High Absorption Rate Research Articles

Highly efficient and salt resistant solar interface evaporator based on pressed wood flour with multi-level pores

Interfacial solar steam generation has garnered significant attention as an eco-friendly and sustainable technology for desalination and wastewater purification. Nevertheless, in challenging conditions such as strong brine and high-intensity settings, both the evaporation efficiency and the service life of the solar evaporator are inevitably diminished due to salt accumulation on the surface of interfacial solar evaporators. Here, a platelike evaporator that features high water evaporation rate in brine without salt accumulation is developed by rational design of polydopamine-coated wood powder with a hierarchical pore structure. This evaporator not only exhibits high water evaporation rate of 2.299 kg m−2 h−1 along with 155.4 % solar-to-steam conversion efficiency under 1 sun illumination, but also deliver exceptional salt accumulation resistance even in 20 wt% brine. With the advantages of a high light absorption rate, easy preparation process, and low cost, this evaporator shows promising potential in the field of solar steam generation and seawater desalination.

Ultrawide Spectrum Metallic Plane Blackbody with Extremely High Absorption from 0.2 to 25 µm.

A plane blackbody serves as a standard radiation source, providing a precise quantitative relationship between input radiation and the output of infrared detectors, which is essential component of space infrared remote sensing instruments. However, current plane blackbodies fabricated by coating or surface structuring are unable to achieve uniform and stable high absorption in the ultrawide spectral range spanning the UV-VIS-NIR-MIR. Here, a femtosecond laser "V"- scanning method is proposed for the fabrication of cross-scale multi-layered micro- and nanocomposite structures on copper surfaces to realize ultrawide spectrum metallic plane blackbody with high absorption. The structures consist of a micrometer cone-tip structure with a depth-to-width ratio of 7:1 (period 30 µm, depth 210 µm), an oxide layer with a thickness of more than 2 µm, and nanoparticles of different sizes, achieving uniform high absorption rates exceeding 99% in the localized spectral range of 400-700 nm and over 98% from the UV to MIR range of 200 nm to 25 µm. This strategy offers a generalized approach to enhance surface light absorption, with significant application potential in infrared calibration, passive radiation cooling, and stray light suppression.

Investigating the Antiproliferative Activity of Novel 4-Chloro-8-Nitro-1,2-Dihydro-3-Quinoline Acylhydrazones on Human Cervical Cancer Cell Lines.

A new series of acyl hydrazones have been synthesized from 4-chloro-8-nitro-1,2-dihydroquinoline-3-carbaldehyde. These compounds were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. Density functional theoretical (DFT) studies were conducted to understand the correlation between electronic parameters and biological activity. The biological activity of the compounds was theoretically examined through molecular docking and ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) analysis. The compounds demonstrated high absorption rates and were found to be non-hepatotoxic. Preliminary cytotoxicity screenings against HeLa cell lines identified compound 7 as the most potent, with an IC50 value of 18.8 μM. This compound was further selected for bioimaging studies. The results indicate that compound 7 induces apoptosis at its IC50 concentration, suggesting its potential as an anticancer agent.

Effect of wall thickness on the precipitation behavior, microstructure, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of copper alloy prepared by electron beam powder bed fusion

Electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) is one of the most promising technologies for preparing thin-walled copper alloy, because copper alloy have a high energy absorption rate for electron beam, and high preheating temperature can reduce the solidification temperature gradient and reduce the deformation of thin-walled parts. At present, there are few reports on the systematic research work on the EB-PBF of thin-walled CuCrZr alloy parts, and it's impossible to effectively supervise the production of complex thin-walled CuCrZr alloy parts. This work aims to investigate the effect of thickness on the microstructure and mechanical properties of CuCrZr alloy produced by EB-PBF. As the wall thickness decreases from 5.0 mm to 0.3 mm, the grain sizes of the XY and YZ planes decreased from 20.4 μm and 43.1 μm to 14.5 μm and 21.5 μm respectively, and the texture intensity decreased from 16.04 and 23.57 to 7.62 and 10.99. The analysis showed that Cr2O3 nanoprecipitates were precipitated in situ in the sample, and their average size decreased from 65.8 nm to 21.6 nm. Due to the reduction in grain and nanoprecipitate size, the performance of thin-walled samples is significantly enhanced, with yield strength (YS) increasing from 112 MPa to 165 MPa and conductivity increasing from 71.7 %IACS to 86.1 %IACS. Finally, the main contributions to the YS of specimens with different wall thicknesses was discussed. Precipitation strengthening and dislocation strengthening are the main strengthening mechanisms in thin-walled samples, and the gradual refinement of nano-precipitates is the main reason for the improvement of mechanical properties as the wall thickness decreases.

Honeycombed pomegranate-like sludge ceramsite particles: Preparation with fly ash floating beads as the pore-forming template and performance optimization

Ceramsite used in construction and building are typically limited by high water absorption rates, the contradiction between lightweight and high strength, and severe performance fluctuations. This can be attributed to the fact that ceramsites are currently prepared by high-temperature sintering expansion, wherein viscosity and surface tension of the liquid phases shall perfectly match with the gas generation rate. On the other hand, sand washing sludge and fly ash are common solid wastes in construction and building and their environmentally friendly disposal are of great significance. In this study, honeycombed pomegranate-like sludge ceramsites with low density (packing density = 733.2–968.3 kg/m3), high strength (cylinder compressive strength = 11.2–18.8 MPa), and low water absorption rate (one-hour water absorption rate = 1.2–2.8 %) were prepared with sand washing sludge and fly ash floating beads as the raw material and the pore-forming template, respectively. Also, the effects of particle size and content of fly ash floating beads on the structure and performance of the as-prepared ceramsite were investigated. The results indicated that the pore structure of the as-prepared ceramsite was directly dependent on size and content of the fly ash floating beads, suggesting that the performance of the as-prepared ceramsite can be customized by tuning size and content of the beads. Additionally, lightweight aggregate concrete prepared by using the as-prepared ceramsites exhibited improved 7-day and 28-day compressive strengths and reduced thermal conductivity compared with concrete prepared by using commercially available ceramsites. Overall, this study presents the preparation of ceramsite particles with both high strength and low density by using fly ash and sand washing sludge, both of which are abundant solid wastes in constructions, thus contributing to solid waste recycling in construction.

A novel bi-level optimal strategy-assisted design boosting discovery of specific surface area of perovskite oxide for effective photocatalysis

Due to the inherent property of materials, photocatalysis plays a crucial role in diverse applications, such as the degradation of organic pollutants, fuel production, and nitrogen fixation. Perovskites, in particular, are remarkable for their high light absorption rate and energy conversion efficiency within the visible light range, thereby positioning them as promising photocatalysts. Given that specific surface area (SSA) is a critical metric for evaluating photocatalytic performance, accurately and quickly predicting the SSA of perovskites has emerged as a key area of technical research. Therefore, it is essential to explore the relationship between potential materials descriptors and SSA, which can significantly expedite the discovery of photocatalyzed perovskite materials with high SSA. In this study, we proposed a bi-level optimization method that combines descriptors identified strategy and model optimization strategy for predicting the SSA of unknown perovskite candidates, thereby elucidating the relationship between material features and SSA. Initially, at the upper level, the Gradient Boosting Regression combined with Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE-GBR) method was employed to identify crucial features that are closely correlated with the SSA of photocatalyzed perovskites. Subsequently, the Sure Independence Screening.Sparsifying Operator (SISSO) was utilized to develop new descriptors that exhibited strong correlations with SSA. Based on refined descriptors identifiied at the upper level, at the lower level, the optimal model strategy was obtained by Improved Osprey Optimization Algorithm (IOOA) using golden sine strategy and Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR) regression to tune the key parameters of GBR for optimizing SSA. The optimal designing method achieved remarkable predictive performance with R2 (R-squared) score of 0.90 and MAE (Mean Absolute Error) of 3.97 m2/g, along with 5-fold cross-validation. Then this method was applied to predict the SSA of 300 unidentified ABO3 perovskites. Comparison with experimental data revealed that our approach significantly accelerated the development of perovskite materials with superior photocatalytic properties, showing the potential of our model in advancing the field of photocatalysis.

Super protective effect, ultra-high juice absorption and long-term antibacterial of Ag-2MI@Chitosan biodegradable sponge for fruit preservation and transportation

Plastic foam packaging is often used for the transportation to avoid mechanical damage to the fruit, but it lacks antibacterial properties, water absorption and is non-degradable, leading to fruit decay and safety risks as well as serious environmental pollution. Herein, Ag-2-Methylimidazole@Chitosan (Ag-2MI@CS) was successfully synthesized by in situ synthesis at normal temperature and pressure, and improved the antibacterial performance of Ag-2MI@CS by using green solvent ethanol to adjust the solvent polarity. The results showed that the long-lasting inhibitory performance of Ag-2MI@CS was significantly improved, the long-lasting antibacterial time has been extended from 24 h to 96 h. Furthermore, Ag-2MI@CS can significantly protect fruits and reduce the damage of fruits, even when falling from a height of 60 cm or under extreme transportation conditions. Besides, Ag-2MI@CS had extremely high absorption rates of water and fruit juice, 1447.69 % and 1356.59 %, respectively, which was conducive to absorbing water generated by respiration and juice generated by damage during transportation, so as to avoid the growth of bacteria caused by water and fruit juice. Ag-2MI@CS can achieve fruit preservation in both indoor static and transportation dynamic conditions. This study offers novel insights into new biodegradable packaging material in fruit transportation.

Hyaluronic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for magnetic fluid hyperthermia and methylene blue dye removal: Preparation, physicochemical characterization, and enhancing the heating efficiency

We report here the magnetic fluid hyperthermia properties of water-dispersible hyaluronic acid-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (HA-MNPs), prepared using the coprecipitation technique followed by ligand exchange. The presence of the hyaluronic acid coating is confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Magneto-calorimetric studies show good field-induced heating efficiency of the HA-MNPs, where a high specific absorption rate (SAR) of ∼ 315 W/gFe is obtained for ∼ 5 wt% MNP concentration when exposed to an alternating magnetic field amplitude of ∼ 33.1 kA/m at ∼ 126 kHz. The heating efficiency is found to decrease by ∼ 33.8 % after immobilization of the MNPs within an agar matrix, which is attributed to the abrogation of Brownian relaxation. When subjected to an external DC magnetic field, the MNPs form linear chain-like structures, which causes the effective anisotropy energy density to increase. Magneto-calorimetric studies on agar-based oriented samples reveal a ∼ 19.5 % enhancement in SAR, thereby partly compensating for the loss in heating efficiency due to an increase in medium viscosity. The orientational ordering-induced enhancement in SAR is also verified using sweeping rate modified Stoner-Wohlfarth model-based calculations. In vitro cyto-toxicity studies on the HeLa cell lines reveal good cyto-compatibility of the MNPs. The negative charge on the surface of HA-coated MNPs is exploited to remove the cationic methylene blue dye from the aqueous medium, where the dye molecules are found to be physisorbed on the surface of the MNPs. The experimental findings clearly show the high induction heating efficiency, cyto-compatibility, and cationic dye-adsorption efficiency of the prepared HA-MNPs, thereby indicating the suitability of these MNPs for multi-functional applications like magnetic fluid hyperthermia and waste-water purification.

Impact of Cost Structure on Indonesia Food Industry Value Added

The food industry is a consistently growing sector, even in challenging economic conditions, driven by population growth and increased demand. Recognizing its importance, the Indonesian government has identified the food and beverage industry as a key sector in its Industry 4.0 roadmap. However, challenges such as reliance on imported raw materials and high labor absorption rates persist. This study analyzes the impact of cost structure on the value-added in Indonesia's food industry from 2017 to 2021, using data from Indonesia Statistics on large and medium industries. The Panel Data Regression results reveal that raw material costs and fixed capital costs positively and significantly affect value-added. These findings suggest that effective cost management, innovation, and the use of advanced technology are crucial for optimizing value-added in this sector.

Dual-Mode cellulose acetate@Al2O3/MWCNTs Janus fabric with radiative cooling and solar heating for personal thermal management

Personal thermal management (PTM) textiles with heating and cooling functionalities are highly appealing due to their potential to offer personalized comfort while also contributing to decrease energy consumption. However, most PTM fabrics are static and unable to meet the human body’s thermal comfort needs during seasonal and ambient temperature fluctuations. Herein, this work presents a dual-mode Janus Metafabric to provide radiation cooling and solar heating. The cooling side of Metafabric (cellulose acetate@Al2O3 porous coating) offers high solar reflectance (92.12 %), infrared emissivity (83.22 %), and net cooling power of 55.85 W·m−2. The heating side (multi-walled carbon nanotubes) exhibits a high solar absorption rate (88.4 %). Compared with raw fabric, it can achieve an additional cooling of 4.58 °C and heating of 38.02 °C. In addition, Metafabric also have excellent ultraviolet resistance, wear resistance, and washing properties, making it suitable for practical wearing. By flipping the Janus fabric, it is easy to switch between the cooling and heating modes to adapt to dynamic ambient temperature changes, which have great potential for maintaining human thermal comfort and alleviating the energy crisis.

Automatic tiling method for mosaic ceramic art images based on subpixel edge fitting localization and collaborative operation of multiple manipulators

Mosaic ceramics are not limited to use solely as building materials, they also possess artistic value. Artists can create images by arranging and combining mosaic ceramics, resulting in a perfect fusion of large-scale public art for external walls and ceramic materials. However, the current approach for artists to create mosaic ceramic exterior wall art images involves manual laying and assembling of individual mosaic ceramics. This manual process suffers from issues such as low efficiency, eye fatigue, selection errors, and the risk of high-altitude operations. These challenges significantly impact the quality and efficiency of creating mosaic ceramic exterior wall art image images. To address these problems, this paper proposes an automatic mosaic ceramic art image stitching method based on subpixel edge fitting positioning and collaborative operation of multiple robotic arms. Additionally, a new U + I type conveying method is designed for efficient and space-saving transportation of mosaic ceramics. Experimental results demonstrate a high success rate of recognition, absorption, and placement of multi-color mosaic ceramics using this method reaching 95.45%, with a positioning error within 0.5 mm. The method can also adapt to varying levels of light intensity or noise interference. This approach effectively enhances the quality and efficiency of creating mosaic ceramic exterior wall art images and promotes the development of mosaic ceramic exterior wall public art creation.

Effect of Powder Spreading Parameters on Laser Absorption Behavior and Processability of High‐Strength Aluminum Alloy Fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) of rare‐earth‐modified high‐strength aluminum alloys presents a novel approach for manufacturing complex components with enhanced structural performance, particularly in aerospace applications. This study fabricates Al–Mg–Sc–Zr specimens using various powder spreading parameters to explore their impact on laser processability. The investigation reveals that varying the powder layer thickness from 30 to 70 μm yields the smallest irradiation diameter of 135 μm at an optimal thickness of 50 μm, attributable to effective multiple reflections, high laser absorption rates, and stability. With an optimal laser power of 400 W, a scanning speed of 600 mm s−1, and a hatching spacing of 60 μm, the sample produced at 50 μm layer thickness achieves a relative density of 99.23%, a top surface roughness of 15.42 μm, and a refined grain size of 1.67 μm. Following aging at 325 °C for 4 h, this sample exhibits a tensile strength of 518 MPa and an elongation of 15.6%. The findings establish a theoretical basis for controlling the morphology and properties of high‐strength aluminum alloys in laser additive manufacturing.

Nanoscale grating-based perovskite solar cell with improved efficiency

MAPbI3 perovskite-based solar cell (PSC) has attracted much attention due to its high absorption rate. The top flat electrode degrades the behavior of PSC due to limiting the light reached to the absorber layer, which reduces the efficiency. In this study, the influence of texturing the top FTO electrode surface with a triangular saw-tooth grating on both the optical and electrical performance is reported. The interference effects are also considered in this work by modeling the PSC structure as a Fabry–Perot resonator. In this regard, the finite difference time domain method is utilized to precisely simulate the optical characteristics of the nano-structural design. Also, the optical behavior of PSC is studied at different triangular grating (TG) structures and dimensions at which the light absorption is maximized. Furthermore, the effect of absorber thickness and defect density on the optoelectronic performance is investigated. We configured the conversion efficiency (η) of the proposed PSC structure by using the bulk and Langevin recombination mechanisms. The proposed grating structure enhances the light coupling, and hence the light absorption and the generated current density are increased. For absorber thickness of 350 nm, we reported a maximum conversion efficiency (η) of 19.5% for the proposed triangular grating (TG) structure with an enhancement of 19.6% compared to the structure with a flat FTO layer. As the defect density is increased from 1012 cm−3 to 1018 cm−3, the efficiency of the optimum TG PSC is reduced from 19.5% to 10.1%, respectively. The simulation results, therefore, contribute to the understanding of the PSC-based MAPbI3 design and can be used to improve its physical behavior.

Microwave absorber surface design for 5G energy harvesting applications

This study presents a high-efficiency microwave absorber for energy harvesting in 5G frequencies. Initially, a unit cell was designed in four stages to efficiently absorb in the targeted frequency region. The results obtained for each stage of the design were analyzed, and additional investigations were conducted for substrate material and thickness based on the optimum performance of the unit cell structure. A unit cell absorber designed on an FR4 a flame-resistant fiberglass/epoxy-based composite, commonly utilized in printed circuit boards due to its favorable electrical insulation properties and low cost. With a thickness of 1.5 mm, the absorber achieved a 98.04% absorption at 3.8 GHz according to simulation results. Subsequently, this unit cell was separately designed and simulated with different periodic arrays to transform into an absorber surface. As a result, high absorption rates of 98.94% and 98.35% were achieved at 3.8 GHz and 4.2 GHz, respectively, in the 2 × 2 array. It was observed that the structure absorbs over 85% within a 1 GHz bandwidth between 3.5 GHz and 4.5 GHz. Finally, a prototype of the absorber surface was manufactured, and measurements were taken in the laboratory environment. Significant agreement was found between the data obtained from these measurements and the simulation results. The results indicate that the suggested absorber surface is well-suited for energy harvesting within the n77 (3.3 GHz to 4.2 GHz) and n78 (3.3 GHz to 3.8 GHz) bands of 5G communication.

Flexural & Compressive Strength Behaviour of Lowweight Engineered Timber Slab(ETS) composed of crack filler, wood adhesive & Saw dust

This study presents the Compressive & Flexural Strength performance of Low-weight Engineered Timber Slab(ETS) composed of wood adhesive, Saw dust, & crack filler. It provides empirical data on the flexural and compressive properties of engineered timber slab(ETS), which is an element of wood adhesive(WA), sawdust(SD), crack filler(CF). SD gave values of 562.3/m3, 0.67, 39.66%, 2.85, 1.2 and 2.98 for mean bulk density, mean specific gravity, mean water absorption, finess modulus, coefficient of curvature (Cc) and uniformity (Cu). Batching was done by volume by virtue of the low density of the component materials (SD & CF). The component materials were manually mixed. A total of twelve (12) cubes of size 150 x 150 x 150mm, were produced from mix ratios 0.5:0.5:2 & 0.5:0.75:2(WA : CF : SD) for compressive strength test. The above mix ratios were adopted based on the light-weight nature & high rate of water absorption of the component materials. A total of Twenty (20) slabs of size 300 x 300 x 100mm, 300 x 300 x 125mm, 300 x 300 x 150mm, 300 x 300 x 175mm and 300 x 300 x 200mm were cast for flexural strength of slab. Twenty(20) slabs were produced for with slab thickness of 100mm, 125mm, 150mm, 175mm and 200mm using the mix ratios 0.5:0.5:2 & 0.5:0.75:2(WA:CF:SD) respectively. the mean values of the compressive strength, flexural strength and deflection were 14.9MPa & 15.78MPa, 5.06MPa to 5.52MPa and 28.9mm to 86.5mm respectively

Mechanistic Characteristics of HRS-WC Mixture Using Tabas Stone Waste Coated With Plastic Waste As Aggregate

Utilization of tabas stone waste and polypropylene (PP) plastic waste has not been carried out massively and optimally because it lacks economic value. The Tabas stone waste can be used as an aggregate for pavement. The porous characteristic of tabas stone results in a high rate of absorption and abrasion, so modifications are made by coating the aggregate with an PP plastic. The aim of this experiment was to determine the characteristics of the HRS-WC mixture with the aggregate of tabas stone coated with plastic. The initial step of this research was testing the tabas stone aggregates, bitumen material, and PP plastic according to the SNI procedure, the next step was Marshall test to find the Optimum Bitumen Content (OBC), the OBC value was obtained by 10%. Coating the aggregate with shredded plastic measuring ± 1 cm2 was done on coarse aggregate only using the dry method with the proportions of plastic are 5% and 10% of the total weight of coarse aggregate. The characteristics of the aggregate coated with plastic decrease in the value of absorption and abrasion, but only 10% of the plastic content met the specifications with a value of 2.5% and 19.63%. The Marshall testing on the HRS-WC mixture with plastic-coated aggregates was done at variations in bitumen content of 8.5%; 9%; 9.5%. The mixture at 5% plastic content only 9.5% bitumen content met the specifications, namely: stability 1352.72 kg, flow 3.39 mm, MQ 402.23 kg/mm, VIM 5.75%, VMA 18.62% , and VFB 69.16%. When at 10% plastic content, only 9% and 9.5% bitumen content met the specifications, namely the stability of 1370.06 kg; 1456.21 kg, flow 3.81 mm; 3.98 mm, MQ 365.31 kg/mm; 370.06 kg/mm, VIM 5.77%; 4.89%, VMA 18.07%; 18; 15%, and VFB 68.05%; 73.04%. Asphalt mixture of 9% bitumen content, 10% plastic content has more ITSM value compared to 5% plastic content. This is due to the plastic content in the mixture of 10% plastic content which causes the mixture to be stiffness. Asphalt mixture with a plastic content of 5%, with an bitumen content of 9.5% faster than the mixture with an bitumen content of 8.5% and 9% in the ITFT test. Asphalt mixture with a plastic content of 5%, with a variation of bitumen of 8.5% experienced a decrease in the dynamic creep strain value until the bitumen content was 9.5%. A mixture with a plastic content of 5% aggregate coating is recommended for HRS WC that uses tabas stone.

Microwave Frequency Analysis of Dielectric Properties in Biological Tissues: Insights into Dielectric Constant, Conductivity, and Resistivity at 9.4 GHz

This study investigates the dielectric properties of various biological tissues at microwave frequencies, specifically focusing on their dielectric constant, conductivity, resistivity, and loss tangent. Using methods such as Von Hippel’s and Yadav Gandhi’s techniques, the dielectric characteristics of heart, liver, brain, and muscle of chicken tissues were analysed at 9.4 GHz. It is found that tissues with higher water content exhibit greater dielectric constants and conductivities, while those with higher solid content, like liver, display higher resistivity. It has also been observed that tissues with lower dielectric constants and conductivities are those with greater absorption indices, which are typically associated with increased energy dissipation as heat. An increasing amount of energy dissipation may result from tissues with higher absorption rates being less effective at transferring microwave energy, as suggested by this inverse connection, which also emphasizes the complexity of electromagnetic wave interaction within tissues. This work provides critical insights into the interaction of electromagnetic waves with biological tissues, which is essential for applications in medical diagnostics, therapeutic technologies, and electromagnetic exposure safety standards.

Enteromorpha prolifera polysaccharide-Fe (III) complex promotes intestinal development as a new iron supplement.

Iron is a crucial micronutrient, and its deficiency can have detrimental effects on the health of infants. Dietary polysaccharide-iron (III) complexes (PICs) are promising for addressing iron deficiency due to their minimal adverse reactions and high iron absorption rate. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary Enteromorpha prolifera polysaccharide-Fe (III) complex (EP-Fe) on newborns, using 3-day weaned piglets as the iron-deficiency model. Results showed that EP-Fe improved iron levels and promoted intestinal development in piglets. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that EP-Fe increased the survival of intestinal epithelial cells under hypoxia by upregulating the expression of genes that promote the development of the vascular system. Additionally, EP-Fe enhanced the mucosal barrier functions by inhibiting myosin light chain kinase (MLCK)/phosphorylated myosin light chain (p-MLC) signaling pathway to increase the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins. Furthermore, the 16S rRNA gene sequencing of gut microbiota showed that EP-Fe promoted the enrichment of Bacteroides_fragilis and other gut microbes that can metabolize carbohydrates. In conclusion, EP-Fe is an effective iron supplement for newborns, and it can be developed as a comprehensive nutritional supplement.

Pharmacokinetics of methadone after intravenous and subcutaneous administration in domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

ObjectiveTo determine the pharmacokinetic profile of methadone after intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) administration in domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Study designCrossover experimental study. AnimalsA group of eight healthy adult ferrets weighing 1.01 ± 0.23 kg (mean ± standard deviation). MethodsMethadone hydrochloride (0.3 mg kg–1) was injected IV or SC to each ferret with a 3 week washout period. Blood samples were collected via a jugular catheter before and 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 360 and 480 minutes after drug administration. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine plasma methadone concentrations. A nonlinear mixed effects model was used to analyze the data. ResultsAfter IV injection, systemic clearance (Clss) and volume of distribution (Vdss) were 78.9 mL min–1 kg–1 and 9.8 L kg–1, respectively. Elimination half-life was 2.0 hours and SC bioavailability was fixed at 1. The maximum observed plasma concentration after SC injection was 92.1 ± 76.8 ng mL–1. Behavioral changes were observed after both routes. Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe pharmacokinetic profile of IV methadone was characterized by a high Clss and large Vdss, with high bioavailability and absorption rate after SC administration. Half-life was short and mean plasma methadone concentrations stayed above the minimum effective concentration (MEC) reported in humans only after SC administration for 5 minutes, but remained above that reported in dogs for 45 minutes following both routes. Further studies investigating the MEC and pharmacodynamics of methadone in ferrets are warranted.

Torsemide as a Primary Choice in Edema Associated with Heart Failure.

Heart failure (HF) is the fastest-growing disease with a higher fatality rate. The most differentiating feature of HF is pulmonary or peripheral edema, which is characterized by a gradient between intravascular and extravascular pressure. Loop diuretics were chosen as the primary treatment for edema associated with HF due to their efficacy and early onset of action. If an oral dose had not been provided, intravenous (IV) administration of torsemide, or equal doses of furosemide and bumetanide, was preferred. However, the key variables for selecting and administering loop diuretics are their pharmacological qualities as well as their clinical efficacy. Torsemide has greater bioavailability, a higher rate of absorption, a longer duration of action, and lesser ototoxicity, making it the primary choice in the management of edematous HF.