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A batch-scale electro-Fenton (EF) process was performed using graphite anode and waste battery-based Fe -Mn -Zn/C electrocatalyst coated on low-cost graphite felt cathode. The effectiveness of the EF's performance was evident with around 83.9 + 4.1% removal of 20 mg/L of sodium-dodecyl sulfate surfactant (SDS) at an optimum current density (CD) of 5.0 mA/cm2, Na2SO4 of 0.05 M, initial pH of 7.2, and electrolysis time of 180 min. Moreover, nearly 1.78-fold more removal of SDS was achieved in EF than in the electro-oxidation process operated without any catalyst. The operating cost of 0.35 $ of per m3 per order was needed to treat SDS wastewater. The remediation of SDS follows pseudo-first-order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.0095 min−1. Additionally, 90.3 + 2.1% of SDS and 57 + 2.6% of total organic carbon (TOC) removal was attained during 240 min of treatment time in secondary treated real wastewater; hence, additional 60 min of treatment time is required for effectively treating real wastewater than synthetic wastewater. Thus, EF is effective with battery waste-derived magnetic catalyst for treating wastewater containing SDS, which can lead to achieving sustainable environmental goals. HIGHLIGHTS The current work demonstrates a waste-to-treat-waste approach.; Magnetic Fe–Mn–Zn/C catalyst derived from battery waste was used in electro-Fenton.; Efficacious degradation of surfactant was obtained with a battery waste catalyst.; The kinetics of removal obtained a pseudo-first-order kinetic model.; Lauric acid was formed during sodium dodecyl sulfate degradation.;

Pompe disease is a progressive myopathy resulting from deficiency in lysosomal enzyme acid α-glucosidase (GAA), which leads to glycogen accumulation in lysosomes primarily in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with recombinant human (rh) GAA works well in alleviating the cardiomyopathy; however, many patients continue to have progressive muscle weakness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a respiratory training combined with 24-week supervised resistance training program on muscle strength (measured by Biodex)), and respiratory function including maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) in subjects with late onset Pompe disease receiving ERT. Ten subjects participated in a 24-week resistance exercise program, three times per week, in addition to respiratory muscle exercise training six days per week. Overall, at the end of the resistance training program, as measured by Biodex dynamometry, the leg extensor strength improved by 10.5 ± 3.2Nm. (2O (p = 0.03) and the MEP by 6.4 ± 4.4 (p = 0.16). The exercise training significantly improved the trajectories of MIP and 6 MWT outcomes but not FVC when compared with the natural history data available in 6 individuals. These pilot results indicate that resistance training combined with respiratory training and ERT had a positive effect on muscular strength, functional capacity, and respiratory function in patients with late-onset Pompe disease and might be considered as a potential adjunct therapy in this population.

Abstract Wetlands are one of the most critical components of an ecosystem, supporting many ecological niches and a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The ecological significance of these sites makes it imperative to study the changes in their inundation extent and propose necessary measures for their conservation. This study analyzes all 64 Ramsar sites in China based on their inundation patterns using Landsat imagery from 1991 to 2020. Annual composites were generated using the short-wave infrared thresholding technique from June to September to create inundation maps. The analysis was carried out on each Ramsar site individually to account for its typical behavior due to regional geographical and climatic conditions. The results of the inundation analysis for each site were subjected to the Mann–Kendall test to determine their trends. The analysis showed that 8 sites exhibited a significantly decreasing trend, while 14 sites displayed a significantly increasing trend. The accuracy of the analysis ranged from a minimum of 72.0% for Hubei Wang Lake to a maximum of 98.0% for Zhangye Heihe Wetland National Nature Reserve. The average overall accuracy of the sites was found to be 90.0%. The findings emphasize the necessity for conservation strategies and policies for Ramsar sites.

A novel lyophilization (freeze-drying) technique has been developed to produce the petroleum hydrocarbon (PH)–degrading bacterial strain powders for the enhancement of bioremediation of PH-polluted soils. Four different PH-degrading strains (Paenarthrobacter ureafaciens, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas citronellolis, and Enterobacter cloacae) isolated from a PH-polluted site were used for bacterial strain powder production. The modified lyophilization buffer contained skimmed milk powder, trehalose, sucrose, and glycerin. The water content, bacterial activity, bacterial survival factor, glass transition temperature, and surface characteristics were analyzed to determine the properties of the produced bacterial strain powders. Addition of 20% skimmed milk powder as an excipient and 15% trehalose as a cryoprotectant could significantly enhance the stability and survival factor of the bacterial strains. The incorporation of 0.75% sucrose and 0.05% glycerol into the basic formula of skimmed milk powder and trehalose, respectively, could allow the bacterial strain powder to be stored at ambient temperature due to the effective environmental isolation and continuous nutrient supplement capabilities of the two agents. Up to 95% of the bacterial survival could be obtained when 24 h of prefreezing at −80°C was applied as the first stage of the modified lyophilization process followed by the second stage of freeze-drying for 24 h. With this process, the depreciation rate was less than 1% after storing the powder for 6-month at 25°C. The glass transition temperature of the strain powder fell within the range of 10°C to 25°C, indicating that the optimized formulation for bacterial strain powder production could facilitate the strain storage at room temperature and produce diverse powder variants. Through the application of novel lyophilization process, more stable bacterial strain powder could be produced with a higher survival factor and a longer storage period. Up to 83% of total PH removal could be obtained in microcosms with the application of strain bacterial powders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spintronic devices that utilize spin transfer torque are promising for integrated memory applications. However, these devices face substantial energy consumption challenges due to the high current densities required for switching. Conversely, voltage‐driven spintronic devices, using capacitive displacement charge, can realize switching operations that are energy‐efficient (≈1–10 fJ bit−1). This work investigates switching based on voltage control of the interlayer exchange coupling in perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) multilayered heterostructures. Unlike previous works that utilized gating techniques that employ ionic transport mechanisms to control interlayer exchange coupling, this study employs electrostatic gating by using MgO, which is more compatible with modern spintronic‐based memories. These results suggest that the magnetization anisotropy, and the magnitude, and phase of the Ruderman‐Kittel‐Kasuya‐Yosida (RKKY) coupling function with spacer layer thickness can be controlled through electric gating, providing a promising avenue for the development of energy‐efficient magnetic data storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The present study is aimed to formulate steroidal oral mucoadhesive gels of dexamethasone sodium phosphate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. Six gel formulations each of dexamethasone sodium phosphate and betamethasone sodium phosphate prepared using two different polymers carboxymethyl cellulose sodium and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, in variable proportions. All the formulations subjected for assessment of various physicochemical parameters and mechanical properties. The formulations BSP5 and DSP5, both containing 1.25 % carboxymethyl cellulose sodium, 1.25 % hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, exhibiting mucoadhesive strength of 12.300 ± 0.004 and 12.600 ± 0.01, adhesiveness of 28.04 ± 00 and 30.02 ± 00, cohesiveness of 28.04 ± 00 and 30.02 ± 00, drug release of 86.869 ± 0.380 % and 88.473 ± 0.457 % respectively were considered as promising ones and were further subjected for stability studies and in vivo study in male albino rats. Formulation DSP5 upon oral application for 4 months in arecoline induced oral submucous fibrosis rats, showed more than 80 % reduction in fibrosis as compared with BSP5 which showed nearly 50 % reduction. These results were concluded on the basis of histopathological profile and weight gain among the experimental animals during in vivo study. Hence, DSP5 by minimizing the painful injuries and morbidities justifies being suitable noninvasive model for OSMF treatment.