Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of the Solubility and Dissolution Rate of Rebamipide by Using Solid Dispersion Technique ( Part I )

Solid dispersion is an attractive tool of pharmaceutical technology used to improve the physical properties of drugs, among these properties is the solubility of the drugs. Rebamipide (REM) is used as potent antiulcer, mucoprotective drug, by stimulating the generation of prostoglandine enhanced mucosal protection. REM is a poorly soluble drug of class IV of biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS). In the present study, attempts were made to enhance solubility and dissolution rate of REM by solid dispersion technique. Thirty six REM formulas were prepared as a solid dispersion using different polymers include pluronic F-127 (poloxamer 407), polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG6000), polyvinylpyrrolidon (PVP K30), and D-α-Tocopheryl polyethylene Glycol 1000 Succinate (TPGS) at different drug: polymer ratios (1:9, 1:12, and1:15) by using different preparation methods include solvent evaporation, fusion, and kneading method. The prepared formulas were characterized regarding drug content, production yield, solubility study, dissolution study, FTIR, DSC, PXRD, and SEM. The results indicate that the used polymer show improvement in drug solubility in the following descending order; TPGS>PVP K30>PEG 6000 > pluronic F-127 and the best drug: polymer ratio was 1:15 while best method was solvent evaporation. The optimum formula composes of drug: TPGS at ratio of 1:15 prepared by solvent evaporation shows 36.4 folds solubility enhancement compared to pure REM. The advance characterization of the selected formula indicates amorphousization of drug. It can be concluded that the solid dispersion technique is simple physical approach that can be followed to solve the problem of REM solubility using TPGS as hydrophilic carrier and best method is solvent evaporation method.
The performance of MnO2/graphite electrode for TOC removal from wastewater by indirect electrochemical oxidation process

Electrochemical oxidation in the presence of sodium chloride used for removal of phenol and any other organic by products formed during the electrolysis by using MnO2/graphite electrode. The performance of the electrode was evaluated in terms fraction of phenol and the formed organic by products removed during the electrolysis process. The results showed that the electrochemical oxidation process was very effective in the removal of phenol and the other organics, where the removal percentage of phenol was 97.33%, and the final value of TOC was 6.985 ppm after 4 hours and by using a speed of rotation of the MnO2 electrode equal to 200 rpm.
Biological Evaluation (Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Enzyme Inhibitions), Total Phenolic Content and Volatile Chemical Compositions of Caucasalia macrophylla (M. Bieb.) B. Nord. (Asteraceae)

Abstract The volatile constituent composition in the essential oil (EO), SPME, and SPME of hexane extract of Caucasalia macrophylla (M. Bieb.) B. Nord. were determined by GC-FID and GC/MS analyses. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (72.2% and 26.9%) were the most abundant group in the EO and SPME of C. macrophylla, respectively. Caryophyllene oxide was the major compound identified in the EO (61.0%) and SPME (23.6%), while 1-ethyl-4-methylbenzene (19.9%) was dominant in the SPME of hexane extract obtained from C. macrophylla. In the second part of the work, the antimicrobial, antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibition of the EO and the solvent extracts (n-hexane, methanol, and water) of C. macrophylla were studied. The antimicrobial activity of the EO and solvent extracts of C. macrophylla were screened for against nine microorganisms. The EO showed moderate antibacterial and antifungal activities against the Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Methanol extract of C. macrophylla was only active against Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, S. aureus, B. cereus, M. smegmatis and MIC was within the range of 143-1145 μg/mL. Among the most antioxidant activities were observed in the order of methanol, water, EO, and n-hexane extracts of C. macrophylla. The greatest tyrosinase enzyme inhibitions were obtained for the EO, methanol, water, and n-hexane extracts of C. macrophylla, respectively. The total phenolic content of the n-hexane, methanol and water extracts obtained from C. macrophylla were 10.03 ± 0.51, 24.92 ± 0.23, and 38.45 ± 0.86 mg GAE/ g (dry weight), respectively.
ACİL SERVİSE BAŞVURAN 65 YAŞ ÜSTÜ HASTALARDA ABDOMİNAL AORT ANEVRİZMA TARAMASI VE RİSK FAKTÖRLERİNİN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ Evaluation of risk factors and screening of abdominal aort anevrism in patients admitted to the emergency department with over the age of 65

Background: A significant number of applications to emergency services consists of elderly patients. Elderly patients are at increased risk for abdominal aortic aneurysms. Therefore, we measured the diameter of the aorta in patients over the age of 65 and compared with the risk factors Method: 150 patients, over 65 years old were included in the study. The patients with trauma or with any complaints or findings vascular disease, have not been included in the study. Aortic diameters were measured from separation zone of the renal artery and the iliac bifurcation and the remaining areas of the aorta were evaluated with scanning. The data was evaluated with SPSS 20.0 statistical software and t-test, chi-square tests were applied.
Optimisation of heat-moisture treatment conditions for producing high amounts of resistant starches from purple sweet potato and yam starches using response surface methodology

Heat-moisture treatment, a physical modification method of starch, causes changes in the internal structure of starch and thereby produces resistant starch (RS). In this study, the heat-moisture treatment conditions (moisture content, heating temperature, and incubation time) was optimized to maximise the RS contents of the treated sweet potato and yam starches, using the Box-Behnken design and response surface analysis. The predicted maximised RS content of the treated sweet potato starch (43.9%) was obtained under optimal conditions of 34.76% moisture content, heating temperature of 100.11oC, and incubation time of 6.01h; the predicted maximised RS content of the treated yam starch (36.8%) was obtained under optimal conditions of 30.06% moisture content, heating temperature of 109.68oC, and incubation time of 6.59h using a quadratic model within the range of various process variables. The experimental RS contents of the treated sweet potato and yam starches obtained under optimal treatment conditions were 42.4% and 35.4%, respectively; this confirms that the models were valid and adequate because the predicted data and experiment data did not differ significantly. The results also indicate that the RS contents of the treated sweet potato starch were significantly higher than that of the treated yam starch. As a result, both starch structure and treatment conditions were determined to significantly affect the formation of RS in the heat-moisture treated starches.
The Hafnium-Selective Extraction Fom a Zirconium(Hafnium) Heptafluoride Ammonium Solution Using Organophosphorus-Based Extractants

ABSTRACT The suitability of the organophosphorus-based extractants, DiOPA, Ionquest 801 and D2EHPA was evaluated for the selective extraction of Zr and Hf from an (NH4)3Zr(Hf)F7 acidic solution using both dispersive and pertraction solvent extraction (SX). A stock solution of (NH4)3Zr(Hf)F7 was dissolved in either HCl or H2SO4 (0.1–8 M). The following extraction variables were investigated: type and concentration of the acidic solution, the contact time, and extractant to metal ratio. Subsequently, the stripping was investigated using (NH4)2CO3, CaCl2, H2SO4 and C2H2O4 in the concentration ranges of 0–2 M. During extraction, scrubbing and stripping using D2EHPA, CaCl2 and C2H2O4, the Zr purity was increased from 97.2% to 99.0%. When extracting from 4 M H2SO4 with 9 wt% D2EHPA, a Hf selectivity of 32% was observed where after stripping with C2H2O4 resulted in a 98.7% recovery of Zr. With 1.2 M CaCl2 as stripping liquor, almost no Hf and 75% Zr stripping was obtained. During the pertraction 72% Hf and 44% Zr extraction was achieved after 180 min when extracting with 9 wt% D2EHPA from 4 M H2SO4. Pertraction based stripping with 1.2 M C2H2O4 yielded 75% of both Zr and Hf, while stripping with 2 M CaCl2 resulted in 58% Hf stripped with almost no Zr stripping.
Biochar In Situ Decreased Bulk Density and Improved Soil-Water Relations and Indicators in Southeastern US Coastal Plain Ultisols

ABSTRACT Biochar may improve soil physical properties for crop growth, but multiyear, multicrop field studies are lacking. To determine the effects of biochar on soil physical properties, we applied 0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 Mg ha−1 biochar with/without NPK fertilizer to the surface 15 cm of 1 × 1 m2 plots in a single association of fine-loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Oxyaquic and Aquic Paleudults under a 2-year corn-winter wheat–double-crop soybean rotation. After 3 years, we sampled soil to 7.6 cm, measured bulk density and water retention, and then derived pore-size distribution and related physical and water retention model parameters. Fertilizer had little to no effect. Among the statistically significant results, biochar increased structural porosity (3- to 59-&mgr;m effective pore diameter [EPD]) but neither matrix- (0.2- to 3-&mgr;m EPD) nor macro (EPD >59 &mgr;m) porosity. Biochar ≥40 Mg ha−1 decreased bulk density 16%; 80 Mg ha−1 increased total porosity 14%. However, it also increased water content at −1,500 kPa 22.5%. Biochar ≥40 Mg ha−1 increased the drained upper limit (DUL) by 15%; relative field capacity, 3%; and total and structural plant-available water (PAW: held between the DUL and −1,500 kPa), 7 and 18%, respectively. Increases were greatest at −10 kPa and least at −33 kPa. At −10 kPa, 80 Mg ha−1 biochar increased total PAW 4.0-mm equivalent depth compared with 5.7 mm for structural PAW, approximately 0.5-day demand for actively growing corn. Modeled saturated water content increased with total porosity. Biochar improved plant-soil-water relations, but required high rates.
Effects of Soybean Hull Utilization as a Feedstuff for Fattening Pigs on Meat Quality and Blood Characteristics

: The present study aimed to examine the utility of soybean hull as a feedstuff for fattening pigs. The data of physical characteristics of loin and blood lipid from three pigs fed formula feed as a control group and three pigs fed soybean hull as an experiment group were compared in this study. The experiment group feed was prepared by mixing of soybean hull and formula feed in a ratio of 1 : 9. There was no significant difference between the control and experiment groups in meat quality. In the fatty acid composition of inner and outer layers of back fat, the ratio of C18 : 0 significantly (P ＜ 0.05) increased, and the ratio of C18 : 2 in both layers significantly (P ＜ 0.05) decreased in the experiment group while the ratio of C18 : 3 also significantly (P ＜ 0.05) decreased in inner layer. There was no significant difference in the results of blood lipid analysis. The present results revealed that feeding fattening pigs with soybean hull had no negative effect on the character of the products. Soybean hull can therefore be used as feedstuff for fattening pigs. Jpn. J. Swine Science, 55 , 3 : 115 - 122
Values, Efficacy And Trust As Determinants Of Innovative Organizational Behaviour In Russia

This study examines the relationship between values, efficacy, trust and innovative organizational behaviour in Russia. We analyse the direct and indirect effect of gender, age and education on innovative behaviour via values, trust and efficacy. For the measurement of values we employed a new revised value instrument with 19 values. We found that Openness to Change values had a significant positive effect and Conservation values a significant negative effect on innovative behaviour in organizations; efficacy and trust had a significant positive effect. Moreover, the effect of values is moderated by the level of efficacy. Gender, age and education directly influence innovative behaviour and determine such behaviour via values, efficacy and trust.
Factors affecting quenching in cryogenic liquids

The present paper considers new experimental results on quenching of stainless steel spheres in liquid argon and nitrogen. The experiments were performed on polished, hoarfrost and iced surfaces. The experiments on hoarfrost surface demonstrated higher cooling rates in comparison with corresponding experiments on polished and iced surfaces. This result could be explained by the model of incipience of highly intensive film boiling regime in subcooled liquid.
Harvesting effectiveness of Chlorella sp. biomass using different flocculation treatments of Moringa oleifera extract and pH conditions

Chlorella sp. is microalgae species that is commonly found in seawater. Chlorella biomass have been produced worldwide and considered as sources for commercial high value bioproducts and biofuels for the last few decades. However, its microscopic size and negatively charged cell surface causes the difficulties of harvesting process or separation of its biomass from the culture medium. The common techniques for harvesting microalgae biomass are centrifugation, filtration, and flocculation. The determination of efficient harvesting methods was the background of this study to lower the cost of harvesting. In this study, the flocculation harvesting method was used by applying several flocculant doses of moringa seeds extract (Moringa oleifera) and adjusted pH. Moringa seed was used as a flocculant to reduce the use of synthetic flocculant materials, especially metals, in order to achieve an environmentally friendly, more efficient, and safe biomass harvesting method for uses as aquaculture feed. The results showed that the moringa seeds are considered efficient for use as flocculants of Chlorella biomass. This flocculant achieved the optimum performance in the treatment of pH 11 with a dose of 0.15 grams moringa seeds flocculant in 1 Liter of Chlorella sp. culture.
A space-time observation system for soil organic carbon

In this paper, we present a framework for a space–time observation system for soil organic carbon (STOS-SOC). We propose that the RothC model be embedded within the STOS-SOC, which is driven by satellite-derived inputs and readily available geospatial inputs, such as digital soil maps. In particular, advances in remote sensing have enabled the development of satellite products that represent key inputs into soil carbon models, examples being evapotranspiration and biomass inputs to soil, which characterise space–time variations in management and land use. Starting from an initial calibrated base for prediction, as new observations are acquired, data assimilation techniques could be used to optimise calibration algorithms and predicted model outputs. We present initial results obtained from the implementation of the proposed STOS-SOC approach to the 1445-km2 Cox’s Creek catchment in northern New South Wales, Australia. Our results showed that use of satellite-derived biomass inputs with a MODIS satellite product (MOD17A3) improved the accuracy of simulations by 16% compared with carbon inputs derived through other methods normally adopted in the spatialisation of the RothC model. We further discuss the possibility of improving the capabilities of the STOS-SOC for future applications.
Slag and Activator Chemistry Control the Reaction Kinetics of Sodium Metasilicate-Activated Slag Cements

The reaction kinetics of four commercial ground granulated blast furnace slags with varying percentages of MgO (6 to 14 wt.%), activated with four different doses of sodium metasilicate, were evaluated using isothermal calorimetry. The reaction kinetics were strongly dependent on the dose of the alkaline activator used, and the chemical and physical properties of the slag. When using low concentrations of sodium metasilicate as an activator, the MgO content in the slag influences the kinetics of the reaction, while the CaO content plays a more significant role when the concentration of metasilicate is increased. This study elucidated a close relationship between the dose of the alkali-activator and the chemistry of the slag used, although it was not possible to identify a clear correlation between any of the published chemically-based “slag quality moduli” and the calorimetry results, highlighting the complexity of blast furnace slag glass chemistry, and the importance of the physical properties of the slag in defining its reactivity.
Co-Combustion Characteristics and Kinetics of Microalgae Chlorella Vulgaris and Coal through TGA

ABSTRACT The combustion characteristics and kinetics of microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) and sub-bituminous coal blends (CCBs) are studied by a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), and those of pure Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) and coal were also taken respectively as control groups. The microalgae to coal blending ratio (MCR) is 3/7, 5/5 and 7/3. The results showed that three stages were observed during the combustion of CCBs. And the main combustion of CCBs was occurred at the second stage ranged from 254.6 ~ 389.4°C to 698.7 ~ 741.0°C. Both of the ignition temperature (Ti) and the final temperature detected when stabilization of samples mass occurred (Tf) were decreased as the C. vulgaris content increased in the CCB. The maximum combustion rate (Rmax) of C. vulgaris was maximum. The average reaction rate (Rv) was firstly decreased, and then increased as the content of C. vulgaris in CCBs increasing. With the increasing content of C. vulgaris, both of the ignition index (Di) and the comprehensive combustion characteristic index for the blends (SM) were increased. Some deviations from their expected characteristics indicate interaction. As the heating rate (β) increases, Ti, the peak temperature (Tp), the reaction rate at the peaks (Rp), Rv and Tf were all increased significantly, while the residual mass (Mr) was first increased, and then decreased. For CCBs, the activation energy (E) was the first decreased, and then increased, and the minimum E was obtained as MCR = 5/5. Among all the samples, E of pure coal was the minimum one. Finally, kinetic triplets were determined by the Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), and master-plots method, they are respectively E = 62.90, 108.99, 85.28, 92.27, 104.98 kJ/mol, the reaction order (n) = 1.4, 4.1, 2.7, 3.2, 4 and the frequency factor (A) = 6.38 × 105, 1.05 × 106, 2.29 × 104, 8.73 × 104, 2.93 × 106 min−1 for the coal, blends with MCR of 3/7, 5/5, 7/3 and C. vulgaris combustion at β = 20°C/min.
Ligno-cellulose fibre poly(lactic acid) interfaces in biocomposites

Kirsi Immonen Ligno-cellulose fibre poly(lactic acid) interfaces in biocomposites Lappeenranta 2018 115 pages Acta Universitatis Lappeenrantaensis 822 Diss. Lappeenranta University of Technology ISBN 978-952-335-288-9, ISBN 978-952-335-289-6 (PDF), ISSN-L 1456-4491, ISSN 1456-4491 Thermoplastic composite materials based on renewable raw materials are promoted globally in various ways. They can be prepared as durable, but biodegradable materials as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) ligno-cellulose composites are. Their advantages are their absence of fossil carbon, material recyclability, conversion to products using normal thermoplastic converting methods, absence of microplastic formation due to their biodegradability and haptic, unplastic-like feeling. The most important issue in tailoring PLA ligno-cellulosic fibre composites is to control the interfacial connections between fibre and polymer and porosity. The main components affecting the interface are fibre length, fibre aspect ratio, fibre surface roughness and surface chemistry, fibre modification and additives used in composite such as plasticisers and coupling agents. In injection-moulded products and especially with short wood fibres, the fibre length is usually below the critical fibre length needed for fibre reinforcement. This is due to fibre degradation occurring in typical thermoplastic processing at high temperatures. Compounding followed by injection moulding were the main processing methods also used in this study. The main aims of this research are to prove that regardless of the fibre dimensions of ligno-cellulosic wood fibre PLA composites, there is a need to couple between fibre and polymer to obtain optimal properties for the composite. It is also suggested that especially suitable coupling agents are oils from renewable origin and especially from modified oils such as epoxidised linseed oil (ELO) which can provide coupling between fibre and a polymer matrix. The conclusions of this research are the following: The fibre-polymer bonding was improved and the porosity of the material reduced in PLA composites with cellulose nanofibres (CNF), high consistency nanocellulose (HefCel), micro-cellulose (MC) and bleached softwood kraft pulp (BSKP) with ELO addition on fibre. The improved fibre dispersion with nanocelluloses, especially with HefCel was found due to ELO addition. The coupling of fibre and polymer was proved by FTIR analysis, by increased melt viscosity and by improved mechanical performance due to ELO addition to compounds.
Temperature – Dependent Toxicokinetics of Copper and Lead in Notonecta glauca L. (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) Under Laboratory Condition

Temperature is a critical factor due to its effect on both physiology of the organism and the environmental chemistry of the metals. The present study focuses on the toxicity and the bioaccumulation kinetics of Cu and Pb in Notonecta glauca exposed to heavy metal contaminated water system at different temperatures. The result showed that the accumulation of heavy metal gradually increases with increase in temperature and duration of exposure while there was a decrease in LC50 value of Pb and Cu. The calculated uptake factor of lead at different temperatures showed that it has a higher uptake potential than copper.
Prediction of drop size of natural gas condensates using molecular simulation and Young growth model

This paper describes the development and implementation of a molecular simulation model to predict the nucleation process during the condensation of heavy components of the gas natural mixtures of linear alkane (C1 - C6 and C9) at transport conditions (10-40 bar). Specifically, it was used the Monte Carlo method with configurational-bias, the united-atom force field known as “Transferable Potentials for Phase Equilibria (TraPPE-UA)," and the Umbrella sampling technique. The growth of the droplets was evaluated with the model of Young considering numbers of Knudsen below 0.1. The simulation results obtained for the droplet nucleation and growth were compared with experimental data reported in the literature with the aim of validating the implemented models. The simulations predict a droplets size of 2.09 μm which is in good agreement with the experimental results.