Further Analysis on Solubility Measurement and Thermodynamic Modeling of Benzoic Acid in Monosolvents and Binary Mixtures

Article discussing further analyses of the recent report (by Sandeepa et al.) on the solubility of benzoic acid in six monosolvents (i.e. tributyl phosphate, diacetone alcohol, methyl-n-propyl ketone, methyl acetate, amyl acetate, and isooctane) and five binary systems (i.e. ethanol + hexane, isopropyl alcohol + hexane and chloroform + hexane, acetone + hexane, and acetone + water) along with some numerical analyses. The reported calculations have been reanalyzed based on combined nearly ideal binary solvent/Redlich-Kister, the modified Wilson model, general single model, Jouyban–Acree model and Jouyban–Acree–van’t Hoff model. The investigated models provide good estimation of the solubility behavior of benzoic acid in the binary solvent mixtures at various temperatures

Drug Solubility Correlation Using the Jouyban–Acree Model: Effects of Concentration Units and Error Criteria

Article investigates the unit and error scale expression effects on the accuracy of the Jouyban–Acree model, in the current study, seventy-nine solubility data sets were collected randomly from the published articles and solute and solvent concentrations in the investigated systems were expressed in various units. Mass fraction, mole fraction, and volume fraction were the employed concentration units for the solvent compositions, and mole fraction, molar, and gram/liter were the investigated concentration units for the solutes. The solubility data, with various solute/solvent concentration units, were correlated using the Jouyban–Acree model, and the accuracy of each model for correlating the data was investigated by calculating different error scales and discussed

Toward Sustainable Tackling of Biofouling Implications and Improved Performance of TFC FO Membranes Modified by Ag-MOF Nanorods

In this work, nanorods with high antibacterial properties were synthesized with silver acetate as the metal source and 2-aminoterephthalic acid as the organic linker and were then embedded into thin-film composite (TFC) membranes to amend their performance as well as to alleviate biofouling. Silver metal-organic framework (Ag-MOF) nanorods with a length smaller than 40 nm were incorporated within the polyamide thin selective layer of the membranes during interfacial polymerization. The interaction of the synthesized nanorods with the polyamide was favored because of the presence of amine-containing functional groups on the nanorod's surface. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy characterizations proved the presence of Ag-MOF nanorods in the selective layer of thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes. TFN membranes demonstrated improved water permeance, salt selectivity, and superior antibacterial properties. Specifically, the increased hydrophilicity and antibacterial potential of the TFN membranes led to a synergetic effect toward biofouling mitigation. The number of live bacteria attached to the surface of the neat TFC membrane decreased by more than 92% when a low amount of Ag-MOF nanorods (0.2 wt %) was applied. Following contact of the TFN membrane surface with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, full inactivation, and degradation of bacteria cells were observed with microscopy, colony-forming unit tests, and disc inhibition zone analyses. This result translated to a negligible amount of the biofilm formed on the active layer. Indeed, the incorporation of Ag-MOF nanorods decreased the metal-ion release rate and therefore provided prolonged antibacterial performance

Assessment of the relationship between physical working conditions and different levels of work ability

Early leaving of workplace by work forces is one of the fundamental problems worldwide. Maintenance and enhancement of employees work ability are important for raising productivity. This study investigated the relationship between work ability index and physical working conditions and was carried out in 2013 on 641 workers at a manufacturing plant in Tehran. Work ability was assessed by the questionnaire of work ability index and the participants were classified into four work ability groups of poor, moderate, good, and excellent. Physical working conditions were evaluated by the MUSIC-Norrtalje questionnaire and the participants were classified into two groups with proper and poor physical working conditions. The mean score of work ability questionnaire was 42.40; and 2.5 (16 persons), 9.2 (59 persons), 38.2 (245 persons), and 50.1 (321 persons) of the participants were in poor, moderate, good, and excellent work ability groups, respectively. The mean score of physical working conditions questionnaire was 20.06. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that even after adjusting the confounding variables, a significant correlation existed between work ability and physical working conditions (p < 0.05). According to the results of this study, there may be a correlation between physical working conditions such as awkward postures, repetitive movements, load lifting, exposure to whole body vibration and so on with work ability. Therefore it seems that enhancement of the quality of physical working conditions may increase work ability

Solubility and Apparent Specific Volume of Sucrose in Some Aqueous Polyethylene Glycol Mixtures at 298.2 K

This article determines and correlates the equilibrium solubility of sucrose in {PEG 200 (or 400) + water} mixtures at 298.2 K

Exciton Spin Dynamics in Semiconductor Quantum Wells

In this paper we will review Exciton Spin Dynamics in Semiconductor Quantum Wells. The spin properties of excitons in nanostructures are determined by their fine structure. We will mainly focus in this review on GaAs and InGaAs quantum wells which are model systems.Comment: 55 pages, 27 figure

Intervention planning and modification of the BUMP intervention: a digital intervention for the early detection of raised blood pressure in pregnancy

Background: Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, particularly pre-eclampsia, pose a substantial health risk for both maternal and foetal outcomes. The BUMP (Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring in Pregnancy) interventions are being tested in a trial. They aim to facilitate the early detection of raised blood pressure through self-monitoring. This article outlines how the self-monitoring interventions in the BUMP trial were developed and modified using the person-based approach to promote engagement and adherence. Methods: Key behavioural challenges associated with blood pressure self-monitoring in pregnancy were identified through synthesising qualitative pilot data and existing evidence, which informed guiding principles for the development process. Social cognitive theory was identified as an appropriate theoretical framework. A testable logic model was developed to illustrate the hypothesised processes of change associated with the intervention. Iterative qualitative feedback from women and staff informed modifications to the participant materials. Results: The evidence synthesis suggested women face challenges integrating self-monitoring into their lives and that adherence is challenging at certain time points in pregnancy (for example, starting maternity leave). Intervention modification included strategies to address adherence but also focussed on modifying outcome expectancies, by providing messages explaining pre-eclampsia and outlining the potential benefits of self-monitoring. Conclusions: With an in-depth understanding of the target population, several methods and approaches to plan and develop interventions specifically relevant to pregnant women were successfully integrated, to address barriers to behaviour change while ensuring they are easy to engage with, persuasive and acceptable

Characterization and Separation Performance of a Novel Polyethersulfone Membrane Blended with Acacia Gum

Novel polyethersulfone (PES) membranes blended with 0.1–3.0 wt. % of Acacia gum (AG) as a pore-former and antifouling agent were fabricated using phase inversion technique. The effect of AG on the pore-size, porosity, surface morphology, surface charge, hydrophilicity, and mechanical properties of PES/AG membranes was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, contact angle and zeta potential measurements. The antifouling -properties of PES/AG membranes were evaluated using Escherichia coli bacteria and bovine serum albumine (BSA). The use of AG as an additive to PES membranes was found to increase the surface charge, hydrophilicity (by 20%), porosity (by 77%) and permeate flux (by about 130%). Moreover, PES/AG membranes demonstrated higher antifouling and tensile stress (by 31%) when compared to pure PES membranes. It was shown that the prepared PES/AG membranes efficiently removed lead ions from aqueous solutions. Both the sieving mechanism of the membrane and chelation of lead with AG macromolecules incorporated in the membrane matrix contributed to lead removal. The obtained results indicated that AG can be used as a novel pore-former, hydrophilizing and antifouling agent, as well as an enhancer to the mechanical and rejection properties of the PES membranes

Genome-Wide Screening of Genes Whose Enhanced Expression Affects Glycogen Accumulation in Escherichia coli

Using a systematic and comprehensive gene expression library (the ASKA library), we have carried out a genome-wide screening of the genes whose increased plasmid-directed expression affected glycogen metabolism in Escherichia coli. Of the 4123 clones of the collection, 28 displayed a glycogen-excess phenotype, whereas 58 displayed a glycogen-deficient phenotype. The genes whose enhanced expression affected glycogen accumulation were classified into various functional categories including carbon sensing, transport and metabolism, general stress and stringent responses, factors determining intercellular communication, aggregative and social behaviour, nitrogen metabolism and energy status. Noteworthy, one-third of them were genes about which little or nothing is known. We propose an integrated metabolic model wherein E. coli glycogen metabolism is highly interconnected with a wide variety of cellular processes and is tightly adjusted to the nutritional and energetic status of the cell. Furthermore, we provide clues about possible biological roles of genes of still unknown functions