Inert Substance Research Articles

Aging and Susceptibility to Pulmonary Disease.

The lungs are continually subjected to noxious and inert substances, are immunologically active, and are in a constant state of damage and repair. This makes the pulmonary system particularly vulnerable to diseases of aging. Aging can be understood as random molecular damage that is unrepaired and accumulates over time, resulting in cellular defects and tissue dysfunction. The breakdown of cellular mechanisms, including stem cell exhaustion, genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alteration, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, altered intercellular communication, and changes in the extracellular matrix is thought to advance the aging process itself. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and cancers illustrate a pathologic breakdown in these mechanisms beyond normal aging. The immune system becomes less effective with advancing age. There is a low-level state of chronic inflammation termed inflammaging which is thought to be driven by immunosenescence, the changes in the innate and adaptive immune systems with advancing age that lead to dysregulation and decreased effectiveness of the immune system. These processes of aging lead to expected changes in the form and function of the respiratory system, most notably a loss of lung elasticity, decrease in respiratory muscle strength, increase in ventilation-perfusion mismatching, and stiffening of the vasculature. The astute clinician is aware of these expected findings and does not often attribute dyspnea to aging alone. Maintaining a low threshold to investigate for comorbid disease and understanding how pulmonary disease presents differently in the elderly than in younger adults can improve clinical outcomes. © 2022 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 12:3509-3522, 2022.

Analysis and Design of Control System for Desktop Size Concrete 3D Printer

Concrete, in construction, structural material consisting of a hard, chemically inert particulate substance, known as aggregate (usually sand and gravel), that is bonded together by cement and water. Concrete is the world's second-most-used substance after water, and it is also the most extensively used building material. 3D printer has become a prominent method of additive manufacturing with its rapid prototyping capabilities and is able to reduce the time and cost of any complex manufacturing process. This paper describes work the process of 3D design, analysis, manufacturing and testing of a concrete 3D printer to explore the plausibility and sustainability of concrete 3D printing to replace the conventional construction method. A desktop size concrete 3D printer concrete 3D printer with 0.5×0.5×0.5 m print volume is developed for lab testing, which utilizes computer-based control system to layer-by- layer construct physical objects is developed to study the usability of the printer as well as the feasibility of replacing the conventional construction method. The development of the 3D printer is divided into two parts, Part A: Mechanical and Part B: Control System. Concrete 3D printing technology is not widely known and is expensive to be deployed. Thus, greater research and development of the technology is required to evolve into a more mature study that is accessible to consumers. The project output envisions as to lay a foundation for extended studies and applications of 3D printed concrete in Malaysia

The Effect of Various Genetic Diseases and Eye Surgeries on Iris Discoloration

The color of human eyes is often the same as the iris of the eye, which itself consists of two parts: the anterior layer of iris stroma and the posterior layer or posterior pigment epithelium. Based on experiments, it is believed that iris color is determined based on four factors: pigment granules in the posterior pigment epithelium, pigment concentration in iris stromal melanocytes, melanin pigments in iris melanocytes, and the scattering and absorption of light from the extracellular matrix properties of the stroma. Becomes. In general, melanocytes in their is stroma have a greater effect on iris color. These types of cells contain a biopolymeric and inert substance called melanin, which itself has two types: brown-black or Eumelanin and red-yellow or Pheomelanin.

Hypersensibilité aux excipients : mythe ou réalité ?

Excipients are considered inert substances, without an active role in treatment, added to drugs in order to change their solubility or their kinetics of absorption, increase the stability, influence palatability or create a distinctive appearance. The hypersensitivity reactions to excipients are rare, but they can be severe. An accurate diagnosis, even sometimes is a real challenge, is mandatory. In its absence, the imputability of the reaction can be inappropriately attributed to the active substance leading to the useless eviction of it and the persistence of the exposure to the culprit with risk of recurrence. Their clinical presentation is heterogenous, including immediate (from urticaria/angioedema to anaphylaxis) and delayed hypersensitivity reactions. A suspicion of hypersensitivity to excipients appears in case of multiple drug hypersensitivity. The diagnosis is based on clinical history and an allergy workup including skin tests (skin prick-tests, intradermal tests, patch-tests), biological tests when available (basophil activation tests, specific IgE) and, in selected cases, provocation tests. The list of excipients must be accessible for all drugs. The healthcare providers must be aware of the possibility of a hypersensitivity reaction to them.

Bioremediation of dairy wastewater using bacteria: a panoramic review

The Bioremediation consists of applying microorganisms to reduce, eliminate or transform organic or inorganic polluting compounds into inert substances. Solid and liquid wastes are generated daily in industrial activities and, among the food processing industries, the dairy sector presents a large number of liquid effluents due to its extensive use of water in various activities and sectors. For an efficient treatment of effluents, it is essential to understand the microbiota of the wastewater, its biochemical characteristics and metabolic activity, as well as the origin of the polluting compounds. The growing demand for products derived from livestock and agricultural activity drives the search for environmental technologies capable of providing sustainable development. In this scenario, biotechnological studies and bioremediation applications are increasingly gaining ground both for environmental control and for application in value-added products. The purpose of this review is to present and discuss the most recent and used technologies for bioremediation of effluents from dairy industries using bacteria.

Influence of onion (Allium cepa L.) supplementation on physio-chemical composition and lipid profile of broiler meat

The poultry industry profoundly impacts food security and daily protein intake provision. The employment of various medicines in their husbandry has also threatened consumers' health. Hence, new organic and inert substance are investigated to avoid the potential threat to human health. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the effect of onion on performance, lipid profile, chemical composition, and acceptability of broiler meat. Dietary supplementation of onion given at the dose of 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5 g/kg of feed exerted a substantial effect (P<0.05) on the proximate chemical composition of leg and breast meat. Protein percentage was increased, while the fat percentage decreased in meat significantly (P<0.05) in treated groups for leg and breast. Moisture and dry matter content of meat were not influenced by onion supplementation. Feed supplementation of onion substantially (P<0.05) reduces water holding capacity in treated groups compared to non-treated. Onion powder did not exert any significant effect (P>0.05) on iron content, ash, and breast and leg meat pH values. Internal fats were (P<0.05) significantly decreased in treated groups compared to the control. Onion powder at a dose rate of 4.5g, 5g, and 5.5 g/kg of ration in broilers had a significant effect (P<0.05) on total cholesterol. Total cholesterol was decreased in treated groups of meat samples compared to the control. Onion powder supplementation has a significant (P<0.05) effect on meat's fatty acid profile. Fatty acids, namely mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid and linoleic acid, were increased significantly in meat compared to the control group. Saturated fatty acid, i.e., palmitic acid, was notably decreased in treated groups B, C, and D as compared to control.

Constructing fibrous-like skeleton by simulated sea mud to improve three-phase foam for stability and fire-extinguishing performance

Combining the three-phase foam and simulated sea mud particle (SM-P: simulated sea mud particle) containing inert substances (SMTP: simulated sea mud three-phase foam) to engineer a new three-phase foam fire extinguishing material was a viable strategy to solve the problem of coal mine spontaneous combustion prevention and insufficient stability of mine fire extinguishing materials. Herein, based on constant temperature heating table and simulated coal spontaneous combustion fire extinguishing device, the experiments were conducted to evaluate the material properties. As expected, the SMTP-20 exhibited excellent stability (73.00 mins at 40 °C), which was 2.19 times that of ordinary three-phase foam (34.33 mins at 40 °C). The introduction of SM-P can also effectively reduce the thermal decomposition of powdered coal, the corresponding temperature of thermal decomposition peak value of raw coal was delayed 17.78 °C. The SMTP-20 could construct a thin fibrous-like foam layer with SM-P to cover the surface of burning coal and effectively seal cracks in the coal from oxygen contact, thereby preventing coal further oxidation. This work not only offers a new three-phase foam with outstanding performance, but also unravels a strategy for preparing three-phase foam with high stability and good fire extinguishing effect.

The Science of Placebo, to Understand the Importance of Placebo Effects in OA:

A placebo is an inert substance that produces beneficial therapeutic effects. In the context of clinical trials, the placebo response refers to an improvement in symptoms in study participants assigned to placebo treatment. High placebo responses pose a substantial impediment to distinguishing active treatment effects and may in part account for the failure to identify effective treatments in clinical trials in osteoarthritis (OA) and other conditions. The treatment response to placebos has been to linked to an effect on opioid receptors in the brain.

EXERCISE AND EDUCATION VS. SALINE INJECTIONS FOR KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED EQUIVALENCE TRIAL

Purpose: Exercise and education are recommended as primary treatments for knee osteoarthritis (OA), but adequate placebo-controlled studies are lacking probably due to unclear mechanisms of action, difficulties with blinding, and the complexity of the interventions. Recent advances in open-label placebo research have shown that considerable placebo responses can be elicited by inert substances if applied adequately. Intra-articular (IA) saline injection is one such inert treatment and is a commonly used comparator in clinical trials for knee OA.

Penile Paraffinoma, A Disastrous Effect of a Failed Self inflicted Penile Augmentation Technique

Penile paraffinoma is a rare cause of penile lump(s) or mass that occurs after self- injecting liquid paraffin or similar substances like vaseline, mineral oils, illicitly performed to augment penis growth. This practice is commonly seen in many parts of central and south east Europe and some parts of Asia like Korea. Although paraffin is an inert substance for human body tissue, it can often cause complications like nodules, lumps, ulcers, pain, deformity etc. when injected into human body. The purpose of this study is to present a case of anadverse consequence of a failed penile augmentation technique that required surgical reconstruction.

The pharmaceutical excipient PEG400 affect the absorption of baicalein in Caco-2 monolayer model by interacting with UDP-glucuronosyltransferases and efflux transport proteins.

The bioavailability of drugs is often related to intestinal metabolism and transport mechanisms. In previous studies, pharmaceutical excipients were recognized as inert substances in clinical safety evaluations. However, a large number of studies have shown that pharmaceutical excipients regulate the metabolism and transport of drugs in the body and improve the bioavailability. The pharmaceutical excipient polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) as a good solubilizer and surfactant has the potential to improve the bioavailability of drugs. The combined action of UDP‐glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) and efflux transport proteins is responsible for the intestinal disposition and poor bioavailability of baicalein. Our aim is to study the effect of PEG400 on the absorption of baicalein on the Caco‐2 monolayer, and confirm the interaction of PEG400 with UGTs (UGT1A8 and UGT1A9) and efflux transports. We initially found that baicalein in the Caco‐2 monolayer would be metabolized into glucuronide conjugates BG and B6G under the action of UGT1A8 and UGT1A9 on the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, and then mainly excreted to different sides by acting of MRP and BCRP. The addition of PEG400 significantly accelerated the metabolism of B in Caco‐2 cells and increased the penetration of BG and B6G. Furthermore, PEG400 also significantly decreased the efflux ratio of BG and B6G, which was the evidence of the interaction with the efflux transporters. In the in vitro intestinal microsome regeneration system, low concentration PEG400 decreased the K m value of UGT1A8 and UGT1A9 (key enzymes that mediate the production of BG and B6G); high concentration PEG400 enhanced the V max value of UGT1A8 and UGT1A9. In conclusion, our results determined that PEG400 interacted with some UGTs and efflux transporters, which were the main factors affecting the absorption of baicalein.

ОБҐРУНТУВАННЯ СПОСОБІВ ТА МЕТОДІВ УСУНЕННЯ САМОЗАЙМАННЯ ВІДХОДІВ ГІРНИЧОГО ВИРОБНИЦТВА

Purpose. To analyse the processes of spontaneous combustion of mining waste, too study the impact of waste combustion on the environment, to define the main factors that provoke spontaneous combustion of mining waste. Methods. A comprehensive approach has been applied, which includes an analysis and synthesis of literature and experimental data on the problem of spontaneous combustion of mining waste. The current status of spontaneous combustion of mining waste has been analysed. Results. The feasibility of applying methods and techniques for the treatment of waste rock to further prevent spontaneous combustion has been substantiated Scientific novelty. The dependence of the environmental impact on the processes of thermal oxidation of waste rock mass has been established. The expediency of applying methods and techniques for eliminating self-combustion foci as the main factors of environmental pollution has been determined. A new expedient method and method has been proposed that will allow estimating not only the economic effect but also the environmental one, which will contribute to improving the environmental and economic situation of mining regions where mining wastes are deposited. Practical implication. Practical implication consists in the development of recommendations for methods and techniques to eliminate spontaneous combustion of mining wastes A methodology for determining the necessary quantitative and qualitative composition of inert substances (suspensions) containing sodium group to eliminate sulphurous zones of exogenous combustion processes of waste stock has been proposed. Recommendations on the use of these means and methods have been developed.

The placebo and nocebo effects in functional urology.

A placebo is an inert substance normally used in clinical trials for comparison with an active substance. However, a placebo has been shown to have an effect on its own; commonly known as the placebo effect. A placebo is an essential component in the design of conclusive clinical trials but has itself become the focus of intense research. The placebo effect is partly the result of positive expectations of the recipient on the state of health. Conversely, a nocebo effect is when negative expectations from a substance lead to poor treatment outcomes and/or adverse events. Randomized controlled trials in functional urology have demonstrated the importance of the placebo and nocebo effects across different diseases such as overactive bladder, urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, as well as male and female sexual dysfunction. Understanding the true nature of the placebo-nocebo complex and the scope of its effect in functional urology could help urologists to maximize the positive effects of this phenomenon while minimizing its potentially negative effects.

Pathomorphological changes due to helium inhalation: an expert case report

BACKGROUND: Helium, being an inert substance, does not have a significant effect on the human body, but sometimes at very high concentrations in the air, it can cause suffocation and a state of oxygen deficiency. Oxygen-helium therapy has proven to be the most effective recovery, rehabilitation, and treatment for all types of lung damage and reduced saturation. It is even included in the recommendations for preventing, diagnosing, and treating COVID-19.
 Deaths due to inhalation of inert gases, especially helium, are sporadic in forensic practice. As a rule, the probability of death in such cases is most often associated with man-made accidents or violations of safety regulations when performing technological processes and operations related to the use of gas.
 Safety instructions for handling helium warn of possible damage to the mucous membrane of the eyes and frostbite of the skin, as well as mechanical injury when a heavy gas cylinder falls.
 CASE PRESENTATION: Inert gases do not interact with other chemicals. However, we encountered a suicide case where an inert gas was chosen as a means. Inhalation of helium caused macro- and micromorphological changes in the human body, which led to a fatal outcome.
 The case is illustrated by photographs of microscopic preparations, which demonstrate the absence of specific signs of toxic effects on the organs and tissues of the deceased.
 CONCLUSION: Despite the substances extreme volatility, the compressed gass pressure and low temperature can cause various injuries and even death. The study of general pathomorphology can be helpful in the conduct of a forensic medical examination.

Plastic pollution: why is it a public health problem?

Plastic pollution: why is it a public health problem?

Effects of Aggregate Size on the Concrete Strength

Abstract: With the advancement in the technology, there is an immense growth in the field of construction as well, of which concrete forms the basic unit. Concrete is the structural material consisting of a hard, chemically inert particulate substance, known as aggregate (usually sand and gravel), that is bonded together by cement and water. Aggregate can be fine or coarse, depending on its size. Fine and coarse aggregates make upto 65-80% of the bulk of concrete volume and reduces the cost of concrete formation (1/4 to 1/8 of the cost of cement). Keeping this thing in view, this study is done to find the size of aggregate having more strength so that a particular size of aggregate can be used to meet our demands. The aggregates used are of the size 10mm, 20mm 40mm and mixture of 10mm, 20mm and 40mm. The concrete cubes (150mm x 150mm x 150mm) prepared are tested after 7 days, 14 days and 28 days of curing. The grade of concrete used in this research is M30. Keywords: Concrete, Compressive strength, aggregates, Concrete cubes, cement, water-cement ratio, mix design, M30 grade, Compressive Testing Machine (CTM), curing

Biomaterials and Their Biomedical Applications: From Replacement to Regeneration

The history of biomaterials dates back to the mists of time: human beings had always used exogenous materials to facilitate wound healing and try to restore damaged tissues and organs. Nowadays, a wide variety of materials are commercially available and many others are under investigation to both maintain and restore bodily functions. Emerging clinical needs forced the development of new biomaterials, and lately discovered biomaterials allowed for the performing of new clinical applications. The definition of biomaterials as materials specifically conceived for biomedical uses was raised when it was acknowledged that they have to possess a fundamental feature: biocompatibility. At first, biocompatibility was mainly associated with biologically inert substances; around the 1970s, bioactivity was first discovered and the definition of biomaterials was consequently extended. At present, it also includes biologically derived materials and biological tissues. The present work aims at walking across the history of biomaterials, looking towards the scientific literature published on this matter. Finally, some current applications of biomaterials are briefly depicted and their future exploitation is hypothesized.

Cellulose gasification with Ca–Fe oxygen carrier in chemical-looping process

Biomass-derived chemical looping gasification (BCLG) is a novel technology for lignocellulose energy applications. Ca–Fe oxygen carriers have been proven to be a potential material for efficient lignocellulose conversion and hydrogen-enriched syngas production in process studies. In this study, Thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS), pyrolysis chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) and fixed-bed experiments were conducted, and the cellulose BCLG product was analyzed to explore the mechanism of reaction between Ca–Fe OCs and biomass char or volatiles. The mechanism of the synergistic effect of Ca–Fe was analyzed to explain the characteristics of the OCs. The results suggest the Ca-based materials act as catalysts to promote the decomposition of cellulose monomers at primary reaction and char at secondary reaction, and also promote the reforming and oxidation of volatiles by chemisorption. Ca participates in the construction of inert substances, such as Ca2Fe2O5, to avoid the deep oxidation of CO and H2. Fe-based material supplies oxygen and promotes the reforming of volatile. Compared with Fe2O3 and CaO/Fe2O3, CaFe2O4 shows a better performance on carbon conversion and H2 production below 850 °C.

Pitfalls in Sample Preparation of Metalloproteins for Low-Temperature EPR: The Example of Alkaline Myoglobin

Due to fast relaxation processes of transition metal ions, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of metalloproteins needs to be performed at cryogenic temperatures. To avoid damaging the biological system upon freezing, a cryoprotectant is generally added to the sample as a glassing agent. Even though cryoprotectants are expected to be inert substances, evidences in literature show their non-innocent role in altering the shape of EPR spectra of proteins and biological objects in general. In this work we conduct a systematic study on the impact of several experimental factors—such as buffer composition, choice of cryoprotectant, pH and temperature—on the EPR spectrum of myoglobin, taken as a reference system for being a well-characterized heme-containing protein. We focus on high-pH buffers to induce and investigate the alkaline transition of ferric myoglobin (pKa ~ 8.9). A combined approach of continuous-wave EPR and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy shows that using particular pairs of buffers and cryoprotectants determines a considerable pH variation in the sample and that this effect is enhanced at cryogenic temperature. In addition, phase memory times were measured to evaluate the efficiency of different cryoprotectants and compared with spectral linewidths in continuous-wave EPR. Our findings suggest that among the selected cryoprotectants ethylene glycol is rather effective, even more than the widely used glycerol, without having unwanted effects.

When one suffers less, all suffer less: Individual pain ratings are more effective than group ratings in producing placebo hypoalgesia.

BackgroundPlacebo hypoalgesia can be induced by observing a person (model) whose pain relief is the result of the use of an inert substance or procedure. This study examined whether verbal modelling, that is, showing pain ratings provided by other people, is sufficient to induce placebo hypoalgesia.MethodsParticipants from the experimental groups were acquainted with pain ratings (presented on VASs) derived from a single person (groups 1 and 3) or a group of people (groups 2 and 4) that were allegedly subjected to the same painful procedure. The ratings of pain stimuli that were allegedly applied with placebo were lower than the ratings of stimuli applied without placebo. In two of the experimental groups (group 3 and 4), participants also watched a video recording showing individuals who allegedly provided pain ratings; however, they did not observe them undergoing pain stimulation. The control group did not undergo any manipulation. Then, the participants received a series of the same thermal pain stimuli that were applied either with or without placebo and rated their intensity.ResultsPlacebo hypoalgesia was induced only in participants presented with pain ratings provided by a single person, regardless of whether this person was previously seen. However, the pain ratings presented to the participants generally decreased individual pain sensations, regardless of whether they came from a group of people or a single person.ConclusionsVerbal modelling can produce placebo hypoalgesia and reduce pain sensations. It may be effectively used in clinical practice to modify patients' responses to pain treatment.SignificanceThis study shows that knowledge about pain ratings provided by another person is sufficient to induce placebo hypoalgesia; thus, neither direct nor indirect observation of a person experiencing pain is necessary to induce this effect. Pain ratings derived from a group of people can decrease pain sensations but they do not produce placebo hypoalgesia.