1Δ strain was very sensitive to the oxidative and osmotic stress induced by hydrogen peroxide and potassium chloride, respectively, being more sensitive to oxidative stress than the pap1Δ strain. The protection by exclusion pumps was also evaluated. Rotenone presented low toxicity in S. pombe due to the lack of its main target, and the marked protection by the exclusion transporters Bfr1, Pmd1, Caf5 and Mfs1. Marked cellular stress was detected. Finally, the toxicity of rotenone could be potentiated by the fungicide carbendazim and the antimetabolite hydroxyurea. In conclusion, the use of S. pombe strains is a valid strategy to: a) assess global toxicity; b) investigate the main mechanisms of toxic action, particularly spindle and DNA interferences, and osmotic and oxidative stress not related to complex I inhibition; c) explore the detoxication by efflux pumps; and d) evaluate possible chemical interactions. Therefore, it should be useful for the investigation of adverse outcome pathways.

Spectrofluorimetric determination of butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole in their combined formulation: application to butylated hydroxyanisole residual analysis in milk and butter

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) are two antioxidants that have been extensively used in many applications. Both are well known for their debatable health risks due to their multiple intake sources. Therefore, conservative limits are set for them in different regulations adapted to the matrices in which they exist. Here we present a simple spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of BHT and BHA based on their native fluorescence and synchronous scanning mode. The type of solvent and the interval between emission and excitation wavelengths were carefully optimized. Under the optimized conditions, good linearities were obtained between the emission intensity and the corresponding concentrations of BHT and BHA over the range of 3–18 µg/mL and 0.1–7 µg/mL, respectively with a good correlation coefficient (r > 0.99). The limits of detection were 0.9 and 0.02 µg/mL, and the quantification limits were 3 and 0.05 µg/mL for BHT and BHA, respectively. The suggested procedure was validated according to ICH guidelines Q2 (R1). Furthermore, the method’s greenness was assessed by three different methods, and it proved to be eco-reasonable. The method was successfully applied to the determination of BHT and BHA in pharmaceutical formulations. We also applied the suggested method for monitoring the residual BHA in conventional, powdered milk and butter, with good recovery in spiked samples.

Using Dry Dispersion Laser Diffraction to Assess Dispersibility in Spheronized Agglomerate Formulations.

In this study, dry dispersion laser diffraction was used to study the dispersibility of spheronized agglomerate formulations and identify geometric particle size metrics that correlated well with aerodynamic particle size distribution (APSD). Eleven unique batches of agglomerates were prepared for both laser diffraction and cascade impaction testing. Correlations between the particle size distribution (PSD) and aerodynamic particle size distribution (APSD) metrics for the eleven agglomerate batches were determined in a semi-empirical manner. The strongest correlation between APSD and PSD was observed between the impactor-sized mass (%ISM) and the cumulative PSD fraction <14.5 µm. The strongest correlation with fine particle fraction (FPF) was observed with the cumulative PSD fraction <0.99 micron (R-squared = 0.974). In contrast to the other APSD metrics, good correlations were not found between the mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and the cumulative PSD fractions. Overall, the implementation of laser diffraction as a surrogate for cascade impaction has the potential to streamline product development. Laser diffraction measurements offer savings in labor and turnaround time compared to cascade impaction.