Batch kinetics, isotherm and thermodynamic studies of adsorption of strontium from aqueous solutions onto low cost rice-straw based carbons.

Present study explored the feasibility of using waste rice-straw based carbons as adsorbent for the removal of strontium under different experimental conditions. The batch sorption is studied with respect to solute concentration (2.8 - 110 mg/L), contact time, adsorbent dose (2.5 - 20 g/L) and solution temperature (25 - 55oC). The Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich adsorption models were applied to experimental equilibrium data and isotherm constants were calculated using linear regression analysis. A comparison of kinetic models applied to the adsorption of strontium on rice-straw carbon was evaluated for the pseudo-second-order, Elovich, intraparticle diffusion and Bangham’s kinetics models. The experimental data fitted very well the pseudosecond-order kinetic model and also followed by intra-particle diffusion model, whereas diffusion is not only the rate-controlling step. The results show that the sorption capacity increases with an increase in solution temperature from 25 to 55 oC. The thermodynamics parameters were evaluated. The positive value of ΔH (40.93 kJ) indicated that the adsorption of strontium onto RS1 carbon was endothermic, which result was supported by the increasing adsorption of strontium with temperature. The positive value of ΔS (121.8 kJ/mol) reflects good affinity of strontium ions towards the rice-straw based carbons. The results have establishedgood potentiality for the carbons particles to be used as a sorbent for the removal of strontium from wastewater

Age-of-acquisition effects:a literature review

Age of acquisition (AoA) refers to the age at which people learn a particular item and the AoA effect refers to the phenomenon that early-acquired items are processed more quickly and accurately than those acquired later. Over several decades, the AoA effect has been investigated using neuroscientific, behavioral, corpus and computational techniques. We review the current evidence for the AoA effect stemming from a range of methodologies and paradigms and apply these findings to current explanations of how and where the AoA effect occurs. We conclude that the AoA effect can be found both in the connections between levels of representations and within these representations themselves, and that the effect itself occurs through the process of the distinct coding of early and late items, together with the nature of the connections between levels of representation. This approach strongly suggests that the AoA effect results from the construction of perceptual-semantic representations and the mappings between representation

Phonological precision for word recognition in skilled readers

publishedVersio

Synthesis and Characterization of Dihydrouracil Analogs Utilizing Biginelli Hybrids

Dihydrouracil presents a crucial intermediate in the catabolism of uracil. The vital im-portance of uracil and its nucleoside, uridine, encourages scientists to synthesize novel dihydroura-cils. In this paper, we present an innovative, fast, and effective method for the synthesis of dihy-drouracils. Hence, under mild conditions, 3‐chloroperbenzoic acid was used to cleave the carbon– sulfur bond of the Biginelli hybrids 5,6‐dihydropyrimidin‐4(3H)‐ones. This approach led to thirteen novel dihydrouracils synthesized in moderate‐to‐high yields (32–99%)

Lorcaserin vs. Phentermine among non-surgical and surgical obese patients: Anthropometric, glycemic, lipid, safety and cost outcomes

Background To evaluate effectiveness, safety, and costs of Lorcaserin vs. phentermine among obese non–surgical and surgical patients (post bariatric surgery). Methods This retrospective study retrieved charts of all patients (January 2013–June 2016) who received Lorcaserin or phentermine for 3 months. The study assessed anthropometric, glycemic, and lipid changes, as well as side effects and cost of medications among overweight and obese non-surgical (n = 83) and surgical patients (n = 46). These two patient groups were compared using Chi-square (χ2) and unpaired‘t’ test for qualitative and quantitative variables respectively. Results At 3 months, among the non-surgical group, Phentermine patients had greater percentage of total weight loss (TWL%) (7.65 ± 8.26 vs. 2.99 ± 3.72%, P = 0.003), and greater BMI reduction (−3.16 ± 3.63 vs. −1.15 ± 1.53 kg/m2, P = 0.003) than Lorcaserin. Within the surgical group, Lorcaserin patients had significantly smaller TWL% (1.86 ± 5.06 vs. 7.62 ± 9.80%, P = 0.012), and smaller BMI reduction (−0.74 ± 1.80 vs. −3.06 ± 4.08 kg/m2, P = 0.012) than Phentermine. Lorcaserin exhibited significant total cholesterol and LDL improvements only among surgical patients with significant weight reduction (≥5% TW). Both medications were not associated with glycemic improvements among non-surgical and surgical groups. Phentermine had slightly more side effects but was less expensive. Conclusions Among both patient groups, phentermine was more effective in achieving weight loss. Lorcaserin showed dyslipidemia improvements only among surgical patients who achieved significant weight reduction. Anti-obesity medications as part of weight management programs can result in weight loss among non-surgical and surgical patients, or halt weight regain among surgical patients. This is the first study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of two anti-obesity medications (lorcaserin vs. phentermine) among two distinct obese patient groups, non-surgical and surgical patients

Wearable contact lens biosensors for continuous glucose monitoring using smartphones

Low-cost, robust, and reusable continuous glucose monitoring systems that can provide quantitative measurements at point-of-care settings is an unmet medical need. Optical glucose sensors require complex and time-consuming fabrication processes, and their readouts are not practical for quantitative analyses. Here, a wearable contact lens optical sensor was created for the continuous quantification of glucose at physiological conditions, simplifying the fabrication process and facilitating smartphone readouts. A photonic microstructure having a periodicity of 1.6 μm was printed on a glucose-selective hydrogel film functionalized with phenylboronic acid. Upon binding with glucose, the microstructure volume swelled, which modulated the periodicity constant. The resulting change in the Bragg diffraction modulated the space between zero- and first-order spots. A correlation was established between the periodicity constant and glucose concentration within 0–50 mM. The sensitivity of the sensor was 12 nm mM–1, and the saturation response time was less than 30 min. The sensor was integrated with commercial contact lenses and utilized for continuous glucose monitoring using smartphone camera readouts. The reflected power of the first-order diffraction was measured via a smartphone application and correlated to the glucose concentrations. A short response time of 3 s and a saturation time of 4 min was achieved in the continuous monitoring mode. Glucose-sensitive photonic microstructures may have applications in point-of-care continuous monitoring devices and diagnostics at home settings

Wearable bifocal contact lens for continual glucose monitoring integrated with smartphone readers

Commercial implantable continuous glucose monitoring devices are invasive and discomfort. Here, a minimally-invasive glucose detection system is developed to provide quantitative glucose measurements continually based on bifocal contact lenses. A glucose-sensitive phenylboronic acid derivative is immobilized in a hydrogel matrix and the surface of the hydrogel is imprinted with a Fresnel lens. The glucose-responsive hydrogel is attached to a commercial soft contact lens to be transformed into a bifocal contact lens. The contact lens showed bifocal lengths; far-field focal length originated from the contact lens’ curvature, and near-field focal length resulting from the Fresnel lens. When tear glucose increased, the refractive index and groove depth of the Fresnel lens changed, shifting the near-field focal length and the light focusing efficiency. The recorded optical signals are detected at an identical distance far from the contact lens change. The bifocal contact lens allowed for detecting the tear glucose concentration within the physiological range of healthy individuals and diabetics (0.0–3.3 mm). The contact lens rapidly responded to glucose concentration changes and reached 90% of equilibrium within 40 min. The bifocal contact lens is a wearable diagnostic platform for continual biomarker detection at point-of-care settings