Half-life Research Articles

#3626 A CASE OF PODOCYTE DISEASE WITH AZOTEMIA FOLLOWING TREATMENT WITH INTRAVENOUS IBANDRONATE

Abstract Background and Aims Bisphosphonate use may induce several types of nephrotoxicity. There are many reports on pamidronate-associated glomerular disease, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and zoledronate-associated acute tubular necrosis. However, there are limited reports on ibandronate-associated nephrotoxicity. Herein, we describe a case of podocyte disease accompanied with azotemia following intravenous administration of ibandronate. Method Case report Results An 88-year-old female was referred to the emergency room due to grade 4 edema that developed 1 month before. The patient was diagnosed with osteoporosis 20 months earlier, for which she received quarterly intravenous administration of ibandronate (3 mg). The last dose was administered 2 weeks ago. The patient had no history of diabetes, hypertension, or chronic kidney disease. Laboratory tests revealed heavy proteinuria with a protein/creatinine ratio (PCR) of 32 and hypoalbuminemia (1.9 g/dL) with elevated serum creatinine (sCr) (1.8 mg/dL). Values of serum complement and electrophoresis were within normal ranges. The renal ultrasonogram was unremarkable. A renal biopsy was performed and light microscopy showed mild mesangial hypercellularity and segmental amorphous collagenous deposition in the glomerulus (Fig. 1-A). The tubules revealed focal marked atrophy and interstitial fibrosis (Fig. 1-B). Immunofluorescence studies were unremarkable. Electron microscopy showed diffuse effacement of foot processes and no electron-dense deposit (Fig. 1-C), consistent with podocyte disease favoring focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The patient was treated with tacrolimus and fimasartan. Steroid use was spared owing to severe osteoporosis. Three months later, the edema subsided and laboratory findings improved (PCR 0.64, serum albumin 4 g/dL, sCr 1.23 mg/dL). Conclusion Compared to pamidronate and zoledronate, ibandronate is more highly protein-bound with a significantly shorter renal tissue half life, which might explain the rarity of ibandronate-related nephrotoxicity. Contrary to the trend of other bisphosphonates nephropathies, our case showed simultaneous podocyte disease and tubule damage. We recommend close monitoring of proteinuria and renal function for prompt nephrotoxicity detection in patients treated with ibandronate.

Ursolic acid-downregulated long noncoding RNA ASMTL-AS1 inhibits renal cell carcinoma growth via binding to HuR and reducing vascular endothelial growth factor expression.

It has been reported ursolic acid (UA), one of the naturally abundant pentacyclic triterpenes, possesses a wide range of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, and anticancer properties. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a severe malignancy due to its asymptomatically spreading ability. Our study aimed to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of UA in RCC. RCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis were assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, Transwell, and tube formation assays. Xenograft tumor models were established to confirm the role of UA and long noncoding RNA ASMTL antisense RNA 1 (ASMTL-AS1) in vivo. Expression levels of ASMTL-AS1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The interaction probabilities of ASMTL-AS1 or VEGF with RNA-binding protein human antigen R (HuR) were verified by RNA immunoprecipitation experiment. The half-life period of messenger RNA (mRNA) was determined using actinomycin D. UA inhibited RCC cell growth in vivo and tumorigenesis in vitro. ASMTL-AS1 was highly expressed in RCC cell lines. Of note, UA downregulated ASMTL-AS1 expression, and overexpressed ASMTL-AS1 reversed the UA-induced suppression on RCC cell migration, invasion, and tube formation. Additionally, ASMTL-AS1 bound to HuR to maintain the stability of VEGF mRNA. Rescue experiments showed that the suppressed malignancy of RCC cells mediated by ASMTL-AS1 knockdown was counteracted by overexpression of VEGF. Moreover, silenced ASMTL-AS1 inhibited RCC tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. The obtained data suggest UA as a promising therapeutic agent to attenuate the development of RCC via regulation of the targeted molecules.

Theoretical Study on the Mechanisms, Kinetics, and Toxicity Evaluation of OH-Initiated Atmospheric Oxidation Reactions of Coniferyl Alcohol

In this paper, we investigated the mechanisms, kinetics, and toxicity evaluation of the OH-initiated reaction of coniferyl alcohol (4-(3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-2-methoxyphenol) in the atmosphere using theoretical calculations. The initial reaction of coniferyl alcohol with OH radicals had two pathways, H-abstraction and OH-addition reactions. The total reaction rate constants were 2.32 × 10−9 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 (in gas-phase) and 9.44 × 109 s−1 M−1 (in liquid-phase) for the preliminary reactions of coniferyl alcohol with OH radicals at 298 K, respectively, and the half-lives of the total reaction (including all initial H-abstraction and OH-addition reactions) of coniferyl alcohol with OH radical in the atmosphere, urban and remote clouds were 8.3 × 10−2 h, 5.83 × 103 h and 9.27 × 102 h, respectively. The temperature had a strong and positive influence on the initial reaction rate constant. The branching ratios of H-abstraction and OH-addition reactions were 3.68% and 97.69%, respectively, making the OH-addition reactions become dominant reactions. The ecotoxicity evaluation revealed that the toxicity levels of coniferyl alcohol and its products were similar and non-toxic. However, all these products have developmental toxicity, with most of them having no mutagenicity. Therefore, further attention should be paid to the oxidation process and product toxicity evaluation of coniferyl alcohol in the atmosphere.

Screening and prioritising persistent, mobile and toxic chemicals: development and application of a robust scoring system

BackgroundLately scientific and societal concern has emerged about persistent (P), mobile (M) and toxic (T) chemicals. Such chemicals, like some polyfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), are of concern due to their high mobility and persistence in aquatic compartments which relates to long-term biotic exposure and difficult removal from drinking water. In this study, a screening approach for identification of PMT chemicals was developed and applied to 6158 diverse chemicals.ResultsChemicals are given a continuous score for P, M and T potential based on the modelled indicators (low to moderate potential is a score of 0–0.33, high potential is a score of 0.33–0.5 and very high potential a score of 0.5–1). The P score was based on the estimated aquatic environmental half life and the M score on the chemical’s organic carbon/water partition coefficient (Koc) using respectively the BIOWIN3 and KocWIN QSAR models of EPISuite™. The T score was based on the indicators for five human health endpoints: carcinogenicity (c), mutaganicity (m), reprotoxicity (r), endocrine disruption (ED) and general repeated dose systemic toxicity. Structural alerts for these endpoints taken from the OECD QSAR Toolbox™ and Toxtree™ were used as indicators of potential (human) toxicity. Chemical similarity values to Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) with c, m and/or r properties were also included. Value functions were developed to translate the presence of alerts and similarity to the existing SVHCs to values between 0 and 1. Subsequently, all values were also aggregated to an overall PMT score, again ranging from 0 to 1. Applying the approach to chemicals from the Inventory of Existing Commercial chemical Substances, which are also REACH registered, resulted in 15% of the chemicals receiving high scores (≥ 0.33) for all three (P-, M- and T-) indicators and 4% getting very high scores (≥ 0.5) for both the P- and M-indicators.ConclusionsThe approach confirmed the properties of chemicals classified as SVHC due to PMT properties (e.g. 1,4-dioxane), illustrating the ability of the approach to identify PMT chemicals of concern. Water regulators, drinking water suppliers and others can use this approach to identify potential PMT/vPvM chemicals that need further investigation.

Biological wastewater treatment plants as sources of environmental pollution by persistent organic pollutants (on the example of Odesa industrial-and-urban agglomeration)

Formulation of the problem. Effective mechanism of wastewater treatment (WT) are important components of reducing anthropogenic load on the environment. One of the most widespread mechanisms of urban wastewater treatment is the biological treatment on a Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant (BWTP). However, increasing the nomenclature of pollutants concentrated in urban wastewater seriously affects the effectiveness of WT on BWTPs, which are not intended for such a wide spectrum of specific pollutants such as, in particular, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The control of their intake into the environment must be regulated according to the Stockholm convention. The goal of the research is the evaluation of the intake of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) into the environment from the wastewater of Odesa Industrial-and-Urban Agglomeration (IUA) and determining the volumes of their accumulation in the sea environment. Purpose. The assessment of the amount of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) entering the environment with the wastewater from Odesa IUA and determining the amount of their accumulation in the sea environment. Methods. In our research, all available official methods of calculation of the unintentional formation of POPs were reviewed, as a result – the main and most complete methods were selected: «UNEP (2013). Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Releases of Dioxins, Furans and Other Unintentional POPs» and «EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook. Technical guidance to prepare national emission inventories, 2019». For evaluation of PCDD/F accumulation in the sea environment an improved by authors methodology for calculation of PCDD/F accumulation with their cumulative effect and half life taken into account was used. Results. The work provides justification for the necessity of use of calculation methodologies for determing the intake of PCDD/F to the sea environment adjacent to Odesa IUA; annual massed of PCDD/F entering the sea environment as part of treated, insufficiently treated and untreated wastewater are calculated; massed of PCDD/F that accumulate in waste activated sludge (WAS) on BWTP are calculated; volumes and specifics of PCDD/F accumulation in the sea basin, where the wastewater of Odesa IUA is being discharged to are determined using the improved methodology that enables taking into account the cumulative effect and half life period of these substances; mass and concentration of PCDD/F, immobilized in WAS, are determined, the excess level of concentration of PCDD/F in WAS compared to the maximum permissible concentration is determined. The total accumulation of PCDD/F in the sea environment over 2007-2017 period is determined. Conclusions. It was established that the use of calculation methodologies for evaluating PCDD/F volumes in the water environment is the only and necessary condition for satisfying the requirements of the Stockholm convention due to the impossibility of performing a regular instrumental monitoring of PCDD/F intake into the water environment. The use of suggested by us improved methodology for calculation of PCDD/F accumulation with their cumulative effect and half-life period taken into account allows for calculation of PCDD/F masses that were formed throughout the year under consideration, taking into account the PCDD/F masses that were formed during previous years as well.

Theoretical investigation on the transformation of ketamine initiated by ⋅OH/SO4−⋅ in aqueous solution: Mechanisms, kinetics and ecotoxicity assessment

Ketamine (KET), as an analgesic medicine, has raised considerable attention due to its widespread existence and potential environmental hazards. This study researched the transformation mechanisms, kinetics, and potential ecology risks of KET degradation initiated by ⋅OH/SO4−⋅ through density functional theory (DFT). The calculation results show that the H15 atom belongs to the -CH3 group is more likely to be extracted by ⋅OH or SO4−⋅, generating the most active dehydrogenated radical intermediate IM21, which could further transform into the principal products (P1, P2, P3, P5, P6, and P8) in the aquatic environment. Furthermore, the subsequent degradation pathways of other active intermediates IM2, IM16, and IM19 were also considered. At 298 K, the calculated ktotal of KET reacting with ⋅OH and SO4−⋅ are 1.34 × 1010 and 1.11 × 1010 M−1 s−1, respectively, demonstrating that the ⋅OH shows slightly higher initiation performance than SO4−⋅. In terms of the half-lives, the values in ⋅OH-initiated AOPs are at the range of 0.05–5.75 s, while the half-lives of KET reaction oxidized by SO4−⋅ range from 0.01 to 437.03 d in 273–313 K. Based on the toxicity evaluation, the majority of degradation products present toxicity decreasing, but some of them remain at toxic or very toxic levels, such as P1, P3, P13, and P20. In addition, the accumulative effects, developmental toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity of multiple transformation products increase compared with parent KET. This work could contribute to enhancing the comprehension of KET mineralization in liquid ecosystems and establish a theoretical basis for prospective industrial applications.

Catalytic degradation of propetamphos and azamethiphos using silver ion.

In this study, the degradation of two organophosphate pesticides, namely, propetamphos and azamethiphos, in the presence of Ag+ at different mole ratios was investigated. Moreover, the kinetic and degradation pathways of both chemicals in the range of 0-60min were explored. Gas chromatography equipped with a thermionic specific detector was used to investigate the pesticide degradation kinetics and mechanism. The results show that the degradation rate of both pesticides follows first-order kinetic. The first-order rate constant and the half-life of reaction were in the range of 0.002-0.143min-1, 187-2.1min, and 0.005-0.164min-1 and 60-1.8min, for propetamphos and azamethiphos, respectively, at ambient temperature (25 ºC). Because group containing sulfur atom is a better leaving group than group containing nitrogen, the rate of degradation of azamethiphos is higher than propetamphos. In a higher mole ratio of Ag+ to pesticides, the degradation rate was increased, and it is possible to predict the rate of degradation of pesticides according to the chemical composition of leaving group.

Inspection of the detection cross section dependence of the Gallium Anomaly

We discuss in detail the dependence of the Gallium Anomaly on the detection cross section. We provide updated values of the size of the Gallium Anomaly and find that its significance is larger than about 5σ for all the detection cross section models. We discuss the dependence of the Gallium Anomaly on the assumed value of the half life of Ge71, which determines the cross sections of the transitions from the ground state of Ga71 to the ground state of Ge71. We show that a value of the Ge71 half life which is larger than the standard one can reduce or even solve the Gallium Anomaly. Considering the short-baseline neutrino oscillation interpretation of the Gallium Anomaly, we show that a value of the Ge71 half life which is larger than the standard one can reduce the tension with the results of other experiments. Since the standard value of the Ge71 half life was measured in 1985, we advocate the importance of new measurements with modern technique and apparatus for a better assessment of the Gallium Anomaly.

Fate and occurrence of indoxacarb during radish cultivation for multi-risk assessment

Agrochemical indoxacarb is an important tool for selective pest control in radish that be consumed globally. A rapid and sensitive analytical method UHPLC–MS/MS was developed for tracing indoxacarb in radish leaves and roots with LOQ of 0.001 mg/kg and RT within 2 min, which were confirmed the satisfied storage stability of indoxacarb in radish matrixes with degradation rates less than 30 %. The occurrence, pharmacokinetics dissipation and concentration variation of indoxacarb were reflected by the original deposition of 2.23–4.12 mg/kg, half–lives of 2.6–8.0 d and terminal magnitude of 0.17 × 10–2–25.46 mg/kg in radish, and the influencing factors were further illustrated in terms of climate factors, crop cultivars and soil properties. The highest residues of indoxacarb were 25.46 mg/kg in leaves and 0.12 mg/kg in roots, which were higher than international maximum residue limits. A probabilistic model, as well as deterministic model, were introduced to evaluated the health risks of indoxacarb offering a better description for uncertainty. The total chronic dietary risk values of indoxacarb were 146.961–482.065 % in 12 registered crops, of which ADI % in radish was accounted for 19.8 % with risk dilution effects. The unacceptable acute dietary risks of 121.358–220.331 % were observed at 99.9th percentile, whereas the high–potential non-carcinogenic effects were observed over 90th percentile (105.035–1121.943 %). The health risks should be continuously emphasized given the increasing applications and persistent characteristics of indoxacarb, which is vital to protect the human population from hazardous effects, particularly for vulnerable children.

Prescribing drugs in Renal Failure: A Judicious Approach

Prescribing drugs in renal failure is essential to reduce their toxic effects due to unusual accumulation in renal failure. It is because of less protein binding and prolong half life of elimination in case of renal failure. Usually the toxicity of the drug is reduced by either diagnosing serum level of the specific drug or by measuring eGFR of the particular patient. We commonly use three methods in these cases to reduce the side effect of the drugs 1. Interval extension, 2. Dose reduction. 3. Combination of the above two. In case of patients on hemodialysis the drugs which are not protein bound are easily eliminated, so in such cases the drugs are either given after hemodialysis or giving a fraction of the individual dose just after hemodialysis. In case of Renal Transplantation prescribing drugs requires knowledge of the drug-drug interection. It is to be remembered that to get the immediate therapeutic efficacy of the drug in case of renal failure the loading dose is same as that of patients without renal failure, only the maintenance dose is either reduced or given with a prolong interval or both. The following drugs are specially important during prescribing in Renal Failure 1. NSAIDS 2. Psyhotherapeutic drugs 3. Antimicrobials and 4. Cardiovascular Drugs. Bangladesh J Medicine 2023; Vol. 34, No. 2(1) Supplement: 180

P371 CONFOUNDING CARDIAC MARKERS IN A CASE OF COVID–19 MYOCARDITIS

Abstract Background–Aim A man of 81 years, with previous coronary artery disease, unrecognized myocardial infarction, carrier of implanted pacemaker, presented to the cardiology department for a scheduled hospitalization to treat shortness of breath and symptoms of heart failure. There was no chest pain, ECG poorly assessable for pacemaker–induced rhythm, cardiac troponin I of 35,879 ng/L (cut–off 20). Suspecting an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the patient undergoes immediate coronary angiography that does not showed any change compared to a previous examination. Meanwhile SARS–CoV–2 research in nasopharyngeal swab by RT–PCR was positive and after a few hours fever appears. Methods The authors discussed the case and extensive monitoring of cardiac markers and intensive evaluation of clinical parameters were activated. Troponin I HS, CK–MB, Myoglobin (Beckman Coulter DxI), CK, AST, LDH are determined by routine methods (Beckman Coulter AU700), Troponin T (cTnT–hs Roche Diagnostics) on (Roche Cobas 8000). Results All markers (except Troponin T) had the typical pattern of an ACS, in accordance with their characteristic half–life of an acute insult with development of a peak and subsequent decrease in a few days. The peaks recorded were cTnI 35,789 ng/L, CK–MB 72.6 ug/L, CK 800 U/L, AST 1,51U/L, Myoglobin 244 ng/ml, LDH 600 U/L, all at time 0. Troponin T was moderately increased at presentation (3700 ng/L, cut–off 10) followed by a peak of 3,872 after 2 hours stabilizing around 2,800 ng/L for the next days and decreasing after day 7. The final diagnosis was acute COVID–19–related myocarditis. Conclusions It has been described that the presentation of a SARS–CoV–2 infection can sometimes simulate a condition of ACS when there is an inflammatory involvement of the heart. In this case all the clinical data pointed towards an ischemic pathology which, however, was excluded in diagnostic imaging. A conclusive assessment with cardiac MRI was not possible due to the presence of the pacemaker, so the diagnosis was made as probable. Among the different markers, Troponin I was found to express a more intense signal and an earlier positive evolution than that of Troponin T. Our report highlights the different evolution of cardiac troponins in this disease.

Study into impacts of formation sands on foam performance during drainage gas production—Take Qinghai Oilfield’s Sebei Gasfield for example

Foam drainage gas production is a gas production technology for low-pressure gas well in domestic and abroad industries. In Qinghai Oilfield’s Sebei Gasfield, sand existence often occurs during drainage production. In order to reveal the impacts of formation sands on drainage gas production, a lab test was conducted to make a study on foam performances of different foam drainage agents in case of sand existence. A laboratory test was employed to study the foam performances of different foam drainage agents under varies scenes of sand existence, to reveal the impacts of formation sands during foam drainage gas recovery. In this study, four foam drainage agents, i.e., OP-10, Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, Hexadecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB), and Lauramidopropyl Hydroxy Sulfobetaine, were selected to compare with the field compound foam drainage agent QH-X1. Following patterns can be revealed by macroscopic and microscopic experimental results: Foam formed by an ionic-type foam drainage agent is more stable when the hydrophilic sand particles are smaller (which means they have larger specific surface areas and the adsorption energy levels between the sand and bubbles are higher); while foam formed by non-ionic foam drainage agent OP-10 has a short stable period because its polarity is weaker than that of ionic-type agent foam and the adsorbability of the foam on the hydrophilic particles is weak; under different sand conditions, the impacts of different foam drainage agent types on the average bubble area, bubble wall thickness, and Plateau Boundary are markedly different, and appear decreasing tendency with anionic foam drainage agents, is the trend can be more obvious when the sand particles are coarser. The study on QH-X1 shows that the foam parameters are generally lower as the sand particles are smaller, but the changing trends can be different after sand is involved. Particles constitute an adsorption film at the gas-liquid interface and a laminar structure within each interbubble thin liquid film, thus improving bubble coalescence and unloading stability. So, the inflow of the hydrophilic sands increases the stiffness, half-life period, and comprehensive rate of the QH-X1-induced foam.

Itraconazole interferes in the pharmacokinetics of fuzuloparib in healthy volunteers.

Fuzuloparib is an orally administered poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP1) inhibitor and has potential anti-tumor effect on ovarian cancer (such as fallopian tube cancer and primary peritoneal cancer) in China. As fuzuloparib is metabolized mainly by CYP3A4, we explored the effect of itraconazole, a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, on a single oral dose of fuzuloparib in healthy male subjects. An open-label, single-arm, fixed sequence study was conducted. Twenty healthy adult males received one single dose of fuzuloparib (20mg) with one dose administered alone and the other dose coadministered with itraconazole. Subjects received 200mg QD itraconazole for 6days during the study. Serials of blood samples were collected pre-dose of each fuzuloparib capsule administration and 48h post-dose, and were used to analyze the PK parameters of fuzuloparib. Coadministration of repeated 200mg QD oral doses of itraconazole for 6days increased fuzuloparib exposure by 1.51-fold and 4.81-fold for peak plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), respectively. Oral administration of 20mg fuzuloparib alone or together with itraconazole was safe and tolerable in healthy male subjects. The CYP3A4 inhibitor itraconazole has a significant influence on the PK behavior of fuzuloparib, suggesting to avoid using strong CYP3A4 inhibitors simultaneously with fuzuloparib. If it is necessary to use a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, fuzuloparib would be discontinued and be restored to the original dose and frequency of administration after 5-7 half lives of CYP3A4 inhibitor stopped. http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/index.html , CTR20191271.

Photo electrochemical properties of LaCoO3 synthetized by chemical route. Application to orang II photo-oxidation

The perovskite LaCoO3 prepared from nitrates was successfully applied in the oxidation Orange II (OII) under sunlight. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy and electrical conductivity were used for its characterization. The XRD pattern showed that the single phase is completed at 850 °C and the oxide crystallizes in a distorted structure. The optical gap (1.35 eV), determined from the diffuse reflectance, is due to the crystal field splitting of Co3+ octahedrally bonded with a low spin configuration (3d6). A hole mobility of 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1 and an activation energy of 0.11 eV were deduced from the conductivity measurement. LaCoO3 attractive with regard to toxicity concern exhibits a chemical inertness at neutral pH (Na2SO4, 0.1 M) with an exchange current density of 40 μA cm−2. The variation of the capacitance (C−2) with the potential (E) is characteristic of p type comportment with a flat band potential of 0.30 VSCE. The EIS date showed an arc due to the resistance of the bulk material (1153 kΩ cm2) whose center center is below the real axis (-16°) assigneed to a constant phase element (CPE). The conduction band (-0.94 VSCE), deriving from Co3+: 3d wave function, allows the generation of O2•− species and as application, the oxide was positively tested for the mineralization of OII upon sunlight. The hetero-system p-LaCoO3/n-ZnO improves significantly the photo catalytic performance -activity, due to the facile electronic transfer with an oxidation of 86%. The oxidation kinetic obeys a first order model with a half life of 23 min.

Dissipation kinetics, food safety evaluation and decontamination of chlorantraniliprole in cowpea

Cowpea is known for its high protein content (18–25%) and also chiefly raised for green fodder. The infesting pests, pod borer and aphids are the most destructive ones. To control these pests, chlorantraniliprole emerges as a promising molecule. Thus, its needs to assess the dissipation nature of the chlorantraniliprole. Hence, a trial was conducted at IIVR, Varanasi, India. The residue analysis was done through solid phase extraction method followed by gas chromatoghraphy analysis. The analytical method was standardized and validated according to international standard. The half–life of chlorantraniliprole in cowpea pods was estimated in the range of 2.79- 2.33 days in the year-I and 2.51–2.32 days in the year-II for single dose (SD) and double dose (DD) respectively. Similarly, half-life of the chlorantraniliprole in leaves 2.43–2.27 days whereas, 1.94–1.70 days in case of soil. The exposure of the residues in pods were less than maximum permissible intake (MPI). The RQ values revealed that there could be negligible risk to earthworms and arthropods. Washing with boiling water was found the most effective decontamination treatment to remove residue from cowpea pods. Thus, it could be concluded that chlorantraniliprole does not pose any significant threat when uses in cowpea in a particular dose.

Latest progress of PandaX-III neutrinoless double beta decay experiment

Neutrinoless double beta decay experiments are one of the most promising approaches to resolving the puzzle of neutrino mass generation. PandaX-III experiment searches the neutrinoless double beta decay of 136Xe with a high-pressure gaseous time projection chamber. A total amount of 140 kg enriched 136Xe under 10 bar will be loaded in the detector. Micromegas is used for charge collection with a high spatial resolution. Benefitting from the long event track in the gaseous detector, identification algorithms can significantly suppress the background rate. In this proceeding, the design and construction of the detector is presented, whose technologies have been successfully demonstrated by a prototype detector. The event classification algorithms were developed, suppressing the background events at a rate of about 300. Based on the result, we expect an exclusion sensitivity of 2.7×1026 yr (90% C.L.) for decay half life after 5 years’ exposure.

Allopurinol

Allopurinol

Improving the activity and thermal stability of trypsin by the rational design

The direct evolution combined with the rational design was performed to improve the catalytic properties of the trypsin. ET mutation trypsin included the mutated sites of S40P, G86P, N192Y and Q194L. The optimum of ET mutation trypsin activity was 80.0 ℃. The half life of wild type trypsin and ET mutant trypsin was 420.1 min or 630.1 min respectively. The activity of ET mutation trypsin increased from 3156.95 U/mg to 3951.68 U/mg. Km of ET mutation trypsin was reduced from 26.2 mM to 25.6 mM. Kcat of ET mutation trypsin increased from 3.309/s to 3.312/s. 150–200 amino acids residues of ET mutation trypsin had the higher hydrophobicity. Based on the molecular docking results, the hydrogen bond between the 48th histidine residue and the substrate became shorter after the ET mutation. The evolution increased remarkably the activity and thermal stability of the trypsin.

The Emergence of the Romanian National School of Composition in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century: Between the Western Canon and the Resources of the Local Music

This article aims to explain the rise of Western art forms in the musical creation of the Romanian Principalities in the first half of the nineteenth century, as dictated by a particular European political and economic dynamic. I analyse the spread of Western music – usually described as a consequence of the gradual modernization of Romanian society – in terms of the power relations between the European core and a newly integrated periphery at the Eastern border of the continent. To illustrate this change, I discuss Edward Said's concept of orientalism which helps describe the early interactions between Western musicians and professionals and the local music traditions and customs. I then show how these interactions gave the former access to a distinctive musical material used in compositions targeting an expanding European music market. In an age of national struggle in the Romanian Principalities, national music was both a concept and a practice in demand by the local intelligentsia and fostered by composers. However, in addition to this agreement, the concept of national music signalled some significant societal changes that I elucidate by looking at class stratification and the evolution of musical taste. In the final part of the analysis, I draw on dependency theory authors such as Samir Amin and Daniel Chirot to argue that musical life in the first half of the nineteenth century in Wallachia and Moldavia was closely mirroring the economic development of these countries. Thus, I demonstrate that the emergence of the Romanian school of composition must be understood not only at a national level but also within a broader political, economic and social context, defined by the gradual transition to capitalist modes of production and consumption that happened in the first decades of the nineteenth century.

Dissociation Kinetics of Gaseous Ozone in Onion (Allium Cepa L.) Bulbs

ABSTRACT Ozone decomposition kinetics varies significantly in the presence of biological commodity. This variation depends on many factors but primarily on the active sites in agricultural commodities and storage environments. Ozone decomposition kinetics in onion bulbs at temperatures (2, 10, and 18°C) and relative humidity (RH) (35 & 85%) for different ozone concentrations (100, 200, 300 ppm) and number of exposures (1, 2, 3) were investigated. Zero-order, first-order, and second-order kinetic models were fitted to the ozone decomposition data with respect to time. It was found that the decomposition kinetics follows a first-order reaction and the decomposition rate constant ( k d ) varies from 1.712 × 10−3 s−1 − 5.181 × 10−3 s−1 in the presence of onion. The half-life period ( t 1 / 2 ) was found to increase with concentration and number of exposures and decrease with temperature and relative humidity. The activation energy was found to vary between 1.840 and 10.216 kJ mole−1 and 6.271–12.461 kJ mole−1 for the relative humidity of 85% and 35%, respectively.