Routine Production Research Articles

Evaluation of the microbial quality of commercial liquid herbal preparations on the Ghanaian market

Conventionally, the microorganisms in liquid herbal mixtures are curtailed due to the fresh preparation before the administration to patients. Prolonged storage of liquid herbal preparations (due to commercialization) coupled with primeval routine production processes may increase the potential of microbial contamination in liquid herbal preparations. This study aims to analyze the microbial quality of 15 selected commercial liquid herbal preparations on the Ghanaian market. The samples were obtained from accredited pharmacies and herbal outlets in the Greater Accra region of Ghana, specifically Central Accra, between November 2019 and January 2020. The selected samples were coded HM1 to HM15. The effectiveness of the primary package of all samples was determined using the seal integrity test. The presence of microorganisms in the sampled brands was determined using nutrient agar. Isolated microorganisms from the sampled herbal mixtures were then identified using various selective media. All 15 samples (100%) passed the seal integrity test. Ten (67%) out of the 15 samples were contaminated with various microorganisms, whereas the remaining 5 samples (33%) were devoid of microorganisms. Eight (53%) out of the 15 samples were contaminated with fungi, with 3 (20%) being above the pharmacopeial limit. Six (40%) out of the 15 samples showed the presence of Escherichia coli. Out of the 15 sampled products, only HM11 contained Staphylococcus aureus. Similarly, only one sampled product (HM15) contained Salmonella typhi. None of the sampled products was contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ultimately, this study revealed that commercialized liquid herbal preparations in Ghana are likely to be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. Good manufacturing practices must therefore be strictly adhered to bring out the best in local herbal manufacturing industries.

Mutanase from Trichoderma harzianum inductively Produced by Mutan: Short-Term Treatment to Degrade Mature Streptococcus mutans Biofilm.

This study aimed to evaluate the disruptive effect of fungal mutanase against cariogenic biofilm after short-term treatment. For that, mature Streptococcus mutans biofilms (n = 9) were exposed to active or inactivated enzymes produced by Trichoderma harzianum for 1 min, two times per day. Biofilms were analyzed by amount of matrix water-insoluble polysaccharides, bacterial viability, acidogenicity, and morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The group treated with active enzymes (AE) had a significantly lower amount of insoluble polysaccharides (893.30 ± 293.69) when compared to the negative control group (NaCl, 2192.59 ± 361.96), yet no significant difference was found when comparing to the positive control group (CHX, 436.82 ± 151.07). Also, there was no significant effect on bacteria metabolism and viability (P-value < 0.05). Data generated by the quantitative analysis were confirmed through scanning electron microscopy images. Thus, fungal mutanase degraded the biofilm after a short-term treatment without interfering with bacterial viability and metabolism. Such findings offer insight to the development of routine oral care products containing this input.

A new 124Xe irradiation system for 123I production

Since 2001, Nuclear and Energy Research Institute IPEN-CNEN has produced weekly ultrapure iodine-123, using a manual irradiation system, fully developed in IPEN. Iodine-123 radiopharmaceuticals have been produced and distributed to hospitals and clinics of nuclear medicine, where several diagnostic imaging procedures for thyroid, brain and cardiovascular functions are performed. Due to the short half-life and emission of low-energy photons, this radioisotope becomes suitable for diagnosis in children. In the present work, the technical and constructive aspects of a new fully automated irradiation system, dedicated to 123I routine production, employing enriched xenon-124 gas as the target material is presented. This new system consists of a target, a water and helium cooling system, a cryogenic system, an electric power system, and a control and process monitoring unit, composed of supervisory software, connected to a programmable logic controller via personal computer. In this new concept, there is no need for human intervention during radioisotope production, reducing the possibility of eventual failures or incidents involving radioactive material. By using this new system, a specific yield of 2.70 mCi/μAh per irradiation was achieved in validation runs, and after three years of routine production of iodine-123, the system showed reliability and resilience.

Antonio Santa Croce and Giovanni Battista Pallotta – Cooperation between the Warsaw and Vienna Nunciatures in 1629. A Contribution to the Study of Horizontal Communication within the Structures of the Papal Diplomatic Service

The article deals with communication and interaction between papal diplomatic missions in the early modern era. Mainly due to a lack of extant source materials, it remains the white spot in the research into the history of Polish and foreign nuncios. However, thanks to materials from Archivio di Stato di Roma, namely the section of Archivio Santa Croce containing the originals of letters received by Nuncio Antonio Santa Croce in 1629, it is possible to attempt at least a partial reconstruction of the collaboration between the papal diplomat residing at the Court of Warsaw and his counterpart at the Court of Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg in Vienna, Giovanni Battista Pallotta. The correspondence analysis allows us to conclude that the contacts between the papal diplomats residing in Warsaw and Vienna in 1629, and probably earlier and later, were regular and intensive. We can assume that the routine products of the information and analytical work carried out for the Secretariat of State by both papal missions were shared in the correspondence, and the Nunciatures of Vienna and Warsaw were thus well informed about the course of affairs related to the pan-European conflict in several theatres of war. However, they also communicated and cooperated on strictly ecclesiastical matters, such as the ongoing reform of religious congregations in the 1620s.

A Reliable Production System of Large Quantities of [13N]Ammonia for Multiple Human Injections.

[13N]Ammonia is one of the most commonly used Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radiotracers in humans to assess myocardial perfusion and measure myocardial blood flow. Here, we report a reliable semi-automated process to manufacture large quantities of [13N]ammonia in high purity by proton-irradiation of a 10 mM aqueous ethanol solution using an in-target process under aseptic conditions. Our simplified production system is based on two syringe driver units and an in-line anion-exchange purification for up to three consecutive productions of ~30 GBq (~800 mCi) (radiochemical yield = 69 ± 3% n.d.c) per day. The total manufacturing time, including purification, sterile filtration, reformulation, and quality control (QC) analyses performed before batch release, is approximately 11 min from the End of Bombardment (EOB). The drug product complies with FDA/USP specifications and is supplied in a multidose vial allowing for two doses per patient, two patients per batch (4 doses/batch) on two separate PET scanners simultaneously. After four years of use, this production system has proved to be easy to operate and maintain at low costs. Over the last four years, more than 1000 patients have been imaged using this simplified procedure, demonstrating its reliability for the routine production of large quantities of current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)-compliant [13N]ammonia for human use.

Accuracy and Confidence of Strategic Intelligence in Cases of Inadequate Information: Implications for Acquisition of Collection Systems

In the early stages of acquisition of strategic intelligence collection systems, we may distinguish between developing new capabilities or adding additional capacity. To inform this decision, we suggest the use of a routine analytic product: long time series of reported accuracy and confidence. We test this by simulating notional collection and reporting in situations of inadequate capability and capacity. Inadequate capability, particularly where possible alternatives are not acknowledged, is the most striking case with consistently high confidence and low accuracy. Inadequate capacity is more recognizable, with well-calibrated but widely varying confidence and low accuracy. The adequate collection is identified with well-calibrated, slightly varying confidence and high accuracy. Capability and capacity may be able to be traded with similar performance.

The Developing Factors of Purchase Intentions: The Emerging Trend of Private to Mega Store Environment in Pakistan

This research study is highlighting the shifting trend of purchasing from private retail shops to mega/big box stores. Currently, many developing economies like Pakistan are witnessing a growing trend of the shift in shopping options, and moving on mega/big box stores is one of them. This research identifies some underlying factors of big box stores which affect purchase intentions. In this study store environment is considered as an independent variable whereas purchase intention is taken as the dependent variable. Customer satisfaction and behavioral loyalty are considered mediators and the effect of price (factor) has been checked as a moderator. The philosophy of positivism is followed for this research. The research design is explanatory in nature. Data is collected through structured questionnaires from the customers of FMCG and daily routine products. The sample size is 174 and both (male and female customers were considered). Non- Probability convenience sampling technique is used. For data analysis, SMART PLS 3 software and structural equation modeling are used. The results of this research suggested that the store environment has a significant impact on purchase intention. Similarly, the store environment significantly develops purchase intention with the mediation of customer satisfaction as well. Store environment has a positive impact on behavioral loyalty, whereas behavioral loyalty does not significantly impact purchase intentions. Prices have a significant impact as moderators on store environment and customer satisfaction.

Application of the Producer-Based Capacitance Resistance Model to Undersaturated Oil Reservoirs in Primary Recovery

Summary We investigated the application and usefulness of the producer-based representation of the capacitance resistance model (CRM) to characterize single and multiwell undersaturated oil reservoirs during primary recovery. The CRM is a physics-based, data-driven method that has been amply used to model reservoirs under different recovery stages, particularly during flooding processes. However, there have been very few applications to primary recovery. The previous work on primary recovery used the rate and bottomhole pressure (BHP) data to calculate the time constant or storage capacity, and the productivity index (PI) associated with each production well. Here, we incorporate popular productivity models in CRM, making the results comparable with those from pressure transient analysis (PTA) or rate transient analysis (RTA). We also investigate various topics that have not been discussed or that deserve a further explanation to include CRM in the reservoir engineering toolbox. These comprise constant and variable rate wells, transient flow, well location, well geometry, anisotropy, and different types of reservoir heterogeneity. CRM is systematically compared and validated against analytical and numerical models of single and multiwell reservoirs. We also use it to characterize flow in a real oil reservoir . Our results demonstrate that CRM can provide important parameters for reservoir characterization using BHP and rate data acquired from routine production operations, that is, without the need to shut in wells or perform dedicated tests. It yields reasonable estimates of flow resistance properties that depend on reservoir geology, petrophysics, and well condition. It can also be applied during successive time intervals to assess changes in well-reservoir properties, such as drainage radius or the PI, an indication of well damage. Most importantly, we show that for several well-reservoir cases with multiple complexities, CRM can accurately capture the reservoir size, or the drainage pore volume (PV) associated with each well in developed fields, which enables the calculation of average pressure and helps assess interwell communication and opportunities for infill drilling.

Reflecting Party Agendas, Challenging Claims: An Analysis of Editorial Judgements and Fact-checking Journalism during the 2019 UK General Election Campaign

ABSTRACT To counter mis/disinformation, fact-checking organisations are used as sources by journalists to challenge false or misleading statements, especially during election campaigns. But how different fact-checkers editorially construct their analysis and question dubious claims remains under-researched. Drawing on a case study of reporting during the UK’s 2019 General Election campaign, we interviewed senior editors and journalists, and conducted a systematic content analysis of 238 fact-checking stories produced by BBC’s Reality and Channel 4’s Full Fact, along with a fact-checking organisation, Full Fact, in order to critically assess their editorial judgements about the selection of news and use of sources. Our study revealed that fact-checking services at the BBC and Channel 4 were not closely integrated into their routine news production, and that the independent fact-checker, Full Fact, questioned claims differently to broadcasters. We also found that the broadcast agenda of fact-checkers centred on party political agendas and drew on a narrow range of institutional sources to question claims. Overall, we argue that if broadcasters relied more heavily on their fact-checking in routine coverage—beyond election campaigns—they would more effectively counter mis/disinformation, especially if a wider range of expert sources were drawn upon to scrutinize claims.

Hospital Production of Sterile 2% Propofol Nanoemulsion: Proof of Concept.

In the context of essential drug shortages, this article reports a proof of concept for the hospital preparation of a 2% propofol injectable nanoemulsion. Two processes for propofol were assessed: mixing propofol with the commercial Intralipid® 20% emulsion and a "de novo" process performed using separate raw materials (i.e., oil, water, and surfactant) and optimized for droplet size reduction with a high-pressure homogenizer. A propofol HPLC-UV stability-indicating method was developed for process validation and short-term stability. In addition, free propofol in the aqueous phase was quantified by dialysis. To envision routine production, sterility and endotoxin tests were validated. Only the "de novo" process using high-pressure homogenization gave satisfactory physical results similar to commercialized Diprivan® 2%. Both terminal heat sterilization processes (121 °C, 15 min and 0.22 µm filtration) were validated, but an additional pH adjustment was required prior to heat sterilization. The propofol nanoemulsion was monodisperse with a 160 nm mean droplet size, and no droplets were larger than 5µm. We confirmed that free propofol in the aqueous phase of the emulsion was similar to Diprivan 2%, and the chemical stability of propofol was validated. In conclusion, the proof of concept for the in-house 2% propofol nanoemulsion preparation was successfully demonstrated, opening the field for the possible production of the nanoemulsion in hospital pharmacies.

Multi-component cord blood banking: a proof-of-concept international exercise.

Most public cord blood (CB) banks currently discard more than 80% of umbilical CB units not suitable for hemopoietic stem cell transplant due to low stem cell count. Although CB platelets, plasma, and red blood cells have been used for experimental allogeneic applications in wound healing, corneal ulcer treatment, and neonatal transfusion, no standard procedures for their preparation have been defined internationally. A network of 12 public CB banks in Spain, Italy, Greece, the UK, and Singapore developed a protocol to validate a procedure for the routine production of CB platelet concentrate (CB-PC), CB platelet-poor plasma (CB-PPP), and CB leukoreduced red blood cells (CB-LR-RBC) using locally available equipment and the commercial BioNest ABC and EF medical devices. CB units with >50 mL volume (excluding anticoagulant) and ≥150×109/L platelets were double centrifuged to obtain CB-PC, CB-PPP, and CB-RBC. The CB-RBC were diluted with saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol (SAGM), leukoreduced by filtration, stored at 2-6°C, and tested for hemolysis and potassium (K+) release over 15 days, with gamma irradiation performed on day 14. A set of acceptance criteria was pre-defined. This was for CB-PC: volume ≥5 mL and platelet count 800-1,200×109/L; for CB-PPP: platelet count <50×109/L; and for CB-LR-RBC: volume ≥20 mL, hematocrit 55-65%, residual leukocytes <0.2×106/unit, and hemolysis ≤0.8%. Eight CB banks completed the validation exercise. Compliance with acceptance criteria was 99% for minimum volume and 86.1% for platelet count in CB-PC, and 90% for platelet count in CB-PPP. Compliance in CB-LR-RBC was 85.7% for minimum volume, 98.9% for residual leukocytes, and 90% for hematocrit. Compliance for hemolysis ≤0.8% decreased from 89.0 to 63.2% from day 0 to 15. K+ release increased from 3.0±1.8 to 25.0±7.0 mmol/L from day 0 to 15, respectively. The MultiCord12 protocol was a useful tool to develop preliminary standardization of CB-PC, CB-PPP, and CB-LR-RBC.

Synthesis and Ready to Use Kit Formulation of EDTMP for the Preparation of 177Lu-EDTMP as a Bone Palliation Radiopharmaceutical.

With its suitable nuclear decay characteristics and large-scale production feasibility with adequate specific activity, 177Lu is regarded as an excellent radionuclide for developing bone pain palliation agent. Ethylenediamine-tetramethylene phosphonic acid (EDTMP) is a preferred carrier molecule for radiolanthanides, such as 177Lu. The present paper describes the synthesis of EDTMP and the development of a ready-to-use kit for the preparation of 177Lu-EDTMP and its quality control in accordance with the quality and safety criteria required for medicinal use. EDTMP was synthesized by a modified Mannich-type reaction, and the structure was characterized using NMR and IR spectroscopy. Optimization of radiolabeling conditions was done with two different salt forms of EDTMP. The labeling yield was checked by paper chromatography with radiation detection. Kit was developed as a lyophilized mixture of EDTMP and sodium bicarbonate in a maximum volume of 5 mL. Labeling efficiency, radionuclidic purity, radiochemical purity, sterility, and pyrogenicity analysis were performed as the quality control of the labeled kit. The analytical data for the structure determination and purity of the synthesized ligand were in agreement with authentic commercial samples used in radiopharmacy.177Lu-EDTMP complex was prepared using synthesized EDTMP ligand under optimized labeling conditions with high labelling yield (>99%). The radiolabeling yields of the EDTMP kit at room temperature after 30 min and 48 hours were 99.46% and 99.00%. The developed EDTMP kit enables an instant one-step preparation of the radiopharmaceutical of high radiochemical purity (>99%) and has a sufficiently long shelf life. This enables the routine production of the 177Lu-EDTMP in nuclear medicine clinics without requiring experienced staff.

ULTRASOUND-ASSISTED AND ENZYMATIC-BASED METHOD FOR ISOLATION OF β-GLUCANS FROM OAT BRAN

β-Glucans are a group of non-starchy polysaccharides, or (1,3),(1,4)-β-D-glucans, that can be found in the cell walls of several species of bacteria, algae, lichens, fungi, and cereal grains. These carbohydrates are extensively used in food industry, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, therefore optimization of the extraction and isolation of β-glucans from grain sources has an especial importance in various fields of biotechnology, drug design, food science and technology. The aim of the study was to develop an optimized technological scheme for isolation of β-glucans from oat bran based on ultrasonic and enzymatic processing of raw material. Materials and methods. β-Glucans were isolated from grinded oat cereals during multi-stage process, which includes extraction of grain fats, hydrobarothermic processing, ultrasonification, enzymatic hydrolysis of concomitant starch and proteins, precipitation of β-glucan fraction by ethanol, centrifugation, and dry-freezing. Yield of β-glucans from raw material and its concentration in the final product were determined after hydrolysis by sulfuric acid or enzymatic cleavage by endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase. Results. As shown by acidic hydrolysis of the final product, the yield of β-glucans was 10.8 ± 0.23% and concentration was 79.6 ± 3.89%, while enzymatic hydrolysis gave 8.7 ± 0.82% and 65.1 ± 4.72%, respectively. Thus, the use of hydrobarothermic and ultrasound pre-treatment of raw material in combination with proteolytic digestion of ballast lipids and proteins allowed producing oat β-glucans in amounts comparable with those in case of acid- or alkali-based procedures. Conclusions. The described technological scheme of β-glucan isolation from oat bran based on sequential hydrobarothermic processing, ultrasonification, and enzymatic removing starch and proteins can be widely used for routine β-glucan production for various purposes in food technology, pharmacological industry, and medicine.

A Method to Determine the Chain Pillar Width considering Coal Burst and Goaf Ignition Dual-Hazard Management

Abstract High rock stress and ground temperature pose great threats to the routine production of longwall top coal caving (LTCC) panels. In this risky condition, the width of the chain pillar is considered a factor adjustable for controlling coal burst and goaf ignition hazards. However, a contradiction, as suggested by longwall experience, is that narrowing the pillar helps coal burst prevention but negatively leads to higher self-ignition potentials, while widening the pillar restrains goaf ignition but increases the likelihood of coal burst. This paper conducted a case study on a longwall panel from Tangkou Mine, China. The paper first analysed stress, elastic strain energy, and goaf temperature variation with varying pillar widths, by which the coal burst risk index δr and goaf ignition risk index Qs were defined and correlated to pillar width D. Further, a pillar width determination method considering coal burst and goaf ignition dual-hazard management was developed by means of the operating point principle. By this method, a reasonable width range was defined by plotting both correlation curves δr=fD and Qs=gD on a chart, followed by optimal width determination according to the intersection of both curves and further verification via a field trial.

Synthesis and preclinical evaluation of novel 99mTc-labeled PSMA ligands for radioguided surgery of prostate cancer

BackgroundRadioguided surgery (RGS) has recently emerged as a valuable new tool in the management of recurrent prostate cancer (PCa). After preoperative injection of a 99mTc-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) inhibitor, radioguided intraoperative identification and resection of lesions is facilitated by means of suitable γ-probes. First clinical experiences show the feasibility of RGS and suggest superiority over conventional lymph node dissection in recurrent PCa. However, commonly used [99mTc]Tc-PSMA-I&S exhibits slow whole-body clearance, thus hampering optimal tumor-to-background ratios (TBR) during surgery. We therefore aimed to develop novel 99mTc-labeled, PSMA-targeted radioligands with optimized pharmacokinetic profile to increase TBR at the time of surgery.MethodsThree 99mTc-labeled N4-PSMA ligands were preclinically evaluated and compared to [99mTc]Tc-PSMA-I&S. PSMA affinity (IC50) and internalization were determined on LNCaP cells. Lipophilicity was assessed by means of the distribution coefficient logD7.4 and an ultrafiltration method was used to determine binding to human plasma proteins. Biodistribution studies and static µSPECT/CT-imaging were performed at 6 h p.i. on LNCaP tumor-bearing CB17-SCID mice.ResultsThe novel N4-PSMA tracers were readily labeled with [99mTc]TcO4− with RCP > 95%. Comparable and high PSMA affinity was observed for all [99mTc]Tc-N4-PSMA-ligands. The ligands showed variable binding to human plasma and medium to low lipophilicity (logD7.4 − 2.6 to − 3.4), both consistently decreased compared to [99mTc]Tc-PSMA-I&S. Biodistribution studies revealed comparable tumor uptake among all [99mTc]Tc-N4-PSMA-ligands and [99mTc]Tc-PSMA-I&S, while clearance from most organs was superior for the novel tracers. Accordingly, increased TBR were achieved. [99mTc]Tc-N4-PSMA-12 showed higher TBR than [99mTc]Tc-PSMA-I&S for blood and all evaluated tissue. In addition, a procedure suitable for routine clinical production of [99mTc]Tc-N4-PSMA-12 was established. Labeling with 553 ± 187 MBq was achieved with RCP of 98.5 ± 0.6% (n = 10).ConclusionHigh tumor accumulation and favorable clearance from blood and non-target tissue make [99mTc]Tc-N4-PSMA-12 an attractive tracer for RGS, possibly superior to currently established [99mTc]Tc-PSMA-I&S. Its GMP-production according to a method presented here and first clinical investigations with this novel radioligand is highly recommended.

Production of pragmatic routines by Algerian EFL learners: The effect of corpus-based instruction

The study investigates the effect of corpus-based L2 pragmatics instruction on the production of pragmatic routines by Algerian EFL learners. The sample consisted of 60 Algerian EFL learners from the University of Mohammed e-Seddik Ben Yahia, divided equally into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received extensive instructional intervention on the meaning and functions of pragmatic routines, while the control group received no instruction. A pre-test/post-test design was used, and a written discourse completion task (WDCT) with ten scenarios was adapted from Roever (2005) and Bardovi-Harlig (2008, 2009). The results of the pre-test show that Algerian EFL learners have a limited range of pragmatic routines. However, the results of the post-test reveal that corpus-based instruction is effective in enhancing the production of pragmatic routines. These findings have significant implications for teachers and syllabus designers, as they support the implementation of corpus-based instruction to improve the production of pragmatic routines by EFL learners.

Graph classification based fault detection in nuclear power plants with graph formulation

In the routine production and operation of nuclear power plants (NPPs), safety management is extremely important, and consequently, a fault detection system yielding high accuracy could provide effective decision support and prevent the accidents to the maximum extent. Most of existing studies are based on the analysis of time-series data, while researches oriented to the implementation of graph data mining are barely seen. In this paper, we propose an improved fault detection method to address this task from the perspective of graph representation learning. By calculating the similarity between indicators, the multivariate temporal sequences of the running characteristics of NPPs have been formulated as a group of graphs with corresponding labels, on which the graph convolutional network (GCN) has been introduced to detect fault samples in the way of graph classification. Compared to conventional supervised learning classifiers, our proposed methodology performs more superior identification of major faults, and the sensitivity regarding significant parameter or settings in the model design has been analyzed to investigate their optimal arrangements. The findings in this article not only present the promising prospects of introducing graph learning techniques into safety management, also indicate that various kinds of digital signals could be reformulated into graph dataset based on which the original task could be executed more effectively in the way of graph representation learning.

Влияние цифровой революции на развитие искусственного интеллекта и внедрение технологий автоматизации роботизированных процессов в деятельность современной компании

The subject / topic. The state of the information space in the conditions of the digital revolution and the new realities of the digitalization process affecting all spheres of human activity, including the development of artificial intelligence and robotics to displace human labor through special software tools when performing monotonous and routine production operations. The aim of the article. Generalization of the influence of artificial intelligence on the activities of modern companies and their employees. The study substantiates the need to support domestic companies in the field of software development based on the «market in exchange for investment» mechanism. It involves the conclusion of an agreement between the government and software developers with the status of systemically significant organizations to ensure competitive advantages in the digital environment and replace the largest foreign software companies that have left the Russian market after the start of a special military operation in Ukraine. Automation of robotic processes is considered. Conclusions / significance. Conclusions are drawn about the need to develop an effective state policy of Russia on the introduction of artificial intelligence into production using modern logistics chains.

Microbial engineering strategies for synthetic microplastics clean up: A review on recent approaches

Microplastics are the small fragments of the plastic molecules which find their applications in various routine products such as beauty products. Later, it was realized that it has several toxic effects on marine and terrestrial organisms. This review is an approach in understanding the microplastics, their origin, dispersal in the aquatic system, their biodegradation and factors affecting biodegradation. In addition, the paper discusses the major engineering approaches applied in microbial biotechnology. Specifically, it reviews microbial genetic engineering, such as PET-ase engineering, MHET-ase engineering, and immobilization approaches. Moreover, the major challenges associated with the plastic removal are presented by evaluating the recent reports available.

The role of prior and actual situational context in conversational routines produced by Chinese learners of English

Abstract This study aims to investigate the effects of English proficiency (EP) and study-abroad (SA) experience on routine production among 143 Chinese university English learners. The interplay of learners’ mastery of prior context (PC) and actual situational context (ASC) knowledge reflected their productive competence of routines (PCR). Participants were divided into three groups based on their EP levels and length of SA experience: high EP without SA, low EP without SA, and high EP with SA. A pilot study with 41 American native speakers was conducted to determine the target response set as the baseline. A seven-item computer-animated production task was used to elicit routines that revealed learners’ mastery of ASC and PC knowledge. The findings revealed that EP was only necessary for learners’ PC knowledge and PCR. SA experience, alongside SA and EP interaction, had a significant impact on both sides of ASC and PC knowledge, as well as learners’ overall PCR.