Suspension Method Research Articles

A joint economic evaluation and FP2O techno-economic resilience approach for evaluation of suspension PVC production

The production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) involves obtaining a thermoplastic polymer from vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and ethylene, primarily through the suspension method. This process is vital for manufacturing various products, such as pipes and coatings. However, its high-energy consumption necessitates economic evaluations to assess feasibility. In this work, a dual approach is proposed: a Feedstock-Processing-Product-Operation (FP2O) based techno-economic resilience analysis via sensitivity analysis alongside economic evaluation. The study evaluated a PVC production process with a capacity of 518,400 t/y of VCM over a 15-year plant lifespan. The techno-economic assessment revealed a Total Capital Investment of $609, 882, 203, a Payback Period of 4.22 years, and a Return on Investment of 14.38 %. Positive Net Present Value and a cost/benefit ratio >1 indicate the plant's installation under proposed conditions is favorable. Additionally, the technical-economic resilience analysis identified the process's response to changes in PVC price, raw material costs, and production capacity, guiding improvement actions pre- and post-plant assembly.

Comparative Analysis of Verapamil Pharmacokinetics: Evaluating the Impact of Simple Suspension and Crushing Administration Methods

Background/Objective: It is not uncommon for elderly patients to experience difficulties with feeding and swallowing. In the simple suspension method, tablets are dissolved and suspended in warm water without prior crushing or decapsulation, and then administered via a tube. Despite the prevalence of this method, the pharmacokinetics of suspended tablet dosage forms remain poorly understood. Methods: Verapamil was employed in dissolution tests following both the simple suspension and crushing methods. A pharmacokinetics study was conducted on healthy adult males. Results: The resultant dissolution profiles from the two methods exhibited notable dissimilarities. Drug release from the crushed product commenced earlier than that from the simple suspension and intact tablet. Furthermore, the area under the curve for verapamil during the initial 24 h period was 1.7 and 1.3 times greater in the crushed and simple suspension groups, respectively, than in the tablet group. Conclusions: The crushing and simple suspension methods are safe techniques for administering medications to patients with dysphagia, thereby preventing aspiration. Nevertheless, the processing of medications may result in an increased frequency of adverse effects. It is recommended that the processing of medicines prior to administration be avoided.

MODIFICATION OF GLASS IONOMER FILLING MATERIAL BY METAL NANOPARTICLES AND THEIR COMPOUNDS: EFFECT ON ANTI-MICROBIAL ACTIVITY

Background: Glass ionomer filling materials are widely used in stomatology, but do not have an antimicrobial effect that effectively prevents the development of secondary and recurrent dental caries. Researchers are attempting to modify these materials by introducing various biologically active additives into them. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of a dental ionomer filling material modified withadditives based on high–energy nanoparticles of silver, copper, titanium and their compounds. Material and methods: Colloidal aqueous and alcoholic solutions of metals and their oxides with stabilizers were obtained by the electroerosion method. Citric acid, cetylpyridinium chloride and Trilon B were used as stabilizers. The zeta potential and the distribution of particles of the dispersed phase in solutions were measured. Samples of dental glass ionomer cement "Cemion-Aqua" were impregnated with colloidal solutions of nanoparticles. The microbiological activity of glass ionomer fillings samples in relation to plaque was determined by disc diffusion and suspension methods. Results: The results showed that modification of glass ionomer cement samples with silver hydrosols in citric acid solutions with concentrations of 0.04% and 0.0025% increases the zone of radial lysis of microbial plaque colonies around the cement samples by 1.5 and 2.5 times compared with the control. By the suspension method, it was determined that silver hydrosols in a solution of citric acid and without it reduce the formation of colonies of microorganisms to several units up to 72 hours of exposure compared with the control. And copper hydrosols in solutions of cetylpyridinium chloride prevent an increase in the number of colonies of microorganisms after 24 hours of exposure compared with the control. Silver hydrosol in a solution of citric acid with a concentration of 0.0025% and silver alcohol sol reduce the number of colonies of microorganisms to several units after 3 hours of exposure.

Clinical Efficacy of Bionic Blepharoplasty Using the Flexible Suspension and Semiflexible Suspension Double-Insurance Methods.

To investigate the clinical effect of the double insurance method of flexible suspension and semiflexible suspension in bionic blepharoplasty. Between January 2020 and January 2022, a total of 115 patients (230 eyes) underwent double eyelid plastic surgery with flexible suspension and semiflexible suspension. Herein, we present a new type of double eyelid surgery that preserves the orbicular muscle of the anterior tarsus without removing the tissue. First, the loose fatty fascia layer between the anterior tarsus and the orbicularis oculi muscle was completely removed to a distance of 2mm from the base of the eyelashes, leaving the compact pretarsal levator aponeurosis. Then, the anterior tarsus orbicularis oculi muscle and the upper levator aponeurosis were sutured and fixed (flexible suspension). Finally, the skin and the upper levator aponeurosis were sutured in the flexible suspension space (semiflexible suspension). Six months after surgery, the patient's double eyelid shape had recovered well, and the satisfaction rate reached 97.3%. Among the unsatisfied patients, 1 patient had a single-focused shallow eyelid line which was associated with postoperative hematoma, and 2 patients felt that the double eyelid line was narrow. All 3 patients achieved satisfactory results after reoperation. The bionic double eyelid method with flexible suspension and semiflexible suspension can restore the natural double eyelid anatomy very well by reconstructing the connection between the orbicularis oculi muscle or skin and the upper palpebral levator aponeurosis. After the operation, the incisions healed quickly and smoothly. The eyelid depression and fleshy feeling were not obvious when the eyes were closed. Consequently, the patient's satisfaction was very high.

First report of wheat leaf spot disease caused by Curvularia inaequalis in China.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is an economically important crop widely cultivated in China. In August 2022, brown oval leaf spots with yellow halos were observed on approximately 10% wheat seedlings over an area of about 1 hectare in Xining City, Qinghai Province, which adversely affected wheat growth and production. Six diseased leaves were collected from the field in Huangyuan county (101°69' E, 37°04' N). The 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm pieces were cut from the border between healthy and diseased regions of the sampled leaves, surface sterilized for 10 s in 75% ethanol, followed by a 1% NaClO for 90 s, and rinsed three times with distilled sterile water. The pieces of leaf tissue were dried with sterile tissue, and plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with streptomycin (0.02 g/L) and ampicillin sulfate (0.05 g/L) to eliminate bacterial contamination. The dishes were placed in an incubator at 25°C for 72 h in dark. Three isolates, WGC201, WGC202 and WGC203, were obtained by a single-spore culture method. Fungal colonies on PDA media were dark green (Fig. 1A and 1B). Conidiophores were septate and geniculate terminals, while conidia exhibited straight or slightly curved forms with four transverse septa, the central cell being notably longer and wider than the others. The size of such conidia were 27.34 µm to 40.62 µm× 11.61 µm to 15.97 µm (number = 50) (av. 32.71 µm× 13.11 µm) (Fig. 1C and 1D) (Moubasher et al. 2010). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene were amplified and sequenced using universal primers ITS1/ITS4 and GPDF/GPDR (White et al. 1990; Berbee et al. 1999). DNA sequences were deposited into the NCBI database (ITS, PP789629, PP801333, and PP801574; GAPDH, PP849124, PP849125, and PP849126). Phylogenetic analysis with a neighbor-joining method based on the concatenated sequences of ITS and GAPDH genes showed that the three isolates clustered within a C. inaequalis branch (Fig. 2). Based on morphological and molecular identification, the fungal isolates were identified as C. inaequalis. The pathogenicity test was conducted in a greenhouse at 25°C using a spore suspension method and three isolates were used. Conidia were produced on PDA media (25℃) for 14 days. Plates were washed with sterilized distilled water and filtered with cheese cloth. Conidial suspension was adjusted to a concentration of 1×107 conidia/mL. Fifteen healthy seedlings of a wheat cultivar Xiaoyan-6 at a 3-4 leaf stage were inoculated by evenly spraying a 100mL spore suspension. Plants inoculated with sterile water served as a control. All plants were covered with plastic bags for 3 days. At 7 days after inoculation, all pathogen-inoculated plants showed similar symptoms (brown leaf oval spots with yellow halos) with those observed in the field, while all plants inoculated with sterile water showed no symptoms (Fig. 1E and 1F). The pathogen was reisolated from the symptomatic leaves and proved to be C. inaequalis. Morphological, molecular and pathogenic results indicated that C. inaequalis is the pathogen causing wheat leaf disease in China. The results are consistent with a previous report in Azerbaijan (Özer et al. 2020). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. inaequalis causing spot disease on wheat in China. The occurrence, spread and economic importance to different wheat cultivars of the emerging disease in China will be further investigated and evaluated.

Mechanical behavior of Al /AL2O3p-SiCp hybrid composite fabricated by hot pressing method

Hybrid particulate metal matrix composites with specific strength can be used in various applications. The mechanical properties of these composites can be improved by correctly choosing the type, volume fraction, size, and distribution of reinforcements and metal matrix. In this research, to make Al/Al2O3-SiC hybrid composites, aluminum chips were prepared by machining, and then the chips were coated with Al2O3 and SiC reinforcements by suspension method. For composite making, first, aluminum-coated chips were molded inside a steel mold and after heat treatment at 645 °C for 2 h the chips were hot pressed. The microstructure of the fabricated composites was examined by optical and SEM microscope, and then compression and tensile strength behavior were studied. The microstructural results showed a sound composite without any porosities and cracks. The hybrid composite with 12 wt% reinforcements showed high compressive strength (370 MPa).

A Systematic Investigation of Process Parameters for Small-Volume Aqueous Suspension Production by the Use of Focused Ultrasonication

Aqueous suspensions containing crystalline drug in the sub-micron range is a favorable platform for long-acting injectables where particle size can be used to obtain a desired plasma-concentration profile. Stabilizers are added to the suspensions and screened extensively to define the optimal formulation composition. In the initial formulation screening the amount of drug compound can be limited, necessitating milling methods for small-volume screening predictable for scale-up. Hence, adaptive focused ultrasound was investigated as a potential milling method for rapid small-volume suspensions by identifying the critical process parameters during preparation. Suspensions containing drug compounds with different mechanical properties and thereby grindability, i.e., cinnarizine, haloperidol, and indomethacin with brittle, elastic, and plastic properties, respectively, were investigated to gain an understanding of the manufacturing with adaptive focused acoustics as well as comparison to already established milling techniques. Using a DoE-design, peak incident power was identified as the most crucial process parameter impacting the milling process for all three compounds. It was possible to decrease the sizes of drug particles to micron range after one minute of focused ultrasound exposure which was superior compared to other milling techniques (e.g., non-focused ultrasound exposure). The addition of milling beads decreased the drug particle sizes even further, thus to a lower degree than other already established milling techniques such as milling by dual centrifugation. This study thereby demonstrated that adaptive focused ultrasonication was a promising method for rapid homogenization and particle size reduction to micron range for different compounds varying in grindability without altering the crystalline structure.Graphical

Association of a Modified Uterine Manipulation Method with Improved Recovery after Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective: Uterine manipulation with an intrauterine device is the surgical method used for early-stage cervical cancer. In this study, we explored a modified uterine manipulation method without the using an intrauterine device during laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) of patients with early-stage cervical cancer. Methods: We retrospectively collected data of patients with early-stage cervical cancer who underwent LRH between January 2015 and June 2019. The clinicopathological characteristics and surgical outcomes of patients treated with the new method (Group S) were compared to those of patients treated with the conventional uterine manipulator (Group M). Results: A total of 100 patients were included in the study, with 54 patients in Group M and 46 patients in Group S. No significant difference was observed in clinicopathological characteristics between the two groups. Compared to Group M, Group S had a significantly shorter duration of postoperative fever (0 vs. 3 d, P=0.003) and a shorter duration of secondary antibiotic use (4 vs. 5 d, P=0.035). Additionally, the cost of antibiotics was lower in Group S ($95.45 vs. $135.22, P=0.032). The modified uterine manipulation method was associated with a lower risk of postoperative fever (P=0.007). No difference was found in the 2-year disease-free survival (P=0.409) and 2-year overall survival between the two groups (P=0.718). Conclusions: The modified uterine suture suspension method is easy to perform, enhances postoperative recovery, and could be a viable option for patients with early-stage cervical cancer.

A comparative study of comprehensive performances for transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride films with different plasticizers

AbstractFor flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films with excellent mechanical performances and high transparency, the demand for antistatic properties is becoming increasingly urgent in textile and electronic fields. This study compares the effects of 60 phr bis (2‐(2‐butoxyethoxy) ethyl) adipate (DBEEA) with other five equal amounts of plasticizers on the conductivity, electrical stability, transparency, and mechanical properties of plasticized PVC. The infrared spectra of plasticizers indicate that there are unique ether groups exist in DBEEA. Then the calculated solubility parameters suggest the good compatibility between DBEEA and PVC. For conductivity, the volume resistivity and surface resistivity of the PVC sample with DBEEA (PVC/DBEEA) are 107 Ω· m and 1010 Ω, respectively, which are both lower by 3–4 orders of magnitude than that of other plasticized PVC. For electrical stability, the results indicate that PVC/DBEEA placed in air still maintains lowest resistivities. Under 10, 23, and 30°C, PVC/DBEEA keeps high and stable electrical properties. The similar refractive indices of DBEEA and PVC resin prepared by suspension method indicate good transparency for PVC/DBEEA. Moreover, PVC/DBEEA still has good mechanical property.

To Be and Perception--A preliminary study of Phenomenology of Architecture

The phenomenological philosophy founded by Husserl attempts to reflect on language as a fundamental cognitive tool through the method of suspension and restoration, and to break the binary opposition between subject and object, phenomenon and essence. In Husserl's view, language is not only a medium for interaction between humans and the world, but also the foundation for constructing human experience. This philosophical approach provides us with a brand new way of understanding the world, enabling us to go beyond traditional epistemological frameworks and delve deeper into the essence of human experience. Heidegger's existentialist phenomenology and Merleau Ponty's perceptual phenomenology are important branches that inherit and develop Husserl's phenomenology, and the exploration of architectural phenomenology is mainly based on these two branches. This article analyzes the mapping relationship between Norbert Schultz's place spirit and Steven Hall's architectural practice, respectively.

Establishment and identification of bladder cancer cell sheet

Cell sheet technology (CST) has primarily been applied in tissue engineering for repair purposes. Our preliminary research indicates that an in vivo prostate cancer model established using CST outperforms traditional cell suspension methods. However, the potential for CST to be used with bladder cancer cells has not yet been explored. In this study, we investigated the ability of two bladder cancer cell lines, T24 and 5637, to form cell sheets. We found that T24 cells successfully formed cell sheets. We then performed staining to evaluate the integrity, specific markers, and proliferation characteristics of the T24 cell sheets. Our findings demonstrate that bladder cancer cell sheets can be established, providing a valuable tool for both in vivo and in vitro bladder cancer studies and for personalized drug selection for patients.

Vibration isolation platform for large-amplitude-low-frequency excitation by parallel-stack-assembly design of Miura origamis

To achieve an ultralow-frequency vibration isolation platform for simulation of space environment, suspension method is always utilized. However, the natural frequency of the suspension system is inversely proportional to the length of the suspension cable. In order to further reduce the dynamic stiffness, compress the suspension area, and achieve vibration isolation for wide-amplitude excitations, we propose parallel-stack-assembly (PSA) design principle for Origamis to construct absolute zero-stiffness for required intervals. The dynamic model for wide-range amplitude and deformation, design criteria for required low-frequency large-amplitude isolation effectiveness, and analysis for nonlinear vibration isolation property are given. Finally, the prototype is carried out to validate the theoretical analysis and design principle. The PSA design principle of Origamis creates the large-amplitude and ultralow-frequency isolation property, and, the study expands the applicability of isolators for low-frequency excitation with large amplitude for the systems in aviation, marine etc.

Quaternary Ammonium Disinfectants: Current Practices and Future Perspective in Infection Control: Review Article

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are one of the most tangled difficulties in advanced clinical practices. These infections lead to financial implications and have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. It is very difficult to eradicate the HAIs however both disinfection and sterilization account for the best measure to control HAIs. Of all the disinfectants in use, one of the chemical disinfectants which seem to be user-friendly, non-corrosive, and used extensively are Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) based disinfectants. To improve the efficacy of these disinfectants and tackle the challenge of antimicrobial resistance (concerning QACs), from time to time newer QACs disinfectants were introduced which are termed as first, second, third, fourth, and fifth-generation QACs disinfectants. Manufacturers of these newer generations QACs disinfectants claim these compounds as high-level, broad-spectrum disinfectants while leading healthcare agencies like the Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) mention QACs as mild disinfectants and not sporicidal. Sadly, the antimicrobial efficacy of QACs has been largely assessed using old methods like phenol coefficient methods & suspension methods, and not using an internationally standardized method. These loopholes raise a lot of queries about the true efficacies of the QACs and thus, increase the chances of the development of resistant HAIs. Therefore, there is an urgent need for better and standardized methods to study the efficacy of different generation QACs. The present review discusses the status of currently available methods and gaps in the literature that would be useful to highlight the potential use of QACs for infection control and prevention in better ways.

Socio-Demographic Profile of Suicidal Death at Manikganj District, Bangladesh: A One Year Autopsy Based Study

Background: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in many countries and also a major public health concern. When a person dies by suicide the effects are felt by Family, Friends, and communities. The number of suicidal deaths is increasing worldwide day by day and Bangladesh is also facing this situation alarmingly.Objective: To evaluate the Socio-demographic profile of suicidal deaths. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Manikganj sadar hospital mortuary, from January 2019 to December 2019.Total 133 suicidal death cases were collected by using a pre-designed format from mortuary register book. The inquest report provided comprehensive information about the deceased. Postmortem examinations documented the method of suspension used and in cases of poisoning, chemical analysis was conducted to determine the type of poison. Results: During this study majority of the deceased were Female (50.38%). The age distribution of the deceased from 01 year to above 51 years, the highest occurrence observed in the age group 11-20 years (33.08%). Most of the deceased were House wife (40.00%). Majority of deceased were Muslims (88.72%). Total 30.08% cases were reported under Manikganj sadar Thana. The most prevalent technique observed for suicide were by Hanging (65.41%) and common consumption of poison is Organo-phosphorous compound (OPC) (65%). Conclusion: The collected data has the potential to facilitate the identification of individuals who are at an elevated risk of engaging in suicidal behaviors. Moreover, this information can be effectively used to support individuals through the implementation of a comprehensive nationwide suicide prevention initiative that adopts a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach. KYAMC Journal Volume: 14, No: 04, January 2024: 210-214.

A Case of Esophagogastric Junction Cancer Treated with Pain Control by Administering Methadone Tablets Through a Gastrostomy.

Introduction: Methadone is used to treat intractable cancer pain when other opioid analgesics are ineffective. Methadone tablets may be difficult to administer in cases of gastrointestinal passage obstruction. However, changing the route of methadone tablet administration is possible. Case Description: The patient, diagnosed with esophagogastric junction cancer with multiple metastases, continued to receive methadone tablets even after not being longer able to take oral medication. Method: Methadone tablets were administered using a simple suspension method via gastrostomy. We measured the respiratory rate during sleep daily. We also measured weekly QTc values using a 12-lead electrocardiogram and methadone blood concentration periodically. No side effects were observed. Conclusion: Using a simple suspension method to administer methadone is a safe pain management method when accompanied by careful monitoring. To date, no study has examined the tube administration safety of methadone tablets. Thus, this case report is of important clinical significance.

Experimental investigation on enhanced combustion of methanol/heavy fuel oil by droplet puffing at elevated temperatures

To achieve high-efficiency combustion of heavy fuel oil (HFO), this study investigated the combustion characteristics of methanol/HFO droplets with methanol content from 10 to 30% using the suspension method under ambient temperature from 923 to 1023 K. The combustion of methanol/HFO droplets was summarized as a two-phase process consisting of six typical stages, emphasizing liquid phase. Especially, the fluctuation evaporation stage, induced by frequent and intense puffing, was identified as prominent character. Both the ignition delay and lifetime of HFO and methanol/HFO droplets decreased with increasing ambient temperatures. For the methanol/HFO droplet, the ignition delay and droplet lifetime increased with the increasing methanol content. Prominently, compared to HFO, HM10 had the most significant reduction in droplet lifetime and TINL under the same operating conditions, which indicated that the addition of 10% methanol accelerated the combustion process and reduced soot generation. Additionally, the thermos-dynamic characteristics of methanol/HFO droplets were investigated. Puffing was primarily attributed to superheating of methanol and pyrolysis of heavy components in HFO, which resulted in active and passive rupture of bubbles. Similarity and maximum deformation were employed to qualitatively distinguish between them. The obtained findings aimed to develop a promising alternative fuel to reduce emissions and preserve energy.

In Situ Array Microextraction and Metabolic Profiling of Small Extracellular Vesicles to Guide and Monitor Maternal Delivery.

The advantages of small extracellular vesicles (sEV) in disease management have become increasingly prominent, with the main challenge lying in meeting the demands of large-scale extraction and high-throughput analysis, a crucial aspect in the realm of precision medicine. To overcome this challenge, an engineered on-plate aptamer array (16×24 spots) is developed for continuous scale-up microextraction of plasma sEV and their in situ metabolic analysis using mass spectrometry. With this integrated array strategy, metabolic profiles of sEV are acquired from the plasma of 274 antenatal or postpartum women, reducing analysis time by half (7.5h) and sample volume by 95% (only 0.125µL usage) compared to the traditional suspension method. Moreover, using machine learning algorithms on sEV metabolic profiles, a risk score system is constructed that accurately assesses the need for epidural analgesia during childbirth and the likelihood of post-administration fever. The system, based on admission samples, achieves an impressive 94% accuracy. Furthermore, post-administration fever can be identified from delivery samples, reaching an overall accuracy rate of 88%. This work offers real-time monitoring of the childbirth process that can provide timely guidance for maternal delivery, underscoring the significance of sEV detection in large-scale clinical samples for medicine innovation and advancement.

Synthesis of Green Brucite [NixMg1−x(OH)2] by Incorporation of Nickel Ions in the Periclase Phase (MgO) Applied as Pigments

Magnesium oxide is typically white and can be colorized with transition metal insertion by doping. We present the preparation of a green-colored hydroxide by the exchange of Mg2+ on the crystalline lattice with Ni2+ in MgO, using three nickel salts. MgOst was prepared by the colloidal starch suspension method, using cassava starch. The oxides and hydroxides, before and after, were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and show that a phase change occurs: a transition from periclase (MgO) to brucite (Mg(OH)2) due to the incorporation of nickel ions from different salts (acetate, chloride, and nitrate), resulting in the solid solution [NixMg1−x(OH)2]. The FTIR spectrum corroborates the crystallographic structure identified through XRD patterns, confirming the formation of a crystal structure resembling brucite. The new samples present a green color, indicative of the incorporation of the Ni2+ ions. The antimicrobial activity of products resulting from the doping of magnesium oxide with nickel and the precursor MgOst was assessed through the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. The evaluation included three bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Salmonella gallinarum (ATCC 9184), and a yeast strain, Candida albicans (ATCC 10231). The obtained results were promising; the tested samples exhibited antimicrobial activity, with a MIC ranging from 0.312 to 0.625 μg.μL−1. The nickel compound, derived from the precursor chloride salt, demonstrated superior MIC activity. Notably, all tested samples displayed bactericidal activity against the S. aureus strain and exhibited a broad spectrum of inhibition, encompassing both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Only the nickel compounds derived from precursors with acetate and nitrate anions demonstrated antimicrobial activity against C. albicans, exhibiting a fungistatic behavior. Based on the conducted studies, [NixMg1−x(OH)2] has emerged as a promising antimicrobial agent, suitable for applications requiring the delay or inhibition of bacterial growth.

Hygienic characteristics of ethanol for preventive use in skin antiseptics

Aim – to study the ethyl alcohol 70% of the Lux brand in respect to its chemical and analytical quality, toxicological safety, microbial effectiveness and to assess its use in skin antiseptics. Material and methods. The studies were performed using organoleptic, physical, chemical, toxicological and microbial analysis in accordance with standard modern methods. Results. Ethyl alcohol 70% has chemical, analytical and microbial quality indicators that meet the requirements of the State Pharmacopeia of the Republic of Belarus. According to toxicological indicators, it belongs to class IV – lowhazard substances, with no irritating effect, which corresponds to the regulatory toxicological indicators of the safety of skin antiseptics. During the primary epicutaneous application on volunteers, it does not cause subjective and objective symptoms of sensitization; it belongs to substances that do not have an irritating effect and sensitizing ability. Standard test cultures and clinical strains of microorganisms are highly sensitive to ethyl alcohol 70% in a qualitative suspension test tube and micromethod without protein load and moderately sensitive in the diskdiffusion method with an exposure of 1 min. In relation to these microorganisms, the antimicrobial activity of ethyl alcohol 70% is above 99.999% and a reduction factor above 5 lg at exposure of 1 min in a quantitative suspension method without a protein load. Ethyl alcohol 70% is also characterized by a high efficiency of normal skin disinfection and E.coli contaminated skin of volunteers over 99% and a reduction factor above 2 lg and 4 lg, respectively. Conclusion. Ethyl alcohol 70% of the brand "Lux" is a highquality, toxicologically safe and microbial effective drug. It can be recommended for skin antisepsis of the injection field (class A), as well as hygienic hand antisepsis (class B) and antiseptic sanitization of the skin in the Republic of Belarus and Russian Federation.

In vitro toxicity evaluation in A549 cells of diesel particulate matter from two different particle sampling systems and several resuspension media.

In urban areas, inhalation of fine particles from combustion sources such as diesel engines causes adverse health effects. For toxicity testing, a substantial amount of particulate matter (PM) is needed. Conventional sampling involves collection of PM onto substrates by filtration or inertial impaction. A major drawback to those methodologies is that the extraction process can modify the collected particles and alter their chemical composition. Moreover, prior to toxicity testing, PM samples need to be resuspended, which can alter the PM sample even further. Lastly, the choice of the resuspension medium may also impact the detected toxicological responses. In this study, we compared the toxicity profile of PM obtained from two alternative sampling systems, using in vitro toxicity assays. One system makes use of condensational growth before collection in water in an impinger - BioSampler (CG-BioSampler), and the other, a Dekati® Gravimetric Impactor (DGI), is based on inertial impaction. In addition, various methods for resuspension of DGI collected PM were compared. Tested endpoints included cytotoxicity, formation of cellular reactive oxygen species, and genotoxicity. The alternative collection and suspension methods affected different toxicological endpoints. The water/dimethyl sulfoxide mixture and cell culture medium resuspended particles, along with the CG-BioSampler sample, produced the strongest responses. The water resuspended sample from the DGI appeared least toxic. CG-BioSampler collected PM caused a clear increased response in apoptotic cell death. We conclude that the CG-BioSampler PM sampler is a promising alternative to inertial impaction sampling.