Effects of immersing Japanese quail eggs in various doses of riboflavin on reproductive, growth performance traits, blood indices and economics.

This investigation aimed to evaluate the impact of immersion (IM) riboflavin treatment on the hatchability, production efficiency, and carcass characteristics of Japanese quail eggs. A total of 260 eggs of Japanese quail birds were used for hatching and were randomly divided into 4 treatments with 5 replicates (13 eggs/replicate) in a fully randomized design. Hatching eggs were immersed in riboflavin for 2 min before incubation. The experiment treatments were designed as follows: G1 control group with no treatment, G2 treated with 3 g/L vit. B2 (IM), G3 treated with 4 g/L vit. B2 (IM) and G4 were treated with 5 g/L vit. B2 (IM). After hatching, 128 Japanese quail chicks, aged 7 d, were randomly grouped into 4 treatment groups, with 32 birds in each group. When quails were given vitamin B2 via immersion, they demonstrated significant enhancements in live body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio at different stages compared to the control group. Compared to control and other groups, the carcass parameters of Japanese quails given a 4 g/L immersion solution showed a significant improvement (P < 0.05). Hatchability and fertility (%) were considerably raised by Vit.B2 treatments of 3, 4, and 5g; the group immersed in 5 g/L had the highest percentages compared to the other groups. Furthermore, treated chickens with all concentrations of vitamin B2 had significantly higher blood indices than the controls. During the exploratory phase (1-6 wk) of age, the highest returns were reported in G4 treated with 5g/L vit. B2 (IM). Treating Japanese quail eggs with different dosages of vitamin B2 by immersion may be recommended to improve their productive and reproductive performance, blood indices, carcass traits, and economic efficiency.

Antifungal and antibacterial investigation of quinary Zr Al Fe Co Ni layered double hydroxide and its Al Fe Co Ni quaternary and Fe Co Ni tertiary roots.

Layered double hydroxides (LDH) are promising 2D nanomaterials being investigated for several engineering and biomedical applications. In this work, quinary Zr Al Fe Co Ni LDH and its Al Fe Co Ni LDH quaternary and Fe Co Ni LDH tertiary roots were prepared and characterized. All samples showed an aggregated, layered morphology with zero surface charge and approximately 300 nm of hydrodynamic size. BET surface area of Al Fe Co Ni LDH showed a remarkable value of 143.25 m2 g-1 as opposed to 26.2 m2 g-1 and 45.4 m2 g-1 for Fe Co Ni LDH and Zr Al Fe Co Ni LDH, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the prepared samples was assessed against the many pathogenic bacteria; Bacillus (B.) subtilis, Escherichia (E.) coli, Haemophilus (H.) influenza, Listeria (L.) monocytogenes, Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, and Streptococcus (St.) pneumonia, and six fungal species. Furthermore, anti-biofilm activity, growth curve assay, and effect of UV illumination were examined against various pathogenic microbes. Zr Al Fe Co Ni displayed remarkable antibacterial activity, as indicated by the lowest values of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 4-166.7 µg mL-1. Results for fungal strains varied in terms of their susceptibilities for the different samples tested. Zn Al Fe Co Ni was able to inhibit the biofilm formation of S. aureus (96.09%), E. coli (98.32%), and Candida (C.) albicans (95.93%). This study shown that certain LDH categories, particularly Zr Al Fe Co Ni, may be promising antibacterial agents against variety of pathogenic microorganisms that cause serious infections.

Does the marketing age impact growth performance, carcass traits, economic feasibility and hemato-biochemical properties of genetically-modified quails?

The meat of the quail is one of the most delicious types, as it is rich in minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin K, which is useful in treating nervous diseases. In the present investigation, based on their live body weight, 270 genetically-enhanced white quail chicks of mixed sex were randomly assigned to 3 groups, each with 90 chicks. The first group's birds were slaughtered at 28 d of age. The birds in the second group were slaughtered at 31 d, and the birds in the third group were slaughtered at 34 d. Results showed no significant difference between the various groups in the overall mortality rate index at the end of each fattening stage (P > 0.05). There were substantial variations (P ≤ 0.05) in the average live weight index between the first and both groups at each group's marketing age. With increasing marketing age, body weight increases. Quail chicks raised for 34 d received the lowest EPEF (28.90 points), followed by those raised for 31 d and 28 d, which received 33.37 and 37.32 points, respectively. The economic feasibility of the 3 groups, no significant differences in the profit index were observed at the age of 28 d. Compared to the marketing age of the other 2 groups, it was noted that the profit index decreased as the birds advanced in age. Delaying marketing to 31 d leads to a decrease in profit by 5.7%, and delaying marketing to 34 d reduces the profit index to 26.36% compared to marketing at 28 d. For blood hematology parameters, a significant increase in the studied indicators with the age of the birds was observed through the study of blood indicators. Still, it did not reach the significance level. It could be concluded that 28 d is the ideal marketing age for the enhanced white quails, as it yielded the highest economic return and the best performance.

Performance and economic efficiency of laying hens in response to adding zeolite to feed and litter.

This study investigated the effect of different levels of zeolite in laying hen (Silver Montazah) diet and litter on productive performance, egg quality criteria, and economics during the second stage of production (40-56 wk of age). An experiment with a 3 × 4 factorial design was performed to study the effects of four levels of zeolite (0, 10, 15, and 20 g/kg feed) in the diet and three levels of zeolite (0, 1.5, and 2 kg/m2) in the litter. Adding zeolite to diet and litter significantly improved final BW and BW change, egg number, egg weight, egg mass, laying rate, feed consumption (FC), and feed conversion ratio (FCR), as well as egg quality criteria when compared to the unsupplemented group. Additionally, adding zeolite at a level of 2 kg /m2 litter and 20 g/kg diet achieved the greatest enhancement in productive performance features. Therefore, it can be suggested that the greatest results were obtained in laying farms when zeolite was added as a litter addition and as a supplement to feed.

Characterization of chitosan- and ß-cyclodextrin-modified forms of magnesium-doped hydroxyapatites as enhanced carriers for levofloxacin: loading, release, and anti-inflammatory properties.

An advanced form of magnesium-rich hydroxyapatite (Mg·HAP) was modified with two types of biopolymers, namely chitosan (CH/Mg·HAP) and ß-cyclodextrin (CD/Mg·HAP), producing two types of bio-composites. The synthesized materials were developed as enhanced carriers for levofloxacin to control its loading, release, and anti-inflammatory properties. The polymeric modification significantly improved the loading efficiency to 281.4 mg g-1 for CH/Mg·HAP and 332.4 mg g-1 for CD/Mg·HAP compared with 218.3 mg g-1 for Mg·HAP. The loading behaviors were determined using conventional kinetic and isotherm models and mathematical parameters of new equilibrium models (the monolayer model of one energy). The estimated density of effective loading sites (Nm (LVX) = 88.03 mg g-1 (Mg·HAP), 115.8 mg g-1 (CH/Mg·HAP), and 138.5 mg g-1 (CD/Mg·HAP)) illustrates the markedly higher loading performance of the modified forms of Mg·HAP. Moreover, the loading energies (<40 kJ mol-1) in conjunction with the capacity of each loading site (n > 1) and Gaussian energies (<8 kJ mol-1) signify the physical trapping of LVX molecules in vertical orientation. The addressed materials validate prolonged and continuous release behaviors. These behaviors accelerated after the modification procedures, as the complete release was identified after 160 h (CH/Mg·HAP) and 200 h (CD/Mg·HAP). The releasing behaviors are regulated by both diffusion and erosion mechanisms, according to the kinetic investigations and diffusion exponent analysis (>0.45). The entrapping of LVX into Mg·HAP induces its anti-inflammatory properties against the generation of cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) in human bronchial epithelia cells (NL20), and this effect displays further enhancement after the integration of chitosan and ß-cyclodextrin.

Cellulose-based CoFe LDH composite as a nano-adsorbent for sulfamethoxazole and cefixime residues: Evaluation of performance, green metrics and cytotoxicity.

The increase in antibiotic residues poses a serious threat to ecological and aquatic environments, necessitating the development of cost-effective, convenient, and recyclable adsorbents. In our study, we used cellulose-based layered double hydroxide (LDH) as an efficient adsorbent and nanocarrier for both sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and cefixime (CFX) residues due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. Chemical processes are measured according to green chemistry metrics to identify which features adhere to the principles. A GREEnness Assessment (ESA), Analytical GREEnness Preparation (AGREEprep), and Analytical Eco-Scale Assessments (ESA) were used to assess the suitability of the proposed analytical method. We extensively analyzed the synthesized CoFe LDH/cellulose before and after the adsorption processes using XRD, FTIR, and SEM. We investigated the factors affecting the adsorption process, such as pH, adsorbent dose, concentrations of SMX and CFX and time. We studied six nonlinear adsorption isotherm models at pH 5 using CoFe LDH, which showed maximum adsorption capacities (qmax) of 272.13 mg/g for SMX and 208.00 mg/g for CFX. Kinetic studies were also conducted. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed on Vero cells in direct contact with LDH nanocomposites to evaluate the cytotoxicity and side effects of cellulose-based CoFe LDH. The cellulose-based CoFe LDH nanocomposite demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility and less cytotoxic effects on the tested cell line. These results validate the potential use of these unique LDH-based cellulose cytocompatible biomaterials for water treatment applications. The cost of the prepared adsorbents was investigated.

Steric, Synergetic, Energetic Studies on the Impact of the Type of the Hybridized Polymers (Chitosan and ß-Cyclodextrin) on the Adsorption Properties of Zeolite-A for Congo Red Dye.

Zeolite-A was synthesized successfully from kaolinite and hybridized with two species of biopolymers (chitosan (CH/Z) and ß-cyclodextrin (CD/Z)). The obtained hybridized forms were assessed as potential adsorbents of Congo red synthetic dye (CR) with enhanced affinities and elimination capacities. The synthesized CD/Z and CH/Z hybrids demonstrated uptake capacities of 223.6 and 208.7 mg/g, which are significantly higher than single-phase zeolite-A (140.3 mg/g). The integrated polymers change the surface area, surface reactivity, and number of free active receptors that are already present. The classic isotherm investigations validate Langmuir equilibrium behavior for ZA and Freundlich properties for CD/Z and CH/Z. The steric parameters validate a strong increase in the existing active receptors after the incorporation of CD (CD/Z) to be 98.1 mg/g as compared to 83 mg/g for CH/Z and 60.6 mg/g for ZA, which illustrate the detected uptake behaviors. Moreover, the CR dye was adsorbed as several molecules per single site, reflecting the vertical uptake of these molecules by multimolecular mechanisms. The energetic assessment, considering both Gaussian energies and adsorption energies (<40 kJ/mol), validates the dominant impact of the physical mechanism during the sequestration of CR (dipole binding interactions (2-29 kJ/mol) and hydrogen bonds (<30 kJ/mol)), in addition to the considerable effect of ion exchange processes. Based on the thermodynamic parameters, the CR molecules were adsorbed by exothermic and spontaneous reactions.

Impact of packaging atmosphere, oregano essential oil, and storage temperature on cold-adapted Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium on ready-to-eat smoked turkey.

The hazard of diseases created by S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium is relatively high in turkey meat products. Combinations of preservation methods are utilized in many strategies, such as mild heat with decreased water activity, a changed atmosphere, refrigerated storage, and decreased heat treatment with some acidification. Within the domain of ready-to-eat food technology, a range of preservation methods are typically utilized to enhance shelf life, such as applying mild heat in tandem with reduced water activity, employing modified atmosphere packaging, utilizing refrigerated storage, and utilizing reduced heat treatment combined with acidification. This investigation aimed to determine how S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium grew when sliced ready-to-eat smoked turkey (RTE-SM) was stored at 0, 5, 10, and 15°C for various periods. The study also examined the effects of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) (40% CO2 and 60% N2) and VP on these growth patterns. Total viable count (TVC), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), pH, and redox potential levels were determined. The control experiment on RTE-SM showed no Salmonella growth within 30 d of storage at any temperature. This indicated that the RTE-SM in use did not initially contain S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis. Results indicated that the storage of RTE-SM using a combination of VP, MAP, and MAPEO with storage at 0 and 5°C did not allow for the pathogen to grow throughout storage. In comparison, at 10 and 15°C after one day, which allowed for minor growth (0.17-0.5 log CFU/g)? In contrast, at 0 and 5°C, Salmonella survives until the end of storage (173 d). However, the combination of MAPEO with the same storage temperatures achieved the elimination of the pathogen in the meat after 80 d. The combination of both packaging systems with high temperatures (10 or 15°C) allowed for the multiplication and growth of the bacterium through the product's shelf life of more than 1 log CFU/g. Thus, a combination of MAP or MAPEO with low storage temperatures (0 or 5°C) inhibited the growth of the pathogen.

The efficacy and safety of lecanemab 10 mg/kg biweekly compared to a placebo in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Alzheimer's disease, prevalent in individuals aged 60 and above, constitutes most dementia cases and significantly impairs memory and cognitive functions. With global Alzheimer's cases projected to triple by 2050, there is a pressing need for effective interventions. Lecanemab, a monoclonal antibody targeting amyloid-beta plaques, shows promise in slowing Alzheimer's progression. Positive clinical trial results have instilled hope in patients, prompting ongoing research to advance understanding and intervention possibilities. To contribute to this knowledge base, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, focusing on lecanemab's efficacy and safety at a dosage of 10 mg/kg. This comprehensive approach aimed to address gaps in the current literature, scrutinize research disparities, and guide future investigations. Applying strict inclusion/exclusion criteria, we assessed study details, participant information, and intervention specifics, using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for quality evaluation. Statistical analyses, conducted with R software, included risk ratios and mean differences, assessing heterogeneity and publication bias. The meta-analysis reveals a significant positive effect of lecanemab (10 mg/kg biweekly) on cognitive outcomes in Alzheimer's disease. Consistent reductions in ADCOMS, CDR-SB, and ADAS-cog14 scores across studies indicate drug efficacy with narrow confidence intervals and no significant heterogeneity. While TEAE shows no significant difference, heightened risks of ARIA-E and ARIA-H associated with lecanemab underscore the need for vigilant safety monitoring in clinical practice. Despite the drug efficacy, the study emphasizes a balanced assessment of benefits and potential risks associated with lecanemab, providing critical insights for clinicians evaluating its use in addressing cognitive impairment in individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

Impacts of storage period and egg weight on hatching and growth performance of growing Japanese quails.

This investigation aimed to assess how Japanese quail hatchability, growth, and carcass traits were affected by quail egg weight, storage length, and their interactions. One thousand two hundred sixty eggs of the commercial Japanese quail were purchased, and the average age of the birds was 13 wk. Quail egg weights were divided into 3 groups using a 3 × 4 factorial design: small (< 11 g), medium (11-12 g), and large (> 12 g). Each group had four storage times (1, 4, 7, and 10 d) and held 105 eggs. The study used a storage room with 70% humidity and 18°C. There were 12 treatment groups. For the final 3 d of incubation, the eggs were positioned in a hatching machine after being incubated for 14 d at 37.6°C and 65% humidity. For the study, 540 one-day-old Japanese unsexed quail chicks were randomly chosen and placed in groups of 5 that resembled the distribution of eggs. Three duplicates (15 chicks each) made up each of the 4 storage periods that comprised the 180 birds. The findings showed that the percentage of hatchable eggs is significantly influenced by their weight and the length of storage; medium and heavy-weight eggs exhibited higher percentages of hatchability while holding for 7 to 10 d. However, no significant interaction was observed-additionally, heavy egg weight results in higher weight at different ages. Egg weight also significantly impacts chick weight at hatch, 3 wk, and 6 wk. Egg weight and storage time affect dressing and carcass measurement percentages. We can conclude that the best results in terms of hatch and post-hatch efficiency, as well as carcass characteristics, were obtained with medium or heavy quail eggs and storage times of either 1 d or 4 d.

Pivotal Impact Factors in Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to Value-Added C1 and C2 Products.

Over the past decades, CO2 greenhouse emission has been considerably increased, causing global warming and climate change. Indeed, converting CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels is a desired option to resolve issues caused by its continuous emission into the atmosphere. Nevertheless, CO2 conversion has been hampered by the ultrahigh dissociation energy of C=O bonds, which makes it thermodynamically and kinetically challenging. From this prospect, photocatalytic approaches appear promising for CO2 reduction in terms of their efficiency compared to other traditional technologies. Thus, many efforts have been made in the designing of photocatalysts with asymmetric sites and oxygen vacancies, which can break the charge distribution balance of CO2 molecule, reduce hydrogenation energy barrier and accelerate CO2 conversion into chemicals and fuels. Here, we review the recent advances in CO2 hydrogenation to C1 and C2 products utilizing photocatalysis processes. We also pin down the key factors or parameters influencing the generation of C2 products during CO2 hydrogenation. In addition, the current status of CO2 reduction is summarized, projecting the future direction for CO2 conversion by photocatalysis processes.

Deciphering the Molecular Mechanisms of Reactive Metabolite Formation in the Mechanism-Based Inactivation of Cytochrome p450 1B1 by 8-Methoxypsoralen and Assessing the Driving Effect of phe268.

This study provides a comprehensive computational exploration of the inhibitory activity and metabolic pathways of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MP), a furocoumarin derivative used for treating various skin disorders, on cytochrome P450 (P450). Employing quantum chemical DFT calculations, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations analyses, the biotransformation mechanisms and the active site binding profile of 8-MP in CYP1B1 were investigated. Three plausible inactivation mechanisms were minutely scrutinized. Further analysis explored the formation of reactive metabolites in subsequent P450 metabolic processes, including covalent adduct formation through nucleophilic addition to the epoxide, 8-MP epoxide hydrolysis, and non-CYP-catalyzed epoxide ring opening. Special attention was paid to the catalytic effect of residue Phe268 on the mechanism-based inactivation (MBI) of P450 by 8-MP. Energetic profiles and facilitating conditions revealed a slight preference for the C4'=C5' epoxidation pathway, while recognizing a potential kinetic competition with the 8-OMe demethylation pathway due to comparable energy demands. The formation of covalent adducts via nucleophilic addition, particularly by phenylalanine, and the generation of potentially harmful reactive metabolites through autocatalyzed ring cleavage are likely to contribute significantly to P450 metabolism of 8-MP. Our findings highlight the key role of Phe268 in retaining 8-MP within the active site of CYP1B1, thereby facilitating initial oxygen addition transition states. This research offers crucial molecular-level insights that may guide the early stages of drug discovery and risk assessment related to the use of 8-MP.

Insight into the catalytic performances of Fe0@chitosan/cellulose green hybrid structure for enhanced photo-Fenton's oxidation of levofloxacin toxic residuals: Pathway and toxicity.

A green hybridized structure of Fe0 painted chitosan/cellulose base (Fe0@CS/CF) has been developed using cellulose extracted from sugarcane bagasse along with reduction agents sourced from Khaya senegalensis leaves. The composite was assessed as an affordable, powerful, and multifunctional catalyst for enhancing the degradation of Levofloxacin (LVX) remnants within water supplies via photo-Fenton's interactions. Using a dosage of 0.5 g/L, the Fe0@CS/CF blend demonstrated noteworthy catalytic qualities, resulting in the complete photo-Fenton's degradation of LVX at a level of 25 mg/L after 40 min. However, the complete diminution of organic carbon (TOC) occurred only after 100 min, suggesting the presence of significant intermediate residues. The identified intermediate chemicals and confirmed hydroxyl radicals as the main oxidizer suggest that the degradation pathway involves carboxylation/decarboxylation, hydroxylation, demethylation, and oxidation of quinolone rings. The toxicity properties of untreated LVX solutions and their subsequent oxidized byproducts were assessed by evaluating their inhibiting impact on Vibrio fischeri over various durations. The samples that experienced partial oxidation at initial testing demonstrated a higher level of toxicity in comparison to the parent LVX. However, the sample that was treated for 100 min demonstrated substantial biological safety and a non-toxic nature. The blend of ingredients has a synergistic impact that enhances the uptake, Fenton's, photocatalytic, and photo-Fenton's characteristics of the hosted Fe0 nanoparticles.

Dietary supplementation with Dunaliella salina microalga promotes quail growth by altering lipid profile and immunity.

The goals of the current research are to ascertain the impacts of Dunaliella salina (DS) on quail growth, carcass criteria, liver and kidney functions, lipid profile, and immune response. Two hundred and forty 7-day-old quail chicks were divided equally into 4 separate groups with 6 replicates with 10 birds each. The groups were as follows: 1) control diet (the basal feed without DS), 2) control diet enriched with 0.25 g DS/kg, 3) control diet enriched with 0.50 g DS/kg, and 4) control diet enriched with 1.00 g DS/kg. Results elucidated that the birds which consumed 0.5 and 1 g DS/kg diet performed better than other birds in terms of live body weight (LBW), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). There were no significant changes in feed intake (FI) and carcass characteristics due to different dietary DS levels. Compared to the control group, DS-treated groups had better lipid profile (low total cholesterol and LDL values and high HDL values) and immune response (complement 3 values). The quails consumed feeds with different levels of DS had greater (P < 0.038) C3 compared to control. Adding 0.5 and 1 g DS/kg lowered blood concentrations of triglycerides and total protein (TP) values. The high level of DS (1 g/kg) had higher albumin values and lower AST values than other groups (P < 0.05). The creatinine values were at the lowest levels in the group consumed 0.50 g DS/kg feed. No changes (P > 0.05) were demonstrated among experimental groups in the ALT, urea, and lysozyme values. In conclusion, adding D. salina to growing quail diets enhanced growth, immune system, blood lipid profile, and kidney and liver function.

Effects of varying dietary microalgae levels on performance, egg quality, fertility, and blood biochemical parameters of laying Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica).

This experiment was carried out to investigate the nutritional value of Spirulina and Dunaliella (SD) combination levels (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 g/kg) that affected the laying Japanese quail's efficiency, egg quality, fertility, and blood biological indicators. A total of 150 adult Japanese quails, aged 8 wk, were divided into 5 treatments at random, each consisting of 30 quails. There were 5 duplicates for every treatment, with 2 male and 4 female quails in each. Comparing the addition of various concentrations of a mixture of SD to the control treatment, the results showed no substantial rise in egg production, egg weight, or egg mass. When compared to the control group, final body weight (FBW) was improved with SD supplementation. The quails in control consumed more feed intake (FI) (p < 0.05), and they were different from the groups who got SD therapy in that they had a regular feed conversion ratio (FCR). The percentages of hatchability and fertility increased when SD was added to quail meals at up to 1.00 g/kg. When compared to the control quail, the quail supplemented with SD levels showed a non-significant rise in albumin%, yolk%, Haugh unit, and unit surface shell weight (USSW), as well as an increase in eggshell percentage and a drop in egg shape index (p < 0.05). Renal and hepatic enzyme functioning improved when SD was added to the diets. Additionally, lipid profile indicators were reduced by SD supplementation (except low-density lipoprotein-LDL). Moreover, compared to the control, incorporating SD led to a nonsignificant rise in immunoglobulin concentrations (IgG and IgM). In conclusion, adding SD to the diet can improve body weight, lipid profile, immunological response, and liver and kidney functions in Japanese quail.

Carbon supported ternary layered double hydroxide nanocomposite for Fluoxetine removal and subsequent utilization of spent adsorbent as antidepressant.

Fluoxetine (FLX) is one of the most persistent pharmaceuticals found in wastewater due to increased use of antidepressant drugs in recent decades. In this study, a nanocomposite of ternary ZnCoAl layered double hydroxide supported on activated carbon (LAC) was used as an adsorbent for FLX in wastewater effluents. The nanocomposite was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and surface area analysis (BET). The adsorption investigations showed that the maximum removal capacity was achieved at pH 10, with a 0.1 g/L adsorbent dose, 50 mL volume of solution, and at a temperature of 25 °C. The FLX adsorption process followed the Langmuir-Freundlich model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 450.92 mg/g at FLX concentration of 50 µg/mL. Density functional theory (DFT) computations were used to study the adsorption mechanism of FLX and its protonated species. The safety and toxicity of the nanocomposite formed from the adsorption of FLX onto LAC (FLX-LAC) was investigated in male albino rats. Acute toxicity was evaluated using probit analysis after 2, 6, and 24 h to determine LD50 and LD100 values in a rat model. The FLX-LAC (20 mg/kg) significantly increased and lengthened the sleep time of the rats, which is important, especially with commonly used antidepressants, compared to the pure standard FLX (7 mg/kg), regular thiopental sodium medicine (30 mg/kg), and LAC alone (9 mg/kg). This study demonstrated the safety and longer sleeping duration in insomniac patients after single-dose therapy with FLX-LAC. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like FLX were found to have decreased side effects and were considered the first-line mood disorder therapies.

Effects of supplemental vitamin A on reproduction and antioxidative status of aged laying hens, and growth, blood indices and immunity of their offspring.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the impacts of vitamin A (VA) supplementation in feed at levels of 0 (control), 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, and 8,000 IU VA/kg diet on the reproductive efficiency and antioxidative properties of aged Sinai laying hens at 52 wk of age (n = 300 females and 30 males) in 6 replicates (10 females + 1 male/replicate). As well as blood biochemical indicators, carcass characteristics, growth performance, immunity, and the antioxidative status of their chicks. Results showed that diets supplemented with 2,000 or 6,000 IU/kg of VA increased fertility rate and decreased early embryonic mortality (P < 0.05). Increasing VA from 4,000 to 6,000 IU/kg significantly boosted hatchability rates. All VA levels significantly enhanced glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and late embryonic mortality. In the shell gland, dietary supplementation of 6,000 or 8,000 IU/kg of VA enhanced actions of GPx actions, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). In hatched chicks, all VA levels boosted (P < 0.05) hemoglobin, red blood cell count, and serum concentration of total proteins and IgA while decreasing eosinophils percentage and aspartate aminotransferase activity (AST) concentration. Dietary VA supplementations from 4,000 to 8,000 IU/kg improved lymphocytes, serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), SOD, and IgM, while decreasing heterophils, heterophils/lymphocytes ratio, and creatinine in hatched chicks. Serum triglyceride concentration was reduced by adding 6,000 or 8,000 IU/kg of VA, while globulin and high-density lipoprotein concentrations were heightened only by 8,000 IU/kg of VA. It could be concluded that the dietary supplementation of VA (6,000 IU/kg) improved reproductive efficiency and antioxidative status in the liver and the shell gland of aged laying hens and improved hemato-biochemicals parameters, antioxidative status, and immunity of their offspring.

Photodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on soil surface: Kinetics and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model development.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have attracted much attention because of their widespread existence and toxicity. Photodegradation is the main natural decay process of PAHs in soil. The photodegradation kinetics of benzopyrene (BaP) on 16 kinds of soils and 10 kinds of PAHs on Hebei (HE) soil were studied. The results showed that BaP had the highest degradation rate in Shaanxi (SN) soil (kobs = 0.11 min-1), and anthracene (Ant) was almost completely degraded after 16 h of irradiation in HE soil. Two quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models were established by the multiple linear regression (MLR) method. The developed QSAR models have good stability, robustness and predictability. The model revealed that the main factors affecting the photodegradation of PAHs are soil organic matter (SOM) and the energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (Egap). SOM can function as a photosensitizer to induce the production of active species for photodegradation, thus favoring the photodegradation of PAHs. In addition, compounds with lower Egap are less stable and more reactive, and thus are more prone to photodegradation. Finally, the QSAR model was optimized using machine learning approach. The results of this study provide basic information on the photodegradation of PAHs and have important significance for predicting the environmental behavior of PAHs in soil.

Investigation of ternary Zn-Co-Fe layered double hydroxide as a multifunctional 2D layered adsorbent for moxifloxacin and antifungal disinfection.

Layered double hydroxides have recently gained wide interest as promising multifunctional nanomaterials. In this work, a multifunctional ternary Zn-Co-Fe LDH was prepared and characterized using XRD, FTIR, BET, TEM, SEM, and EDX. This LDH showed a typical XRD pattern with a crystallite size of 3.52 nm and a BET surface area of 155.9 m2/g. This LDH was investigated, for the first time, as an adsorbent for moxifloxacin, a common fluoroquinolones antibiotic, showing a maximum removal efficiency and equilibrium time of 217.81 mg/g and 60 min, respectively. Its antifungal activity, for the first time, was investigated against Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, and Mucor fungi at various concentrations (1000-1.95 µg/mL). This LDH was found to be effective against a variety of fungal strains, particularly Penicillium and Mucor species and showed zones of inhibition of 19.3 and 21.6 mm for Penicillium and Mucor, respectively, with an inhibition of 85% for Penicillium species and 68.3% for Mucormycosis. The highest antifungal efficacy results were obtained at very low MIC concentrations (33.3 and 62 µg/ml) against Penicillium and Mucor, respectively. The results of this study suggest a promising multifunctional potential of this LDH for water and wastewater treatment and disinfection applications.

Degradation of Butylated Hydroxyanisole by the Combined Use of Peroxymonosulfate and Ferrate(VI): Reaction Kinetics, Mechanism and Toxicity Evaluation.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a synthetic phenolic antioxidant (SPA), is now widely present in natural waters. To improve the degradation efficiency of BHA and reduce product toxicity, a combination of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and Ferrate(VI) (Fe(VI)) was used in this study. We systematically investigated the reaction kinetics, mechanism and product toxicity in the degradation of BHA through the combined use of PMS and Fe(VI). The results showed that PMS and Fe(VI) have synergistic effects on the degradation of BHA. The effects of operational factors, including PMS dosage, pH and coexisting ions (Cl-, SO42-, HCO3-, K+, NH4+ and Mg2+), and different water matrices were investigated through a series of kinetic experiments. When T = 25 °C, the initial pH was 8.0, the initial BHA concentration was 100 µM, the initial concentration ratio of [PMS]0:[Fe(VI)]0:[BHA]0 was 100:1:1 and the degradation rate could reach 92.4% within 30 min. Through liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) identification, it was determined that the oxidation pathway of BHA caused by PMS/Fe(VI) mainly includes hydroxylation, ring-opening and coupling reactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that •OH was most likely to attack BHA and generate hydroxylated products. The comprehensive comparison of product toxicity results showed that the PMS/Fe(VI) system can effectively reduce the environmental risk of a reaction. This study contributes to the development of PMS/Fe(VI) for water treatment applications.