Effective Volume Research Articles

Investigating the optimum conditions for azo dye (methyl orange and methyl red) decolorization from aqueous solution using oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus): a mycoremediation approach

Since conventional dye removal techniques require a substantial amount of energy and chemicals, this study evaluated the utilization of Pleurotus ostreatus, a species of fungus, in an environmentally beneficial mycoremediation approach to decolorize two azo dyes, methyl orange (MO) and methyl red (MR), in a liquid medium. Pleurotus ostreatus was utilized under standard circumstances in the solutions containing 0.05% (w/v) MO and 0.05% (w/v) MR, without undergoing any genetic modifications. By analyzing the effects of time (6, 12, and 18 days), temperature (15 °C to 40 °C), pH (4 to 7), and inoculum volume (1 to 25 mL) on the decolorization rate of P. ostreatus, the ideal environment for the decolorization of MO and MR was determined. The highest rate of decolorization was evident at 25 °C temperature, pH 7 within 18 days of incubation, P. ostreatus could decolorize 0.05 g MO up to 97% when added in 10 mL inoculum volume on the other hand 0.05 g MR up to 93% in 15 mL inoculum volume at pH 6. Furthermore, the dye uptake rate after 18 days for MO was 59.25% and MR was 53.97% which indicated that P. ostreatus had a better uptake efficiency for MO than MR. Based on its ability to decolorize both MO and MR under suitable circumstances, the study concludes that P. ostreatus offers an appreciable mycoremediation approach for removing dye pigments from industrial wastewater.

The developmental phenotype of motor delay in extremely preterm infants following early-life respiratory adversity is influenced by brain dysmaturation in the parietal lobe

BackgroundResearch indicates that preterm infants requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation often exhibit suboptimal neurodevelopment at follow-up, coupled with altered brain development as detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at term-equivalent age (TEA). However, specific regions of brain dysmaturation and the subsequent neurodevelopmental phenotype following early-life adverse respiratory exposures remain unclear. Additionally, it is uncertain whether brain dysmaturation mediates neurodevelopmental outcomes after respiratory adversity. This study aims to investigate the relationship between early-life adverse respiratory exposures, brain dysmaturation at TEA, and the developmental phenotype observed during follow-up in extremely preterm infants.Methods89 infants born < 29 weeks’ gestation from 2019 to 2021 received MRI examinations at TEA for structural and lobe brain volumes, which were adjusted with sex-and-postmenstrual-age expected volumes for volume residuals. Assisted ventilation patterns in the first 8 postnatal weeks were analyzed using kmlShape analyses. Patterns for motor, cognition, and language development were evaluated from corrected age 6 to 12 months using Bayley Scales of Infant Development, third edition. Mediation effects of brain volumes between early-life respiratory exposures and neurodevelopmental phenotypes were adjusted for sex, gestational age, maternal education, and severe brain injury.ResultsTwo distinct respiratory trajectories with varying severity were identified: improving (n = 35, 39%) and delayed improvement (n = 54, 61%). Compared with the improving group, the delayed improvement group exhibited selectively reduced brain volume residuals in the parietal lobe (mean − 4.9 cm3, 95% confidence interval − 9.4 to − 0.3) at TEA and lower motor composite scores (− 8.7, − 14.2 to − 3.1) at corrected age 12 months. The association between delayed respiratory improvement and inferior motor performance (total effect − 8.7, − 14.8 to − 3.3) was partially mediated through reduced parietal lobe volume (natural indirect effect − 1.8, − 4.9 to − 0.01), suggesting a mediating effect of 20%.ConclusionsEarly-life adverse respiratory exposure is specifically linked to the parietal lobe dysmaturation and neurodevelopmental phenotype of motor delay at follow-up. Dysmaturation of the parietal lobe serves as a mediator in the connection between respiratory adversity and compromised motor development. Optimizing respiratory critical care may emerge as a potential avenue to mitigate the consequences of altered brain growth and motor developmental delay in this extremely preterm population.

Insight into the performance of composite binder with high-volume steel slag, blast furnace slag and desulfurization gypsum

The performance of composite binders with high-volume steel slag (SS), granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) and desulfurization gypsum (DG) were systematically investigated. The results show that the synergistic effects of high volume (40–60%) of SS with GBFS and less than 15% of DG could perform adequate setting time, higher strength, well volume stability and soundness as well as dense microstructure. The higher compressive strengths exceeding 70 MPa at 28 days and up to 80 MPa at 90 days could be obtained for composite pastes with high-volume SS, which exhibit tight relationships with [CaO]·[SO3]/[Al2O3]·[SiO2] and [CaO]·[Al2O3]/[SO3]2 molar ratios. More (15–19%) AFt and less (about 1%) portlandite produced during the hydration of composite binders. C–S–H gels and calcite crystals were formed. The composite binder possesses lower energy consumption, high carbon reduction and low cost compared with Portland cement in favor of the low-carbon cementitious material production and effective utilization of SS.

Protocell Effects on RNA Folding, Function, and Evolution.

ConspectusCreating a living system from nonliving matter is a great challenge in chemistry and biophysics. The early history of life can provide inspiration from the idea of the prebiotic "RNA World" established by ribozymes, in which all genetic and catalytic activities were executed by RNA. Such a system could be much simpler than the interdependent central dogma characterizing life today. At the same time, cooperative systems require a mechanism such as cellular compartmentalization in order to survive and evolve. Minimal cells might therefore consist of simple vesicles enclosing a prebiotic RNA metabolism.The internal volume of a vesicle is a distinctive environment due to its closed boundary, which alters diffusion and available volume for macromolecules and changes effective molecular concentrations, among other considerations. These physical effects are mechanistically distinct from chemical interactions, such as electrostatic repulsion, that might also occur between the membrane boundary and encapsulated contents. Both indirect and direct interactions between the membrane and RNA can give rise to nonintuitive, "emergent" behaviors in the model protocell system. We have been examining how encapsulation inside membrane vesicles would affect the folding and activity of entrapped RNA.Using biophysical techniques such as FRET, we characterized ribozyme folding and activity inside vesicles. Encapsulation inside model protocells generally promoted RNA folding, consistent with an excluded volume effect, independently of chemical interactions. This energetic stabilization translated into increased ribozyme activity in two different systems that were studied (hairpin ribozyme and self-aminoacylating RNAs). A particularly intriguing finding was that encapsulation could rescue the activity of mutant ribozymes, suggesting that encapsulation could affect not only folding and activity but also evolution. To study this further, we developed a high-throughput sequencing assay to measure the aminoacylation kinetics of many thousands of ribozyme variants in parallel. The results revealed an unexpected tendency for encapsulation to improve the better ribozyme variants more than worse variants. During evolution, this effect would create a tilted playing field, so to speak, that would give additional fitness gains to already-high-activity variants. According to Fisher's Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection, the increased variance in fitness should manifest as faster evolutionary adaptation. This prediction was borne out experimentally during in vitro evolution, where we observed that the initially diverse ribozyme population converged more quickly to the most active sequences when they were encapsulated inside vesicles.The studies in this Account have expanded our understanding of emergent protocell behavior, by showing how simply entrapping an RNA inside a vesicle, which could occur spontaneously during vesicle formation, might profoundly affect the evolutionary landscape of the RNA. Because of the exponential dynamics of replication and selection, even small changes to activity and function could lead to major evolutionary consequences. By closely studying the details of minimal yet surprisingly complex protocells, we might one day trace a pathway from encapsulated RNA to a living system.

Comparison of patients with chronic and episodic migraine with healthy individuals by brain volume and cognitive functions

Objectives: Migraine is a complex neurological disease. In addition to headache, individuals with migraine may develop structural changes inside the brain and cognitive impairment. There is increased evidence associated with impairments in brain volume and cognitive functions in patients with migraine. The present study aimed to investigate the impairment in memory function in individuals with migraine using brain magnetic resonance imaging, volume measurement, and neuropsychological tests. Methods: The study included 20 patients with episodic migraine, 20 patients with chronic migraine, and 20 healthy controls. Subcortical volumes of all participants were measured by FreeSurfer, an automatic segmentation method. The Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Form (WMS-R), Stroop test, Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices, Verbal Fluency Test, and Lines Orientation Test were applied in all the study participants. Results: Putamen volume decreased as migraine duration increased, and subcortical gray matter, left cerebellar cortex, and bilateral thalamus volumes were lower in the chronic and episodic group compared to the control group, bilateral putamen and right cerebellar cortex volumes were lower in patients with chronic migraine compared to patients in episodic migraine and control groups. Upon neuropsychological examination, delayed memory was affected as the duration of migraine increased, and there was impairment in patients with chronic migraine upon fluency tests and mental control tests. Conclusions: Changes in subcortical volume and cognitive effects in patients with migraine raise questions about whether migraine qualifies as a benign disease. Structural changes and cognitive impairment may contribute to migraine-associated disability, and therefore, these causalities should be investigated by future studies. Silent infarcts, white matter damage, and cortical spreading depression, which occur in migraine cases, may be associated with subcortical volume changes and thus, cognitive effects. In the context, studies with larger samples to achieve a better understanding are needed.

The Importance of Aneurysm Morphology and Perianeurysmal Environment in Aneurysmal Subdural Hematomas

Aim: Aneurysmal subdural hematoma (anSDH) is an uncommon condition associated with significant mortality risk. This study focused on the relationship between morphology and the perianeurysmal environment by comparing aneurysm location and clinical outcomes. Material and Methods: A total of 486 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage were retrospectively analyzed for accompanying subdural hematoma (SDH) cases. Demographic information, rebleeding, discharge, and 6 months of the modified Rankin scale scores (favorable and unfavorable) were recorded. The aneurysms were divided into 3 groups: internal carotid artery (ICA), anterior cerebral artery (ACA), and middle cerebral artery (MCA). Other parameters included aneurysm morphology, SDH width, intracerebral hematoma (ICH) volume, the presence of intraventricular hematoma, and distance to the subdural space. Results: Concomitant SDH was detected in 19 (3.9%) patients. Aneurysms were located in the ICA, 10 (52.6%); MCA, 8 (42.1%); and ACA, one (5.3%). The mean size was 9.5±4.3 mm, and there was a significant difference in aneurysm size between the ICA and MCA (p=0.025). In six supraclinoid aneurysms (posterior communicating and anterior choroidal arteries), the aneurysm dome was in the inferior lateral projection. No significant differences were observed between patients with favorable and unfavorable modified Rankin scale in terms of clinical and aneurysm morphological characteristics, except for increased ICH volume (p=0.020) and shift effects (p=0.030). Conclusion: The size and dome projection of ICA supraclinoid segment aneurysms may be important risk factors for SDH. We also believe that aneurysm localization may have a limited impact on clinical outcomes in the context of SDH.

Study on the Diffusion Law of Heavy Gas Leakage in Complex Scenarios Based on Scaled-Down Experiments.

In order to study the effects of temperature, wind speed, and leakage volume on the diffusion of heavy gas leakage, this paper establishes a scaling model for the experimental study of gas leakage and diffusion by using the similarity theory with a certain factory as the target. And carbon dioxide gas is selected to replace the toxic and harmful heavy gas to carry out experiments under different temperatures (0-40 °C), wind speeds (0-2 m/s), and leakage velocities (2.5-12.5 L/min), respectively. The results showed that the diffusion rate of heavy gas expanded with increasing temperature under the conditions of wind speed of 0.25 m/s and leakage velocity of 1.5 L/min. When the temperature was increased from 0 to 40 °C, the concentration increase at each location was 125-290% at 600 s. Under the condition of temperature of 20 °C and leakage velocity of 5 L/min, the concentration at each location increased linearly with diffusion time when there was wind, while the linear relationship was not obvious when there was no wind. The effect on the concentration was larger when the wind speed was less than 1 m/s and smaller when the wind speed was greater than 1 m/s. At 20 °C and a wind speed of 0.5 m/s, the concentration of carbon dioxide at each location was increasing as the leakage increased. As the leakage velocity increases from 2.5 to 12.5 L/min, the carbon dioxide concentration at 600 s spreads 2-14 times. The research in this paper provides some decision support for the rescue work, which is important for improving the emergency rescue capability of the leakage accident.

Will the Release of Presale Housing moderate or exacerbate residential price volatility? - Taking Apartmemt complexes Units in Taichung City as an Example

During periods of economic prosperity, increased profit opportunities lead to active transactions in the existing housing market and heightened consumer risk preferences. At this time, developers increase the launch of presale housing projects to expand business opportunities, indirectly filling the supply gap of existing homes and alleviating housing demand. However, in reality, prices in both the presale and existing housing markets mutually drive each other up, further delaying the stabilization of housing prices. Therefore, whether the launch of presale housing projects can alleviate the demand for existing homes and achieve the function of price moderation becomes a research-worthy question. This study aims to investigate whether the volume of presale housing projects moderates or exacerbates housing prices. We focus on the volatility of aggregate residential housing prices in Taichung City, Taiwan, using transaction data of monthly average prices for Apartmemt complexes Units (high-rise buildings and high-rise apartments) from August 2012 to June 2023. We employ the ARCH/GARCH models to analyze the impact of presale housing project volumes on housing price volatility. Stability and convergence indicate a moderating effect of presale housing project volumes on housing prices; otherwise, it indicates exacerbation. After model testing, this study selects the most appropriate model as the ARIMA(3,1,0)-GARCH(1,0) model. This study finds that during periods of economic prosperity, the volume of presale housing projects does not aid in stabilizing or converging residential housing prices; instead, it exacerbates market disruption.

Continuum-extrapolated high-order baryon fluctuations

Fluctuations play a key role in the study of QCD phases. Lattice QCD is a valuable tool to calculate them, but going to high orders is challenging. Up to the fourth order, continuum results have been available since 2015. We present the first continuum results for sixth-order baryon fluctuations for temperatures between T=130 and 200 MeV and eighth order at T=145 MeV in a fixed volume. Comparison with earlier studies with imaginary chemical potential suggests that the volume effect is under control for T&lt;145 MeV. Our results are in sharp contrast with well-known results in the literature obtained at finite lattice spacing. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Deep learning based bilateral filtering for edge-preserving denoising of respiratory-gated PET

BackgroundResidual image noise is substantial in positron emission tomography (PET) and one of the factors limiting lesion detection, quantification, and overall image quality. Thus, improving noise reduction remains of considerable interest. This is especially true for respiratory-gated PET investigations. The only broadly used approach for noise reduction in PET imaging has been the application of low-pass filters, usually Gaussians, which however leads to loss of spatial resolution and increased partial volume effects affecting detectability of small lesions and quantitative data evaluation. The bilateral filter (BF) — a locally adaptive image filter — allows to reduce image noise while preserving well defined object edges but manual optimization of the filter parameters for a given PET scan can be tedious and time-consuming, hampering its clinical use. In this work we have investigated to what extent a suitable deep learning based approach can resolve this issue by training a suitable network with the target of reproducing the results of manually adjusted case-specific bilateral filtering.MethodsAltogether, 69 respiratory-gated clinical PET/CT scans with three different tracers ([18F]\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$[^{18}\ ext {F}]$$\\end{document}FDG, [18F]\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$[^{18}\ ext {F}]$$\\end{document}L-DOPA, [68Ga]\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$[^{68}\ ext {Ga}]$$\\end{document}DOTATATE) were used for the present investigation. Prior to data processing, the gated data sets were split, resulting in a total of 552 single-gate image volumes. For each of these image volumes, four 3D ROIs were delineated: one ROI for image noise assessment and three ROIs for focal uptake (e.g. tumor lesions) measurements at different target/background contrast levels. An automated procedure was used to perform a brute force search of the two-dimensional BF parameter space for each data set to identify the “optimal” filter parameters to generate user-approved ground truth input data consisting of pairs of original and optimally BF filtered images. For reproducing the optimal BF filtering, we employed a modified 3D U-Net CNN incorporating residual learning principle. The network training and evaluation was performed using a 5-fold cross-validation scheme. The influence of filtering on lesion SUV quantification and image noise level was assessed by calculating absolute and fractional differences between the CNN, manual BF, or original (STD) data sets in the previously defined ROIs.ResultsThe automated procedure used for filter parameter determination chose adequate filter parameters for the majority of the data sets with only 19 patient data sets requiring manual tuning. Evaluation of the focal uptake ROIs revealed that CNN as well as BF based filtering essentially maintain the focal SUVmax\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ ext {SUV}_\ ext {max}$$\\end{document} values of the unfiltered images with a low mean ± SD difference of δSUVmaxCNN,STD\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\delta \ ext {SUV}_\ ext {max}^{\ ext {CNN},\ ext {STD}}$$\\end{document} = (−3.9 ± 5.2)% and δSUVmaxBF,STD\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\delta \ ext {SUV}_\ ext {max}^{\ ext {BF},\ ext {STD}}$$\\end{document} = (−4.4 ± 5.3)%. Regarding relative performance of CNN versus BF, both methods lead to very similar SUVmax\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ ext {SUV}_\ ext {max}$$\\end{document} values in the vast majority of cases with an overall average difference of δSUVmaxCNN,BF\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\delta \ ext {SUV}_\ ext {max}^{\ ext {CNN},\ ext {BF}}$$\\end{document} = (0.5 ± 4.8)%. Evaluation of the noise properties showed that CNN filtering mostly satisfactorily reproduces the noise level and characteristics of BF with δNoiseCNN,BF\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\delta \ ext {Noise}^{\ ext {CNN},\ ext {BF}}$$\\end{document} = (5.6 ± 10.5)%. No significant tracer dependent differences between CNN and BF were observed.ConclusionsOur results show that a neural network based denoising can reproduce the results of a case by case optimized BF in a fully automated way. Apart from rare cases it led to images of practically identical quality regarding noise level, edge preservation, and signal recovery. We believe such a network might proof especially useful in the context of improved motion correction of respiratory-gated PET studies but could also help to establish BF-equivalent edge-preserving CNN filtering in clinical PET since it obviates time consuming manual BF parameter tuning.

The use of a complex of microorganisms in yogurt production technology

Fermented milk products are one of the most common foods among the population. This category of products includes yogurt, which is available in its various variations: with different acidity concentrations, with various additives, and different fat content. The article presents the results of studies on the influence of a complex of microorganisms on the quality indicators of yogurt (organoleptic, physicochemical). The purpose of the research was to study the effect of different volumes of symbiotic starter on the quality indicators of yogurt. The research was carried out in the laboratory of the Department of Biotechnology and Food Products of the Ural State Agrarian University.The Methods. Four yogurt samples were produced and analyzed: a control sample and three experimental ones. The finished products were assessed for organoleptic characteristics and mass fraction of protein (GOST 31981-2013). Acidity was set according to GOST 31976-2012.The Results. According to experts, sample No. 2 was recognized as the best, with a total volume of the complex of microorganisms of 70 ml per 150 g of the finished product. This sample had a uniform consistency, undisturbed clot, and no whey separation was observed; taste and smell – pure, fermented milk; color – milky white. All test samples had deviations in the protein mass fraction. Thus, in sample No. 1, MDB was 3.4%, in samples No. 2 and No. 3 – 3.6 and 3.8%. The obtained indicators were higher than the standard values by 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%, respectively. Acidity in all samples was within normal limits.The Conclusion. Yogurt, with a complex of microorganisms can expand the line of functional products, and the addition of symbiotic starters will improve the properties of the product and classify it as functional.

Utilizing silica fume and synthetically produced mesoporous silicas for simulated flue gas CO2 adsorption

ABSTRACT Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is crucial in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Solid adsorbents, notable for their reusability and corrosion resistance, are gaining attention in CO2 gas separation. This study uses Silica fume as an adsorbent and silica source for SiO2 and MCM-41 silica-based adsorbents. Silica was extracted via an alkaline dissolution method, and adsorbents were synthesized using a CO2-induced precipitation method, chosen for its shorter synthesis time and CO2 utilization. The effects of pore volume, average pore diameter, and specific surface area on amine loading and CO2 adsorption capacity were investigated using CTAB surfactant in SiO2 synthesis, resulting in MCM-41. The synthesized adsorbents were modified with TEPA and DEA amines due to their high affinity for CO2. After determining optimal amine loading, the impact of combining TEPA with DEA was examined. The highest CO2 adsorption capacity under simulated flue gas conditions (15% volume CO2 and 85% volume N2) was 198 milligrams per gram of adsorbent for the SiO2 adsorbent functionalized with 50% by weight amine (28% TEPA and 22% DEA). Variations in CO2 adsorption over time, the influence of adsorbent quantity on adsorption capacity, the affinity of the adsorbent for N2 adsorption, and the adsorption–desorption cycle were investigated. The 28%TEPA-22%DEA-SiO2 adsorbent emerged as the optimal choice due to its large total volume and average pore diameter, absence of a template in its structure, excellent performance in CO2 adsorption, lack of affinity for N2, and robust adsorption–desorption stability.

Dose-response effects of physical exercise standardized volume on peripheral biomarkers, clinical response, and brain connectivity in Parkinson's disease: a prospective, observational, cohort study.

Exercise has been proposed as the "Universal Prescription for Parkinson's Disease"; however, the specificity of exercise dose in terms of frequency, intensity, duration, and type to be prescribed remains to be elucidated. The 2018 US updated guidelines and WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior recommend older adults (> 65+ years) to achieve weekly minimal activity levels, indicating the intensity of aerobic exercise as the metabolic equivalent of task and duration as minutes/week (150-300 min/week at a moderate intensity of 3-5.9 MET- or 75-150 min/week of a vigorous intensity of ≥6 MET). Translating these recommendations to PD patients, the study aimed to assess the dose-response effects of standardized volume of structured exercise, measured as METs-minutes/week (weekly energy expenditure) of two different rehabilitation settings to quantify the change in neurotrophic factors. The exercise-induced benefits between the two rehabilitation settings will be evaluated based on motor and non-motor symptoms, kinematic parameters of gait, cognitive function, quality of life, and cortical activity and brain connectivity. METEX-PD is a pilot, prospective, observational, cohort study. The study will enroll consecutively thirty (N = 30) participants with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease diagnosis to be assigned to a non-intensive or intensive rehabilitation group. The non-intensive rehabilitation group will achieve a range of 180-270 METs-min/week (90 min/week of low-intensity aerobic exercise, 2-3 METs), while the intensive rehabilitation group will exercise at 1350-1980 METs-min/week (225 min/week of high-intensity aerobic exercise, 6-8.8 METs). The METEX-PD trial will last 12 weeks, including 4 weeks of aerobic training program and two follow-ups. Assessments will be performed at baseline (T0), at the end of the exercise program (T1-end of the program), and 4- and 8 weeks after the end of the training program (FU-1 and FU-2). The primary outcome is the change from baseline in peripheral blood BDNF levels. Secondary outcomes are differences in peripheral biomarkers, functional-motor assessments, clinical-functional evaluations, and brain imaging. METEX-PD trial will enable us to estimate the change in BDNF levels and other peripheral biomarkers under precise exercise-induced energy expenditure. The primary results of the METEX-PD study will allow the development of a larger multicenter randomized controlled trial to investigate the molecular pathways inducing the change in selected neurotrophic factors, such as BDNF, IGF-1, or irisin, and the downstream mechanisms of neuroplasticity in PD patients.

Effect of Residual Gastric Volume on Risk of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Adults Receiving Mechanical Ventilation and Early Enteral Feeding

Abstract Background Early enteral nutrition is the standard of care in critically ill patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. However, numerous studies have shown that early enteral nutrition is frequently not used. The main reason for nonuse is gastrointestinal intolerance to enteral nutrition which has been ascribed to gastroparesis with increased gastric volume, gastroesophageal reflux, and regurgitation or vomiting carrying a risk of aspiration and ventilator-associated pneumonia. Aim of the Work To test the hypothesis that the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia is not increased when residual gastric volume is not monitored compared with routine residual gastric volume monitoring in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation and early enteral nutrition. Furthermore residual gastric volume monitoring may be associated with decreased calorie delivery and therefore, with underfeeding and increased morbidity. Patients and Methods This is a Prospective cohort study that was conducted at Ain Shams University Hospitals&amp; Rashid General hospital for 6 months on critically ill patients admitted to ICU with mechanical ventilation. Sample sizes of 215 in each group totaling 430 in the study achieve 80% power to detect a non-inferiority margin difference between the group proportions of -0.0800. The reference group proportion is 0.158. The treatment group proportion is assumed to be 0.078 under the null hypothesis of inferiority. Results There was no significant difference between groups regard BMI (is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), SAPS II or SOFA regard sex distribution the majority were male in both groups with no significant difference and also DM and HTN distributed with no significant difference between groups. Considering cause of admission and risk factors distribution between studied groups, in our study there is no significant difference or association between the two groups and the majority admission causes of both groups were respiratory and cancer. No significant difference between groups regard hospital stay or ICU days but MV days were significantly shorter in intervention group. In our study, Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia was significantly associated with control group as 47.4% had pneumonia while only 11.2% in intervention group had it. In the present study, cumulative calories deficit was significantly lower in intervention group, Intolerance and Prokinetic TTT were significantly associated with control group. Conclusion The current study supports the hypothesis that a protocol of enteral nutrition management without residual gastric volume monitoring is not inferior to a similar protocol including residual gastric volume monitoring in terms of protection against VAP. Residual gastric volume monitoring leads to unnecessary interruptions of enteral nutrition delivery with subsequent inadequate feeding and should be removed from the standard care of critically ill patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation and early enteral nutrition.

Characterization of Functional Ingredients Extracted with Ethanol Solvents from Ponkan (Citrus reticulata) By-Products Using the Microwave Vacuum Drying Method Combined with Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction.

For this study, microwave vacuum drying (MVD) was combined with ultrasound-assisted extraction to compare the effects of different ethanol volumes on ponkan extract and to evaluate the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total ascorbic acid content (TAAC). High-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA) was used to analyze the flavanone contents and antioxidant activity of ponkan (Citrus reticulata) peels. The experimental results showed that the TPC and TFC increase with ethanol volume. Ethanol extraction (75%) showed significant advantages by increasing the TPC to 17.48 mg GAE/g (DW) and the TFC to 2.96 mg QE/g (DW) of ponkan extract and also exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. The TAAC improved along with increased water content. Water extraction showed the highest content (13.07 mg VitC/100 g, DW). The hesperidin content analyzed by HPLC-PDA was 102.95-622.57 mg/100 g (DW), which was the highest among the flavanones. Then, the ethanol insoluble residue extracts were taken from the pectin with four different solvents, evaluating TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity. The TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacity of pectin are significantly lower than those of the peels. Combining MVD and 75% ethanol with ultrasound-assisted extraction in the pre-treatment process can effectively eliminate polyphenols, flavonoids, and other compounds, thus enabling the extraction of high-methoxyl pectin. The total dietary fiber (TDF) content of MVD ponkan by-products was 25.83%. Ponkan by-products have the potential for the future development of functional foods and supplements.

A novel approach to measure the untraceable amount of cetirizine and fexofenadine in drinking water

BackgroundPharmaceutical residues in the drinking water have become a major challenge of the modern urban life because bioaccumulation of these residues in human bodies has been considered the major cause of trending disorders such as infertility, drug resistance, hormonal imbalance etc. Although proctocols have been implemented to detect and deliminate these residues to purify the drinking water but inspite of huge efforts, the untraceable amount of these substances remains intact. Purpose of studyConsidering the singnificance of detection of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water, the current study was perform to develop a novel approach to measure the untraceable amount of Cetirizine and Fexofenadine by using an in-lab developed nanosheets of graphene oxide to act as suitable adsorbents of compounds of the antihistamine family. MethodsThese graphene nanosheets were characterized following the adsorption kinetics, contact time, temperature, pH, desorption rate, volume effect on adsorption and desorption concentration. FT-IR and XRD methods were also used to detect the nanoparticles. Results and conclusionIt was observed that the best pH for Cetirizine and Fexofenadine adsorptionis 3 and 6, respectively by using methanol as an optimal solvent. The quadratic equation of both drugs paints a clearer picture of absorption. The validation test of the sample condensation by graphene oxide adsorbent exhibited that using the synthesized adsorbent, the analysis power of these drugs in water samples can be enhanced from mg/L units to μg/L, which helps analyze very small amounts of these compounds in aquatic environments. On the other hand, the maximum adsorptioncapacity of 28.2 and 26.42 mg/g for Cetirizine and Fexofenadine, respectively, indicates the high adsorptioncapacity of this substance to treat pollution of wastewater discharged by pharmaceutical factories.

Optimization of fracturing technology for unconventional dense oil reservoirs based on rock brittleness index

The concept of volume fracturing has revolutionized the conventional limits of low permeability, expanded the effective resource space, and significantly enhanced oil well production in tight oil reservoir development. This paper elucidates the mechanism of volume fracturing technology for tight sandstone reservoirs by considering multiple factors such as the initiation range of multi-fractures, influence of far-well horizontal principal stress on fracture initiation and propagation, degree of natural fractures development, and mechanical parameters of reservoir rock. Through simulation based on the mechanical parameters of reservoir rock, a comparative analysis was conducted between the model-calculated rock fracture pressure value and measured data from fracturing construction wells in the study area. The results revealed that there was a discrepancy within 10% between the model calculations and actual data. By simulating the effects of different injection volumes of fracturing fluid, pumping rates, and perforation methods on the fracture geometry, optimal design parameters for volume fracturing technology were obtained. Additionally, we propose optimization ideas and suggestions for construction parameters applicable to field operations. The simulation results indicate that a minimum recommended fluid volume scale exceeding 1800 m3 is advised for the reservoir. Based on frictional calculations, it is recommended to have an on-site construction rate not less than 18.0 m3/min along with 36–48 holes/section for perforation purposes. The numerical simulation research presented in this paper provides a theoretical reference basis and practical guidance for the application of fracturing network technology in tight sandstone reservoirs.

Improvement of linearity in trap-rich substrates for radio frequency applications: Which of donor and acceptor trap is the best?

This paper investigates the effect of volume traps intentionally introduced into a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate by inserting a layer of polysilicon beneath buried oxide. In radio frequency applications, this type of substrate, referred to as trap-rich, is known to considerably reduce the generation of harmonics resulting from the parasitic non-linear charge dynamics introduced by the substrate handler under the buried oxide. This analysis focuses on a test vehicle in the form of an integrated coplanar waveguide on two types of substrates, namely, high-resistivity SOI substrates with and without a trap-rich layer. From a modeling point of view, a simulation methodology is implemented in order to convert the 3D simulation of the coplanar waveguide into a 2D treatment that takes into account the wave propagation effect associated with the distributed nature of the transmission line. As a first step, this modeling strategy is implemented to reproduce the effect of increasing substrate resistivity on 2nd and 3rd harmonic reductions, leading to an excellent agreement with experimental data. Building on this validation of the simulation method, we have opted to simulate the non-linear response of the transmission line on the SOI trap-rich substrate by simplifying the trap distribution model. To avoid the adoption of unverified and strongly process-dependent trap distributions across the bandgap, a midgap monovalent trap density has been introduced, either acceptor or donor density. A monovalent density of acceptor traps with a concentration of 1016 cm−3 and a carrier lifetime of 0.1 ns has been shown to reproduce the experimental data very accurately with a substantial reduction in 2nd and 3rd harmonics. A detailed analysis of the displacement current waveforms explains the beneficial role of acceptor traps compared with donor traps.

Enhanced quasi-three-dimensional transient simulation technique incorporating component volume effects for aero engine

Current transient analysis predominantly relies on zero-dimensional/one-dimensional tools, proficient at capturing aerothermodynamic variations across critical engine stations but insufficient for analyzing the internal flow field evolution during transients. Addressing this gap, the study presents an enhanced quasi-three dimensional (quasi-3D) transient simulation technique that integrates component volume effects, offering a significant leap from the preceding quasi-3D transient simulation method based on quasi-steady assumption. By embedding the component volume effects on density, momentum, and energy within the physical temporal dimension of the Navier-Stokes equations, the refined quasi-3D transient model achieves a closer representation of physical phenomena. Validation against a single-shaft turbofan engine’s experimental data confirms the model’s accuracy. Average errors for key performance indicators, including shaft speed, thrust, mass flow rate, and critical component exit temperature and pressure, remain below 0.41%, 5.69%, 2.55%, 3.18% and 0.67%, respectively. Crucially, the model exposes a discernible temporal lag in the compressor outlet pressure and temperature response due to volume effects—previously unquantified in quasi-3D transient simulations. And further exploration of the meridional flow field emphasizes the consequential role of volumes in transient flow field evolution. Incorporating volume effects within quasi-3D transient simulations enhances engine modeling and is pivotal for precise transient analysis in engine design and optimization.

Effects of Plyometric Training Volume on Physical Performance in Youth Basketball Players.

Aztarain-Cardiel, K, Garatachea, N, and Pareja-Blanco, F. Effects of plyometric training volume on physical performance in youth basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 38(7): 1275-1279, 2024-The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of different plyometric training volumes on jumping, sprinting, and change-of-direction performances in youth basketball players. Thirty-one young male basketball players (age: 15.1 ± 1.8 years) from 4 squads belonging to an elite basketball club were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: (a) low-volume (LV) plyometric training, (b) high-volume (HV) plyometric training, and (c) control group (CG). The subjects followed a plyometric training program twice a week for 6 weeks, differing in the training volume controlled through the number of jumps per session. Both experimental groups performed 8 repetitions in each set of bilateral vertical jumps with free arms, but HV completed twice the training volume of LV (98.7 vs. 49.3 jumps per session). Pretraining and Posttraining measurements included the following: (a) squat jump (SJ); (b) countermovement jump (CMJ); (c) horizontal jump (HJ); (d) straight-line sprint in 20 m (Sprint); and (e) V-Cut change-of-direction test (V-Cut). The LV and HV groups showed similar increases in vertical jump performance. The LV group significantly increased its performance in SJ, CMJ, and HJ (p < 0.001-0.05), whereas the HV group showed significant improvements only in SJ and CMJ (p < 0.001). Furthermore, neither group increased their sprint or change of direction performance. Control group did not improve in any performance variable analyzed. Therefore, the LV and HV plyometric training programs produce similar benefits on jump performance variables, but LV is more repetition-efficient than HV in young basketball players. This supports the statement that there is a nonlinear relationship between training volume and performance improvements.