Quantity Of Products Research Articles

Sawdust-based compost for production of Pycnoporus sanguineus basidiocarps.

This work aimed to get compost with cellulose-rich residues for Pycnoporus sanguineus basidiocarp production. Two isolates of P. sanguineus (Ps08 and Ps14) were grown in polypropylene bags containing sawdust of Eucalyptus sp. and rice bran in rates of zero, 5% and 20%, and humidity of 75%. We used two granulometries of sawdust, less than 500µm and between 500 and 841µm, compress to get a density of 0.5gmL-1. Basidiocarps were harvested at 90 and 180days of incubation, evaluating quantity, diameter, fresh and dry masses and production of the pigment cinnabarin. For the variable granulometry, there was an effect only for the isolate Ps14, which produced basidiocarps with diameters 14.65mm in granulometry less than 500µm and 8.56 in granulometry 500-841µm, however, comparing the isolates, Ps08 produced larger basidiocarps, with an average diameter of 36.99mm while 11.60mm for Ps14. Only the isolate Ps08 responded in a dose-dependent manner to rice bran concentrations. As for the fresh mass of basidiocarps, in both harvests the isolate Ps08 presented higher values than the isolate Ps14 in the first and second harvests, in the granulometry less than 500µm. The cinnabarin content of Ps14 isolate was higher than Ps08, with values of 0.67 e 0.43mgmL-1, respectively, in the granulometry 500-841µm, with a tendency to increase in cinnabarin content with higher additions of rice bran. Thus, it was possible to produce basidiocarps of P. sanguineus in an axenic way using cellulosic residues supplemented with rice bran.

Immunomodulatory properties of polysaccharide extract samples from Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200

Cyanobacteria are most abundant in aquatic systems and can grow in freshwater, saline or brackish water, and cold/hot springs. Cyanobacteria have attracted considerable research attention in the last decade as a potential source of numerous biological products in large quantities, such as biofuels, pigments, polyunsaturated fatty acids, nutraceuticals, enzymes, and polysaccharides. Unlike most plant and fungal polysaccharides, the chemical composition, immunomodulatory activity, and molecular mechanisms of action of Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200 polysaccharides have been studied much less. The complexity of their primary structure due to the high variability of monosaccharides, their diverse bonds, the presence of substituents and high viscosity made detailed structural studies of cyanobacterial polysaccharides rare, which determines the need for analysis of cyanobacteria biomass components to identify active metabolites with promising biological activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory properties of polysaccharides from Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200. Pharmacological and nutraceutical value of Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200 has been set, defining our study’s scientific novelty. As a result, the molecular weight of immunoactive polysaccharide (6.0–8.0 kDa) was determined. The analysis shows that endopolysaccharide samples at a concentration of 300 mg/kg showed no significant immunomodulatory effect (1.60 ± 0.15 mg/g), and the thymus mass index of animals in the experimental group was comparable to that of the control group in which animals were immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide (1.15 ± 0.24 mg/g). When exopolysaccharide samples were used at a concentration of 600 mg/kg, the thymus mass index of animals in the experimental group (3.60 ± 0.32 mg/g) was statistically comparable to that of the control group (without polysaccharide) in which immunosuppression was not induced (thymus index was 3.70 ± 0.25 mg/g). It was found that endopolysaccharide samples at a concentration of 600 mg/kg also exhibited high immunomodulatory activity. When Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200 endopolysaccharide samples were used, no internal organ changes were observed in experimental animals after immunosuppression. The empirical results presented in the study may find application in the development of both pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

Analisis Penerapan Metode Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) dalam Pengendalian Persediaan Produk

Supply chain management is a crucial aspect of a company's operations. This study aims to examine the application of the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) method in managing finished product inventory at Evodis Aroma, a company engaged in the essential oil aromatherapy industry. Efficiency in supply chain management, particularly inventory management, is key for companies to meet customer demand while minimizing operational costs. The EOQ method is applied to determine the optimal quantity of products to order or produce in order to minimize storage and ordering costs. In addressing the challenges of demand fluctuations and storage constraints, the EOQ method is expected to optimize inventory and enhance operational efficiency at Evodis Aroma. The findings of this study indicate that the implementation of EOQ significantly contributes to reducing storage costs and improving product availability to meet market demand, thereby increasing the company's overall efficiency.

Investigating The Environmental Impacts Of Different Approaches Of Agricultural Waste Management Using Ahp Technique

Abstract Environmental problems and the ever-increasing growth of population dictate the need for new methods to turn the problem into an opportunity. The recycling of agricultural waste is very important to achieve sustainable development of agriculture. Present paper focuses on how the proper disposal and recycling of agricultural waste can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve resources, and improve soil fertility. Hereupon, the specified criteria were determined by relevant organisations. Five final products including composting, biochar, biogas, reuse/recycling, and incineration resulting from the technologies used were investigated using the AHP technique. In addition to the effective management of agricultural waste, these technologies help in the production of electricity, fertiliser, and carbon absorption, which results in the reduction of climate change and the reduction of economy. Among the proposed products, biochar was preferred, and the incineration method was ranked the last. Biochar offers potential environmental benefits in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the quality and quantity of agricultural products, and preventing soil erosion and degradation as well as water pollution. High rank was assigned to environmental criteria, and the actual waste production sub-criterion was preferred over other criteria with a weight of 0.170. The lowest weight was obtained for the shipping distance (weigh = 0.013).

Effect of Ultra-High Pressure Homogenisation (UHPH) on the Co-Inoculation of Lachancea thermotolerans and Metschnikowia pulcherrima in Tempranillo Must

The utilisation of non-Saccharomyces yeasts in co-inoculation and non-thermal technologies for must sterilisation is becoming increasingly prevalent due to their notable utility and potential. This new approach optimises the fermentation process and contributes to facilitating the production of wines with distinctive characteristics, improving their stability, and without organoleptic repercussions. Two trials were conducted concurrently, designated as A and B, using the same Tempranillo red must. In each trial, UHPH-treated and untreated must (serving as the control) were compared. The non-Saccharomyces yeasts (Lachancea thermotolerans and Metschnikowia pulcherrima) were identical in both trials, and fermentations were terminated by a Saccharomyces cerevisiae inoculated after 7 days (ternary fermentation). In Trial A, different percentages of the initial inoculum were employed with respect to the total volume that must be fermented, with the objective of evaluating the influence and competitiveness between yeasts. Trial B was designed to investigate the impact of two nutrients that provide vitamins, energy, and protection from oxidative stress on the development of these yeasts and their metabolic expression. Microbiological analysis and measurements of oenological parameters were carried out, acidification was assessed, volatile compounds were analysed, and the colour spectrum was measured by spectrophotometry. It was observed in both trials that the prevalence of Lachancea thermotolerans (Lt) was longer than that of Metschnikowia pulcherrima (Mp) and that the use of quercetin + thiamine had a positive effect on yeast growth. Furthermore, the combination of Lt and Mp yeasts demonstrated remarkable synergy, resulting in the production of a substantial quantity of lactic acid (>5 g/L). With regard to aroma compounds, the UHPH must have exhibited a nearly twofold increase in ethyl lactate. Additionally, the total polyphenol index (TPI) was observed to be 8–10% higher in wines derived from UHPH musts, indicating that this technology may potentially safeguard against oxidation.

PKM Production Improvement Rabbit Farmer Group in the Bedugul Tourism Area, Tabanan-Bali

Bedugul tourist attractions with the lake and the attractive Beratan Temple, the "Eka Karya" Botanical Gardens, a place to enjoy impressive nature in Candikuning Village, are favorite tourist destinations for domestic tourists and foreign tourists visiting BaliMost of the people of Candikuning work in the agricultural sector as their livelihood and source of livelihood, requiring fertilizer to increase soil and plant fertility. Currently, most of the organic fertilizer used is chicken manure, which is purchased from outside the village, while the potential for developing rabbits in Candikuning Village as a potential source of fertilizer is still underutilized. The objectives of this activity for partners are: increasing partners' knowledge and skills in rabbit cultivation, using solid and liquid manure as organic fertilizer to substitute for the use of inorganic fertilizer, meeting increasing market demand by adding production facilities to support product quality, increasing quantity and continuous production.

Rapid Micro-Propagation of Disease-Free Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) to Improve Industrial Production

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is widely used in industrial production due to its pharmacological properties, particularly cannabidiol (CBD). For commercial production, it is essential to have a large-scale propagation that is consistently disease-free and rapid. Thus, this study aims to establish a protocol for exponentially increasing the amount of high CBD hemp variety CA-UP1 by nodal segment via tissue culture method. Initially, with 10-minute surface sterilization with 0.1 % HgCl2, the microbial contamination rate was reduced to its lowest level (approximately 16.67 %) within 7 days. The nodal segments exhibited optimal response to MS media supplemented with 0.5 mg/L TDZ, resulting in a 100 % shoot multiplication rate. The average number of shoots per explant was 4.7 ± 1.57, and the average shoot height was 2.30 ± 0.42 cm at 4 weeks. Following the induction of elongation in MS medium supplemented with charcoal, the seedlings were acclimatized and dipped in a 1,000 ppm IBA solution mixed with talcum powder. The cultivation resulted in a 100 % rooting rate, with an average of 5.6 ± 1.94 roots/explant, an average root length of 5.78 ± 1.96 cm, and an average explant height of 4.32 ± 1.52 cm. The tissue culture protocol can produce over 190 times the quantity of hemp plants compared with the stem cutting technique. The researchers anticipate that this micropropagation protocol will be useful as a rapid and economical alternative for the industrial production of effective C. sativa L. HIGHLIGHTS A 10-minute surface cleaning protocol with a minimal microbiological contamination rate of 16.67 % in the nodal segment. Thidiazuron (TDZ) can stimulate the most significant increase in shoot growth in Cannabis sativa L. variety CA-UP1 when grown on a semi-solid medium. Dispensing talcum powder combined with IBA results in a 70 - 100 % survival percentage by effectively preventing root during the acclimation stage. The following procedures can be implemented micropropagation of hemp for the production of a large quantity of high-quality, disease-free hemp plants with approximately 190 times more than stem cutting method. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Mechanistic Study of Atomic Oxygen Erosion on Polyimide Under Electric Fields: A Molecular Dynamics and Density Functional Theory Approach.

Polyimide (PI) is widely used in aerospace applications due to its superior insulating properties. However, the high concentration of atomic oxygen (AO) in low Earth orbit leads to significant performance degradation in PI, and the underlying mechanism of AO erosion under an electric field remains unclear. This study utilizes molecular dynamics simulations to model AO erosion on PI under various electric field strengths and explores the corresponding degradation mechanisms. The results indicate that the presence of an electric field exacerbates the degradation of PI by AO. AO erosion elevates the polymer's temperature, and the combined effects of thermal and electric stresses increase the polymer's free volume, loosening its structure and accelerating degradation. The quantity of AO-induced erosion products increases with rising electric field strength, causing more large carbon chains to detach from the polymer surface. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further reveal that the electric field reduces the frontier orbital energy gap in PI molecules, making AO erosion reactions more thermodynamically favorable. This work provides an atomic-level insight into the degradation mechanism of PI under AO erosion in electric fields and offers a theoretical basis for future studies on polymer resistance to AO erosion in space environments.

The Pyrolysis Characteristics of Bagasse Were Studied by TG-MS-FTIR

Sugarcane bagasse is rich in cellulose and lignin, and the recycling of bagasse has become an important research field with the increasing global concern for sustainable development and environmental protection. In this paper, TG-MS-FTIR equipment was used to analyze the pyrolysis characteristics of bagasse from Guangxi under different heating rates and different atmospheres, which is conducive to the reuse of bagasse from the waste gas produced in the sugar plant. The results showed that the pyrolysis rate of sugarcane bagasse in the air atmosphere was faster than that in the nitrogen atmosphere and showed a double-peak trend, and the Coats–Redfern computational model could more accurately simulate the process of pyrolysis. The lower heating rate could overcome the heat transfer hysteresis phenomenon in the process of pyrolysis. In the air atmosphere, the contact time between oxygen and volatile products was shorter due to the high heating rate, and more and more complex species were precipitated at 10 °C/min than at 20 °C/min. In the nitrogen atmosphere, it was favorable to produce more kinds and quantities of gas products, because it did not react with oxygen. FTIR detected CH4, CO, H2O, CO2, C-O-C, and C=O during pyrolysis in nitrogen, and some of C-O-C and C=O were cracked into small molecule compounds at high temperature.

Potential of copper tailings as supplementary siliceous materials in the preparation of autoclaved aerated concrete

The storage of copper tailings (CT) not only consumes considerable land resources but also tends to cause a series of ecological and environmental issues. To achieve the circular economy and green industry development, CT is utilized as a supplementary siliceous material of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) in this study. The effects of substitution rate of CT for quartz sand are evaluated though the flow and gas-foaming properties of fresh slurry, and the physical and mechanical properties of AAC products. Meanwhile, the relationship between the macroscopic properties and hydration products is analyzed by multiple microscopic tests, including the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The experimental results shows that the bulk density, compressive strength and thermal conductivity of AAC incorporating CT show a trend of first decreasing and then increasing as the substitution rate of CT for quartz sand increases from 0 to 50 wt%, while the specific strength continues to decrease. When the substitution rate of CT for quartz sand is less than 40 wt%, the performances of AAC can meet the specifications of B05 A2.5 level according to Chinese national standards. These findings are closely related to the characteristics of air pore structure and the ordering, quantity and morphology of hydration products. With increasing the substitution rate of CT for quartz sand, the ordering of tobermorite gradually decreases, and its morphology transforms from plate-like to grass-like and then to needle-like, which can reduce the mechanical properties of AAC.

Studying the Constitutive Model of Damage for a Stainless Steel Argon–Oxygen Decarburization Slag Mixture

The purpose of this study was to fully explore the mechanical properties of five different doses of an Argon–Oxygen Decarburization slag mixture in an unconfined compressive strength test. The peak stress, elastic modulus, and stress–strain curve of the mixture were studied for 90 days. Based on the experimental data and according to the theory of damage mechanics, the concept of damage threshold (t) was introduced to construct a damage constitutive model. Referring to the damage threshold of concrete, that of the mixture was determined to be 0.7 times higher than the peak strain, and the correlation coefficient between the established model and the test curve was above 0.85. These results indicate that the addition of AOD slag and fly ash can cause hydration reactions, increase the quantity of hydration products, and enhance the peak stress and elastic modulus of the mixture. The maximum increases were 94.9% and 43.1%, respectively. Parameters a and b reflect the peak stress and brittleness of the mixture, respectively. The incorporation of Argon–Oxygen Decarburization slag can make the mixture less brittle and improve its properties. The incorporation of Argon–Oxygen Decarburization slag can protect the mixture from damage. The maximum decrease is 40.2%.

Environmental regulations and export performance: firm-level evidence from China’s low-carbon pilot policy

The rapid increase in global carbon emissions has raised significant concerns, prompting various environmental regulations, including China’s low-carbon pilot policy. Prior studies have shown mixed results regarding the impact of environmental regulations on firms’ export performance. Using data from Chinese industrial firms from 2001 to 2015, this study investigates how the low-carbon pilot policy, a quasi-experiment, influences firms’ exports. We employ the Heckman Two-Step Method and the Difference-in-Differences approach to separate the effects on firms’ export participation and the effects on export scales. We find that firms in the pilot provinces/cities become less likely to export after the implementation of the low-carbon pilot policy compared to firms in the non-pilot regions, resulting in a relative decrease in export probability by 4.5 percentage points. For the firms that export, their export values relatively decrease by 10 percent after the policy implementation. The effects are mainly driven by firms in Eastern China. The policy leads to higher exit rates and lower entry rates in international markets for firms in pilot regions. After the implementation of the low-carbon pilot policy, exporting firms increase the unit price of their export products, reduce the quantity of export products, and diversify both their export destinations and product types. However, we do not find evidence supporting the Pollution Haven mechanism.

Advancing grape breeding through an in vitro embryo germination technique without cold stratification

In grape breeding programs, the extensive planting of seedlings is a crucial aspect. However, grape seeds display distinct dormancy traits, necessitating a prolonged cold stratification process for dormancy release. In order to enhance the efficiency of breeding programs, this study presents an innovative in vitro embryo germination technique that eliminates the requirement for cold stratification of seeds. The method involves the disruption of peripheral tissue in grape seed embryos using a straightforward mechanical technique, resulting in the efficient production of a substantial quantity of seed embryos，with a germination rate of up to 88% for these isolated embryos. These embryos are subsequently cultured in vitro to facilitate germination into seedlings, thereby eliminating the need for cold stratification. Consequently, grape seedlings can be obtained within a significantly reduced timeframe of 30–38 d, expediting the overall grape breeding process. This novel approach not only accelerates grape hybridization but also streamlines the selection of new grape varieties, contributing to an efficient and time-sensitive breeding methodology.

Bibliometrics and National Institutes of Health Funding: Associated Factors in Academic Rhinology

AbstractOur study aims to evaluate demographics and research productivity in academic rhinology and to establish the relationship between bibliometrics such as the Hirsch index (h-index) and the more recently developed relative citation ratio (RCR) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. Retrospective cohort study. The demographics of academic rhinologists were collected from institutional faculty profiles (N = 207). Funding data were obtained from the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures and Reports Database. The h-index was calculated using Scopus. The mean (m-RCR) and weighted RCR (w-RCR) were calculated using the NIH iCite tool. The majority of academic rhinologists were men (72.9%). Only 8.7% of rhinologists (N = 18) received NIH funding. Rhinologists receiving NIH funding had greater h-index (31 vs. 11), m-RCR (2.6 vs. 1.6), and w-RCR (339.9 vs. 44.7) (P < 0.001). Men had greater h-index (14 vs. 10, P < 0.001) and w-RCR (56.8 vs. 36.9, P = 0.025) but not m-RCR (1.7 vs. 1.6, P = 0.799) than women. Stratifying by academic professorship rank and across all career durations, h-index, m-RCR, and w-RCR were not significantly different between men and women. Among academic rhinologists the h-index, m-RCR, and w-RCR were all associated with receiving NIH funding. Similar h-index, m-RCR, and w-RCR between men and women across all academic professorship ranks and career durations suggests production of similar quality and quantity of research. The m-RCR and w-RCR help to address some of the limitations of the h-index and are useful for assessing research productivity.

Green Construction of Novel 3‐(Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol‐5‐yl)‐1,8‐naphthyridin‐2‐yl)amino)quinazoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐dione and Phenyl‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a][1,8]naphthyridine and Their Antimicrobial Activity

ABSTRACTA straightforward and an efficient green synthetic method has been outlined for the construction of 3‐(benzo[d][1, 3] dioxol‐5‐yl)‐1,8‐naphthyridine derivatives in the presence of glacial acetic acid and Cu(OAc)2 catalyst accomplished excellent yields in short reaction time. The reaction proceeds efficiently by using a greener way under microwave conditions to elevate the quantity of pure products. The purity of all the synthesized compounds was confirmed by IR, 1H and 13CNMR, LC–MS data and also from the elemental analyses studies. The synthesized compounds 7d and 7f performed strongest antibacterial activity against pathogenic cell lines Bacillus subtilis (17.5, 20.5 mm), Escherichia coli (28.5, 30 mm), and antifungal cell lines Candida albicans (18, 22.5 mm), and Aspergillus Niger (28.5, 40.5 mm) which are compared with clinical drugs Penicillin, Grieseofulvin. We scrutinized the remaining molecules and found that their activity ranged from modest to exceptional.

Removal of contaminants in paper dyeing wastewater by Fenton and photo-Fenton processes with biological treatment

Due to the production of huge quantity of potentially toxic and recalcitrant pollutants, which cannot be completely decomposed with conventional biological wastewater treatment processes, in the paper industry, reliable treatment processes are highly required. This study conducted effective experiments of different series of processes to decompose persistent contaminants in the paper wastewater under controlled conditions of the used processes to meet the effluent quality standards of Korea Ministry of Environment in terms of CODMn (< 130 mg/L). For Biological treatment, Fenton, and photo-Fenton processes, various operational parameters were adjusted to determine the optimal conditions for CODMn value. Due to large quantity of refractory contaminants in the wastewater, single treatment process was not enough to meet the requirement of CODMn. Herein, we achieved the goal with two approaches: (1) secondary Fenton oxidation after biological and primary Fenton treatments, and (2) photo-Fenton treatment after biological treatment alone. The secondary Fenton oxidation process is an additional process operated under the same condition of the primary Fenton treatment to treat the effluent from the primary Fenton treatment. Ultimately, the residual CODMn concentrations of the secondary Fenton and single photo-Fenton treatment were 62.7 and 85.3 mg/L, respectively. However, the secondary Fenton required larger amounts of reagents and produced significant amounts of sludge, which require post-treatment, compared to single photo-Fenton treatment. Therefore, it suggests that the application of photo-Fenton was more efficient than the secondary Fenton in terms of economic feasibility and post-treatment requirement.

Nawigowanie wśród złożoności sztucznej inteligencji. Kluczowe kompetencje techniczne projektantów UX niezbędne w tworzeniu produktów cyfrowych opartych na sztucznej inteligencji (AI)

There has been the increasing quantity of AI-based products. More and more users interact with this complex technology and experience only the input-output range, with no understanding of the processes in between. The lack of knowledge and design awareness behind the human–AI interaction for products and services leads to many negative consequences for the users. In order to supply the AI-based digital solutions that will be easy-to-use and respond to real users’ problems, there has to be a change in the approach to their design – from technology-oriented to user (and human)-oriented. What is important to achieving that is including UX designers in interdisciplinary teams, where they play a significant role in making a new generation digital solutions. Researchers agree that their active participation requires a certain type of technical knowledge regarding AI. What does a certain type of technical knowledge mean? How to determine the scope of knowledge necessary to designers in order to actively influence the shape of AI-based products and services supplied to the market? Keywords: user experience, artificial intelligence (AI), design competency, data science, algorithmic experience

Pyrolysis behavior of sewage sludge coexisted with microplastics: Kinetics, mechanism, and product characteristics

Microplastics can accumulate in the excess sludge from wastewater treatment plants through domestic wastewater. This study investigated the co-pyrolysis behavior of sewage sludge coexisting with two types of microplastics (polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA)) and found a superior comprehensive pyrolysis performance. By calculating the difference between theoretical and experimental weight loss during the pyrolysis process, it was found that the incorporation of microplastics PE and PLA created a synergistic effect at 270°C–450 °C, which was confirmed through the Malek method analysis from a pyrolysis mechanism perspective that it could increase the random nuclei on each particle, that is, enhance the heterogeneous diffusion of volatiles. The average activation energy was reduced by 84.99 kJ/mol, as determined using three isoconversional methods: Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), and Starink. Regarding the products, the aforementioned synergistic effect led to a reduction in char retention and larger specific surface area of the biochar, while the quantities of gaseous products and bio-oil escalated. Through a thermogravimetric analyzer and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR), an increase in aromatic hydrocarbons, alkanes, aldehydes, ethers, and esters in the gaseous products were detected. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) revealed an increase in hydrocarbons, esters, and alcohols in the bio-oil, and acids and aldehydes decreased, overall enhancing the quality of the bio-oil. This study elucidated that pyrolysis completely transformed microplastics in sludge, thus eliminating environmental risks and provided a theoretical reference for understanding the pyrolysis behavior of sludge containing microplastics.

Sustainable production of radionuclidically pure antimony-119

BackgroundRadiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) uses radionuclides that decay via one of three therapeutically relevant decay modes (alpha, beta, and internal conversion (IC) / Auger electron (AE) emission) to deliver short range, highly damaging radiation inside of diseased cells, maintaining localized dose distribution and sparing healthy cells. Antimony-119 (119Sb, t1/2 = 38.19 h, EC = 100%) is one such IC/AE emitting radionuclide, previously limited to in silico computational investigation due to barriers in production, chemical separation, and chelation. A theranostic (therapeutic/diagnostic) pair can be formed with 119Sb’s radioisotopic imaging analogue 117Sb (t1/2 = 2.80 h, Eγ = 158.6 keV, Iγ = 85.9%, β+ = 262.4 keV, Iβ+ = 1.81%).ResultsWithin, we report techniques for sustainable and cost-effective production of pre-clinical quality and quantity, radionuclidically pure 119Sb and 117Sb, novel low energy photon measurement techniques for 119Sb activity determination, and physical yields for various tin target isotopic enrichments and thicknesses using (p, n) and (d, n) nuclear reactions. Additionally, we present a two-column separation providing a radioantimony yield of 73.1% ± 6.9% (N = 3) and tin separation factor of (6.8 ± 5.5) x 105 (N = 3). Apparent molar activity measurements for deuteron produced 117Sb using the chelator TREN-CAM were measured at 42.4 ± 25 MBq 117Sb/µmol (1.14 ± 0.68 mCi/µmol), and we recovered enriched 119Sn target material at a recycling efficiency of 80.2% ± 5.5% (N = 6) with losses of 11.6 mg ± 0.8 mg (N = 6) per production.ConclusionWe report significant steps in overcoming barriers in 119Sb production, chemical isolation and purification, enriched target material recycling, and chelation, helping promote accessibility and application of this promising therapeutic radionuclide. We describe a method for 119Sb activity measurement using its low energy gamma (23.87 keV), negating the need for attenuation correction. Finally, we report the largest yet-measured 119Sb production yields using proton and deuteron irradiation of natural and enriched targets and radioisotopic purity > 99.8% at end of purification.

Excise Control over the Tax Base for Excise Duty Taxation on Alcohol

Тhe correct determination of the tax base for taxation with excise duty is essential for the right calculation of the amount of excise obligation both for taxpayers and their customers as well as for its revenue control authority in Bulgaria – the Customs Agency. The article examines the legal framework of the excise tax base in Bulgaria on ethyl alcohol – spirit, distillates and spirit beverages, focusing on the determination and control of the quantity of product as its component. It presents the results of a study on the current normativepractical status as well as the possibilities for its improvement. The defended thesis is that the excise legislation has weaknesses, and excise control on alcohol should be improved. Recommendations for improving excise control are formulated.