Monitoring simultaneous photocatalytic-ozonation of mixture of pharmaceuticals in the presence of immobilized TiO2 nanoparticles using MCR-ALS: Identification of intermediates and multi-response optimization approach.

The present study has focused on the degradation of a mixture of three pharmaceuticals, i.e. methyldopa (MDP), nalidixic acid (NAD) and famotidine (FAM) which were quantified simultaneously during photocatalytic-ozonation process. The experiments were conducted in a semi-batch reactor where TiO2 nanoparticles (crystallites mean size 8nm) were immobilized on ceramic plates irradiated by UV-A light in the proximity of oxygen and/or ozone. The surface morphology and roughness of the bare and TiO2-coated ceramic plates were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). An analytical methodology was successfully developed based on both recording ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectra during the degradation process and a data analysis using multivariate curve resolution with alternating least squares (MCR-ALS). This methodology enabled the researchers to obtain the concentration and spectral profiles of the chemical compounds which were involved in the process. A central composite design was used to study the effect of several factors on multiple responses namely MDP removal (Y1), NAD removal (Y2) and FAM removal (Y3) in the simultaneous photocatalytic-ozonation of these pharmaceuticals. A multi-response optimization procedure based on global desirability of the factors was used to simultaneously maximize Y1, Y2 and Y3. The results of the global desirability revealed that 8mg/L MAD, 8mg/L NAD, 8mg/L FAM, 6L/h ozone flow rate and a 30min-reaction time were the best conditions under which the optimized values of various responses were Y1=95.03%, Y2=84.93% and Y3=99.15%. Also, the intermediate products of pharmaceuticals generated in the photocatalytic-ozonation process were identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

Synthesis and evaluation of uniformly sized nalidixic acid-imprinted nanospheres based on precipitation polymerization method for analytical and biomedical applications.

For the first time in this work, uniform molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) nanoparticles were prepared using nalidixic acid as a template. The MIP nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by precipitation polymerization applying methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM) as a cross-linking monomer at different mole ratios. The morphology, binding, recognition, selectivity, and in vitro release behaviors of obtained particles were studied. The produced polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetric. Furthermore, their morphology was analyzed accurately by scanning electron microscopy, photon correlation spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. The nanospheres and microspheres with mean diameter values of 94 nm, 256 nm, and 1.2 µm were obtained using nalidixic acid-MAA-TRIM various mole ratios. Among the MIPs, the product with nalidixic acid-MAA-TRIM mole ratio of 1:12:12 established nanospheres with the lowest polydispersity index (0.003), an average pore diameter (12 nm), and the highest specific surface area (280 m(2) g(-1)) and selectivity factor (10.4). Results from binding experiments demonstrated that the imprinted nanospheres with a 94-nm mean diameter and a binding capacity of 28 mg of nalidixic acid per gram of polymer had higher specific affinity to nalidixic acid in contrast with the other imprinted nanospheres, microspheres, and nonimprinted particles. However, the binding performance of imprinted nanospheres in human serum was estimated using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis (binding approximately 98% of nalidixic acid). In addition, release experiments proved to be successful in the controlled release of nalidixic acid during a long period. The 20% of loaded nalidixic acid was released from the imprinted nanospheres within the first 20 h, whereas the remaining 80% was released in the after 120 h. The nalidixic acid release kinetics from the MIPs was highly affected by properties of the particles.

Evaluation of the extent of protein binding by means of NMR diffusion and relaxation experiments, and automated continuous ultrafiltration.

The extent of protein binding is one of the key parameters in both pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Since a high protein binding prevents the drug to reach the target enzyme or receptor in the organism and the metabolism and excretion of drug, a low protein binding is preferable. Thus, the protein binding has to be considered in the process of drug development. In order to keep the extent of protein binding low it is necessary to know the mechanism of protein-drug interaction. Because NMR methods are able to provide such structural information the purpose of this paper is to compare relaxation and diffusion NMR experiments with a classical protein binding determination method, i.e. ultrafiltration. All of them gave comparable results for the gyrase inhibitors nalidixic acid, ofloxacin, and gatifloxacin with regard to the extent of protein binding. The relaxation measurements revealed the quinolone moiety to be the main interaction partner with the protein whereas the piperazine moieties are not involved in the binding process.

Towards calixarene-based prodrugs: Drug release and antibacterial behaviour of a water-soluble nalidixic acid/calix[4]arene ester adduct.

A water-soluble calixarene-based heterocyclic podand incorporating a quinolone antibiotic subunit, the nalidixic acid, was synthesised and fully characterised. Its prodrug behaviour was assessed in vitro by HPLC, demonstrating the release of the tethered quinolone in model biological conditions. Microbiological studies performed on various Gram-positive and Gram-negative reference strains showed very interesting antibacterial activities.

Relación estructura-fotoestabilidad u fototoxicidad de fluoroquinolonas / Structure-photostability and phototoxicity relationship in fluoroquinolones

Las quinolonas constituyen una familia de antibióticos de amplio uso en la actualidad, debido a su gran eficacia clínica en el tratamiento de infecciones del tracto respiratorio, urinario, tejidos blandos y enfermedades de transmisión sexual. De acuerdo a su estructura base se pueden clasificar en quinolonas naftiridínicas (enoxacino y ácido nalidíxico), quinolínicas (ciprofloxacino, norfloxacino, ácido oxolínico, rosoxacino) y pirimido-pirimidinicas (ácido pipemídico). Las quinolonas se caracterizan por presentar reacciones de fotosensibilidad y fotolabilidad. El ácido nalidíxico, quinolona de primera generación, presenta reacciones de fototoxicidad, evaluadas en el modelo del glóbulo rojo y en cultivos celulares. El ácido nalidíxico, exento del sustituyente piperazínico presenta una fotolabilidad disminuida. Las fluoroquinolonas, a diferencia del ácido nalidíxico, presentan un anillo piperazínico o metil piperazínico en posición 7, incorporado con el fin de mejorar las propiedades antibacterianas. En este trabajo se investiga la influencia del anillo piperazínico en posición 7 sobre la fotolabilidad y fototoxicidad, demostrándose que las fluoroquinolonas que poseen este sustituyente presentan una fotolabilidad aumentada y una fototoxicidad disminuída, en relación a quinolonas carentes de éste grupo. Es probable que la fotodegradación de quinolonas transcurra mediante un mecanismo radicalario, con la pérdida del grupo carboxílico

Quinolones constitute a large class of synthetic antimicrobial agents that are highly effective in the treatment of respiratory, urinary, sexually transmitted diseases and soft tissue infection. In agreement with his structure the quinolones can be classified into naftaridines (enoxacin and nalidixic acid), quinolines (ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, oxolinic acid, roxosacin) and pyrid-pyrimidin (pipemidic acid). Some quinolones may undergo photodegradation reactions. On the other hand, quinolones can induce cutaneous photosensitivity reactions.and photolability as well. Nalidixic acid, a first quinolone generation, may undergo phototoxic effects on the red blood cells and in cell culture. Nalidixic acid, which has not the piperazine group in position 7, exhibit a moderated photolability. The fluoroquinolones as oppossed to nalidixic acid have a piperazine ring in position 7. We investigated the influence of the piperazine ring on the phototoxicity and photolability of several quinolones. We demonstrated that the fluoroquinolones with piperazinic group present higher photolability and less phototoxicity .It is possible that the photodegradation of quinolones takes place through a radical pathway, with the loss of a carboxylic acid group

A prodrug approach toward the development of water soluble fluoroquinolones and structure--activity relationships of quinoline-3-carboxylic acids.

A fluoroquinolone prodrug, PA2808, was prepared and shown to convert to the highly active parent drug PA2789. In vitro and in vivo activation of PA2808 by alkaline phosphatase was demonstrated using disk diffusion and rat lung infection models. The water solubility of PA2808 showed a marked increase compared to PA2789 over a pH range suitable for aerosol drug delivery. A total of 48 analogues based on PA2789 were prepared and screened against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Incorporating a cyclopropane-fused pyrrolidine (amine) at C-7 resulted in some of the most active analogues.

Synthesis of chitosan microspheres containing pendant cyclodextrin moieties and their interaction with biological active molecules.

A new route to obtain chitosan derivatives containing cyclodextrin moieties as pendant groups was developed. The chitosan microspheres, obtained through crosslinking with glutaraldehyde of an acetic acid solution of chitosan, in an organic suspension medium, were reacted with chloroacyl cyclodextrins in organic basic solvents. The acyl cyclodextrin moieties are linked to the chitosan microspheres through C-N bonds, with the elimination of HCl; higher amounts of acyl cyclodextrin are linked to the microspheres with a smaller crosslinking degree. The chitosan-cyclodextrin conjugates retain higher amounts of bioactive substances (nalidixic acid, piroxicam) or of p-nitrophenol (model substance) than their parent chitosan supports, both by ionic forces and by the formation of inclusion complexes in the cyclodextrin inner cavities. After these preliminary studies, one can appreciate that the cyclodextrin-chitosan conjugates could be used as supports for chromatographic separations or controlled release drug systems.

Reevaluating fluoroquinolone breakpoints for Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi and for non-Typhi salmonellae.

Salmonella enterica infections cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Antimicrobial therapy may be life-saving for patients with extraintestinal infections with S. enterica serotype Typhi or non-Typhi salmonellae. Because antimicrobial resistance to several classes of traditional first-line drugs has emerged in the past several decades, the quinolone antimicrobial agents, particularly the fluoroquinolones, have become the drugs of choice. Recently, resistance to nalidixic acid has emerged among both Typhi and non-Typhi Salmonella serotypes. Such Salmonella isolates typically also have decreased susceptibility to fluoroquinolones, although minimum inhibitory concentrations of the fluoroquinolones usually are within the susceptible range of the interpretive criteria of the NCCLS. A growing body of clinical and microbiological evidence indicates that such nalidixic acid-resistant S. enterica infections also exhibit a decreased clinical response to fluoroquinolones. In this article, we recommend that laboratories test extraintestinal Salmonella isolates for nalidixic acid resistance, we recommend that short-course fluoroquinolone therapy be avoided for infection with nalidixic acid-resistant extraintestinal salmonellae, and we summarize existing data and data needs that would contribute to reevaluation of the current NCCLS fluoroquinolone breakpoints for salmonellae.

Quinolone accumulation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

The accumulation of nalidixic acid and 14 fluoroquinolones over a range of external drug concentrations (10-100 mg/L; c. 25-231 microM) into intact cells of Escherichia coli KL-16, Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 8532, Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 10662 and spheroplasts of E. coli was investigated. The effect of 100 microM carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) upon the concentration of quinolone accumulated by intact cells and spheroplasts of E. coli was also determined. Except for pefloxacin, there was an increase in the concentration of the six quinolones examined accumulated by E. coli, despite a reduction in fluorescence at alkaline pH. For ciprofloxacin the partition coefficient (P(app)) was constant despite an increase in the pH; however, the P(app) for nalidixic acid decreased significantly with an increase in pH. The concentration of nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin accumulated by E. coli and S. aureus increased with an increase in temperature up to 40 degrees C and 50 degrees C, respectively. Above these temperatures the cell viability decreased. With an increase in drug concentration there was, for intact E. coli and 12/15 agents, and for S. aureus and 10/15 agents, a linear increase in the concentration of drug accumulated. However, for P. aeruginosa and 13/15 agents there was apparent saturation of an accumulation pathway. Assuming 100% accumulation into intact cells of E. coli, for 10/14 fluoroquinolones < or = 40% was accumulated by spheroplasts. CCCP increased the concentration of quinolone accumulated but the increase varied with the agent and the bacterial species. The variation in the effect of CCCP upon accumulation of the different quinolones into E. coli could result from chemical interactions or from different affinities of the proposed efflux transporter for each quinolone. Overall, these data suggest that accumulation of most quinolones into E. coli and S. aureus proceeds by simple diffusion, but that P. aeruginosa behaves differently.

Species differences in the disposition and metabolism of nalidixic acid.

Nalidixic acid (NA) is an antimicrobial drug that has been used to treat urinary tract infections. A study of NA by the National Toxicology Program indicated that chronic administration in the diet at doses equivalent to 82 and 175 mg/kg/day for rats, and 175 and 475 mg/kg/day for mice resulted in neoplastic lesions in the preputial and clitoral glands of male and female Fischer 344 rats, respectively, but not in male and female B6C3F1 mice. Our study was designed to evaluate the metabolic basis of this species and tissue-dependent carcinogenicity. [14C]NA was administered by oral gavage as a suspension in corn oil at doses of 20, 200 or 500 mg/kg. Based on urinary excretion data, at least 35 to 46 and 57 to 79% of dose was absorbed from the gastrointestinal tracts of mice and rats, respectively. NA-derived radioactivity was excreted primarily in urine and feces. The urinary and fecal metabolite profiles were species dependent. At 72 hr after administration, in both genders of rats and mice, the highest concentrations of radioactivity were observed in the liver, and the lowest were in the brain and adipose tissue. The preputial and clitoral glands of male and female rats, respectively, contained consistently and substantially higher concentrations of radioactivity compared to all other tissues, with the exception of liver. In mice, the levels of radioactivity in these tissues were near or below quantifiable levels. The metabolism and disposition characteristics of NA were linear in male and female mice over a dose range of 20 to 500 mg/kg: in rats, they were dose dependent. Results of this study suggest that the species- and tissue-dependent differences in carcinogenicity of NA were associated with differences in metabolism and disposition between the two species.

Physico-chemical properties and biological activities of erythromycin nalidixate.

Erythromycin nalidixate was prepared by combining nalidixic acid with erythromycin base. Thin-layer chromatographic studies and infrared absorption spectrum confirmed homogeneity of the new salt. The salt is very soluble in nonpolar solvent and freely soluble in polar solvent. The salt is quite stable at room temperature (30 +/- 1 degrees C). The antimicrobially active dose of the salt was found to be 820 micrograms/mg. Serum protein binding amounted to 85% and was reversible. LD50 in mice was found to be 371.5 mg/kg when the intraperitoneal route was used.

[The uptake of nalidixic acid and enoxacin by rat renal cortical slices in rat].

The mechanisms involved in the renal excretion of quinolone and new quinolone antibacterial drugs are still incompletely understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the renal handling of nalidixic acid (NA) and enoxacin (ENX), using the renal cortical slices uptake techniques in rats. It was demonstrated that both NA and ENX were taken against a concentration gradient by a saturable processes resulting from the ratio of slice to medium (ratio of S/M) being dependent on the time and the concentration. It was indicated that the inhibition of uptake by 2,4-dinitrophenol, ouabain and sodium cyanate was shown to be an energy dependence. Probenecid and cimetidine exhibited that they might inhibit NA uptake slightly. ENX uptake was inhibited by probenecid, cimetidine, guanidine and disopyramide, suggesting that ENX might possess an affinity for both anionic and cationic transport mechanisms.

Effect of dietary protein content on nalidixic acid disposition in chickens.

The effect of a diet high in protein (HP) (26%) or low protein (LP) (15%) content on kidney function and pharmacokinetic of nalidixic acid was studied in chickens. Nalidixic acid was given intravenously and orally in a dose of 25 mg/kg b. wt. with 15 days rest period between treatments. Nalidixic acid was determined by microbiological assay. The serum nalidixic acid concentrations were consistently higher in chickens that received a LP diet. The intravenous pharmacokinetics could be described by two compartments model with a t0.5(alpha) 0.13 +/- 0.008 hours and 0.17 +/- 0.008 hours; t0.5(beta) 3.07 +/- 0.07 hours and 2.56 +/- 0.05 hours; Cltot. 0.51 +/- 0.005 ml/kg/min and 0.59 +/- 0.01 ml/kg/min; Vdss 0.349 +/- 0.008 L/kg and 0.462 +/- 0.01 L/kg in LP and HP respectively. This suggests that the protein content of the diet modifies the distribution of body water and kidney function. Also, the results cleared higher recoveries of nalidixic acid in HP chickens.

Comparative study of permeability into rat cerebrospinal fluid of the quinolones: dependency on their lipophilicities.

Pharmacokinetic behavior involved in the entry of four quinolone antibacterial agents, norfloxacin (NFLX), ciprofloxacin (CPFX), ofloxacin (OFLX) and nalidixic acid (NA), into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was comparatively investigated in rats. Periodically, after the bolus i.v. dose of each quinolone (10 mg/kg), aliquots of CSF were collected by cisternal puncture and blood samples were then withdrawn from the jugular vein. CSF and serum (total and unbound) levels of the drugs were determined by HPLC method. Transport parameters for three new quinolones (NFLX, CPFX, OFLX) into CSF were obtained by physiological model analysis. Serum levels of OFLX and NFLX declined bi-exponentially with time, whereas the serum levels of NA and CPFX declined in mono-exponential and tri-exponential fashion, respectively. Fractions of each quinolone unbound to serum protein (approximately 0.7 for NFLX, CPFX, and OFLX, 0.12 for NA) were almost the same at any point in time. The CSF levels of these quinolones rose quite rapidly after drug administration, and then declined, along with their serum levels. Both the CSF level and the ratio of CSF concentration to serum unbound concentration were the highest for NA, followed by OFLX, CPFX and NFLX. These values of the four quinolones were almost proportional to the apparent partition coefficient (Papp) between n-octanol and phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) values of each reported in a previous paper [Tsuji et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 32, 190 (1988)]. In the three new quinolones, OFLX had a larger value of apparent diffusional clearance between blood and CSF (PAc) than CPFX and NFLX.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of nalidixic acid in rat serum, brain and cerebrospinal fluid.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of nalidixic acid (NA) in rat serum, brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was developed. NA in rat serum and brain homogenate was extracted and injected onto a reversed-phase column. CSF was directly analysed without extraction procedure. The limits of detection were 0.05 microgram ml-1 for serum, 0.07 microgram g-1 for brain and 0.02 microgram ml-1 for CSF, respectively. Calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges 0.1-50 micrograms ml-1 for serum, 0.12-9 micrograms g-1 for brain and 0.05-10 micrograms ml-1 for CSF, respectively. The reproducibility of NA assay in rat biological media ranged from 1 to 4% relative standard deviations (RSD). The recoveries of NA added to serum and brain were higher than 96% with an RSD of less than 4%. The present method was found to be applicable to pharmacokinetic study of NA in rat serum, brain and CSF.

Pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, plasma protein binding and disposition of nalidixic acid in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

1. The pharmacokinetics, disposition and bioavailability of nalidixic acid were examined in Rainbow Trout following i.v. and per os administration (5 mg/kg). 2. Nalidixic acid was biexponentially eliminated from plasma following i.v. dosing (t1/2 alpha = 0.06 h, t1/2 beta = 23.0 h). The volume of distribution (Vss) and total body clearance (Clb) were 964.7 ml/kg and 31.5 ml/kg/h, respectively. 3. In vitro plasma protein binding was specific and saturable over a range of concentrations from 0.43 microM to 20.0 mM. Binding was approx. 26% at kinetically relevant plasma concentrations. 4. Apparent oral bioavailability was determined to be > 100%, suggesting that nalidixic acid was largely bioavailable and non-linear pharmacokinetics were evoked. 5. Oral studies demonstrated the highest 14C nalidixic acid equivalent concentrations in bile, intestine and liver. Muscle contained intermediate concentrations but among all organs accounted for the greatest total amount of drug (12.2% of dose). Mass balance studies demonstrated composite values for per cent of dose administered of 23.7, 18.8, 8.5, 10.0, 7.4 and 2.3% for 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 15 days, respectively. 6. A glucuronic acid conjugate of nalidixic acid was identified by n.m.r. and mass spectral analysis as the single primary metabolite.

Probenecid inhibits the renal clearance and renal glucuronidation of nalidixic acid. A pilot experiment.

The aim of this pilot study was to demonstrate the possible inhibitory effect of probenecid on the renal glucuronidation and on the renal clearance of nalidixic acid in a human volunteer. Under acidic urine conditions, hardly any nalidixic acid is excreted unchanged (0.2%). It is excreted as acyl glucuronide (53.4%), 7-hydroxymethylnalidixic acid (10.0%), the latter's acyl glucuronide 30.9%, and 7-carboxynalidixic acid (4.2%). Under probenecid co-medication the renal glucuronidation of nalidixic acid is reduced from 53% to 16%; the renal clearance of both nalidixic acid and 7-hydroxymethylnalidixic acid are reduced (p < 0.001); the intrinsic t1/2 of the metabolite 7-hydroxymethylnalidixic acid increased from 0.48 h to 4.24 h. The amount of acyl glucuronidation of 7-hydroxymethylnalidixic acid was not altered. The in vitro protein binding of both acyl glucuronides was increased, while no effect on the unconjugated compounds was seen. Nalidixic acid had no effect on the maximal renal excretion rate of probenecid acyl glucuronide.

Bioequivalence study of nalidixic acid tablets: in vitro-in vivo correlation.

The USP dissolution test was used to select seven products with a wide range of dissolution characteristics for in vivo examination. The bioequivalence of seven (500 mg) products was evaluated in two crossover urinary excretion experiments. In each study three products were compared with the innovator product (Negram-Winthrop-Breon) in 12 subjects according to a 4 x 4 latin square design. Significantly different, lower bioavailability was observed in two products in relation to that of the innovator product. Linear in vitro-in vivo correlations were found between the cumulative amount excreted at 24 h and the log of the amount dissolved at 30 min and between log of the cumulative amount excreted up to 24 h and the log of the amount dissolved at 45 min.

Direct gradient reversed-phase HPLC analysis and preliminary pharmacokinetics of nalidixic acid, 7-hydroxymethylnalidixic acid, 7-carboxynalidixic acid, and their corresponding glucuronide conjugates in humans.

A gradient reversed-phase high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis was developed for the direct measurement of nalidixic acid with its acyl glucuronide, 7-hydroxymethylnalidixic acid with its acyl and ether glucuronides, and 7-carboxynalidixic acid in human plasma and urine. The glucuronides and 7-carboxynalidixic acid were not present in plasma after an oral dose of 1,000 mg nalidixic acid. The acyl glucuronides of 7-carboxynalidixic acid were not present in plasma and urine. The acyl glucuronides are stable in urine at pH 5.0-5.5. The subject's urine must therefore be acidified by the oral intake of 4 x 1 g of ammonium chloride per day. With acidic urine, hardly any nalidixic acid was excreted unchanged (0.2%). It was excreted as acyl glucuronide (53.4% of dose), 7-hydroxymethyl-nalidixic acid (10.0%), the latter's acyl glucuronide (30.9%), and 7-carboxynalidixic acid (4.2%).

Influence of E. coli infection on the disposition kinetic of nalidixic acid in broiler chickens.

The pharmacokinetic data of nalidixic acid were investigated in normal and E. coli infected chickens. The highest serum concentration were reached after 2 hours with t0.5 (ab) of (1.706 +/- 0.1 min in normal and 2.030 +/- 0.11 min in diseased) and (1.72 +/- 0.11 min in normal and 1.416 +/- 0.044 in diseased chickens) following oral and intramuscular administration, respectively. The elimination half-life t0.5 (beta) were (2.514 in normal and 2.35 hr in diseased) and (2.567 hr in normal and 2.672 hr in diseased) respectively. Following intravenous injection the kinetic of nalidixic acid followed two compartments open model with t0.5 of (6.27 and 9.15 hr), Vd (0.45 and 0.79 L/kg), Cltot (8.86 and 13.32 ml/kg/min) in normal and E. coli infected chickens, respectively. Administration of nalidixic acid twice daily for 5 successive days in a dose level of 25 mg/kg b. wt. by oral and intramuscular routes showed a cumulative behaviour.