Degradation studies of bisphenol S by ultrasound activated persulfate in aqueous medium.

The degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants by sulphate radical (SO4•-) represents one of the most recent developments in oxidation-based water treatment. In most cases, persulfate (PS) acts as a precursor of sulphate radicals. This study employed ultrasound-activated PS to generate reactive species, facilitating the degradation of bisphenol S (BPS), a well-known contaminant of emerging concern (CECs). An ultrasound with a frequency of 620 kHz and 80 W power was utilised for the degradation studies. The applied oxidation system successfully resulted in the complete degradation of BPS in both pure and real environmental water samples. Additionally, the Chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced to an acceptable limit in both matrices, with a reduction of 85 % in pure water and 73 % in river water. The degradation was monitored by varying chemical parameters such as pH, inorganic ions, and organics concentration. The results indicate that under specific pH conditions, the degradation efficiency followed the order of pH 3 > 4 > 7 > 11. The presence of coexisting matrices suppressed the efficiency by scavenging the reactive species. Utilizing high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis, this study identified seven intermediate products during identified during the degradation of BPS. Furthermore, a comprehensive mechanism has been deduced for the transformation and degradation process. All the results presented in this study underscore the applicability of the US/PS system in the removal of CECs.

Co-inoculation of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizae for growth promotion and nutrient fortification in soybean under drought conditions.

Drought is significant abiotic stress that affects the development and yield of many crops. The present study is to investigate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and biochar on root morphological traits, growth, and physiological traits in soybean under water stress. Impact of AMF and biochar on development and root morphological traits in soybean and AMF spores number and the soil enzymes' activities were studied under drought conditions. After 40 days, plant growth parameters were measured. Drought stress negatively affected soybean growth, root parameters, physiological traits, microbial biomass, and soil enzyme activities. Biochar and AMF individually increase significantly plant growth (plant height, root dry weight, and nodule number), root parameters such as root diameter, root surface area, total root length, root volume, and projected area, total chlorophyll content, and nitrogen content in soybean over to control in water stress. In drought conditions, dual applications of AMF and biochar significantly enhanced shoot and root growth parameters, total chlorophyll, and nitrogen contents in soybean than control. Combined with biochar and AMF positively affects AMF spores number, microbial biomass, and soil enzyme activities in water stress conditions. In drought stress, dual applications of biochar and AMF increase microbial biomass by 28.3%, AMF spores number by 52.0%, alkaline phosphomonoesterase by 45.9%, dehydrogenase by 46.5%, and fluorescein diacetate by 52.2%, activities. The combined application of biochar and AMF enhance growth, root parameters in soybean and soil enzyme activities, and water stress tolerance. Dual applications with biochar and AMF benefit soybean cultivation under water stress conditions.

Impact of mineral fertilizers on mineral nutrients in the ginger rhizome and on soil enzymes activities and soil properties.

Ginger is used as one of the important ingredients in traditional as well as modern medicine besides as a spice. It boosts immunity and is a rich source of many biologically active substances and minerals. Although it is a medicinally important crop, its productivity is, however, affected due to poor nutrient management and therefore it requires an adequate supply of nutrients in the form of inorganic fertilizers or organic manuring, or a mixture of both. In this context, the present study was aimed to investigate the effect of mineral fertilizers on the content of mineral elements in the ginger rhizome, on soil enzyme activity, and soil properties. Lysimeter experiments were conducted at the Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology, Kibray, Tashkent region, Uzbekistan. The experiment comprised of four treatments T1 - Control, T2 - N75P50K50 kg/ha, T3 - and T4 - N100P75K75 + B3Zn6Fe6 kg/ha. The results showed that the application of N125P100K100 kg/ha increased rhizome K content by 49%, P content by 20%, and Na content by 58% as compared to control without fertilizer. While the application of N100P75K75 + B3Zn6Fe6 kg/ha showed a significant enhancement in rhizome K, Ca, P, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Mo, and Si contents over the control. This treatment also improved active P content by 29%, total P content by 80%, total K content 16%, and N content by 33% content, and the activities of urease, invertase, and catalase activities as compared to control of without mineral fertilizer and control respectively. Thus the application of NPK + BZnFe at the rate of 100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha helps in improving macroelements and microelements in the ginger rhizome and activities of soil enzymes that helps in mineral nutrition of the rhizome.

Rapid assessment methodology in NORM measurements from building materials of Uzbekistan.

Utilizing low cost NaI(Tl) scintillation detector systems we present methodology for the rapid screening of building material samples and the determination of their Radium Equivalent Activity (Raeq). Materials from Uzbekistan as a representative developing country have been measured and a correction coefficient for Radium activity is deduced. The use of the correction coefficient offers the possibility to decrease analysis times thus enabling the express measurement of a large quantity of samples. The reduction in time, cost and the use of inexpensive equipment can democratize the practice of screening NORM in building materials in the international community.

The use of adjunctive topical mitomycin in endoscopic congenital choanal atresia repair.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of topical mitomycin in providing the patency of the neochoanae in children undergoing transnasal endoscopic congenital choanal atresia (CA) repair. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of surgical results in CA patients who were treated in Selcuk University, Meram Medical Faculty, Department of Otolaryngology between November 2002 and November 2009 was performed. All patients underwent transnasal endoscopic approach using nasal telescopes and traditional sinus instrumentation together with a microdebrider. Mitomycin was used according to the senior surgeon's preference, and certainly not in a randomized fashion. After completion of surgery, mitomycin 0.4 mg/ml was applied to the neochoanae for 3 min. Postoperative stenting was performed in all patients. RESULTS: CA was unilateral in 8 subjects (mean age 71.8+/-41.7 months; range 18 months-144 months) and bilateral in 12 subjects (mean age 4.6+/-1.3 days; range 3-7 days). Among the subjects, 75% was female in both groups. Fourteen subjects under endoscopic repair without mitomycin, whereas mitomycin was used in 6 patients (4 bilateral, 2 unilateral). Stents were left at least 3 weeks postoperatively (mean 31+/-10 days; range 21-45 days). The patients were followed-up at least 6 months (range 6-72 months). No symptomatic restenosis requiring further dilatations was seen in patients treated with preoperative mitomycin, whereas restenosis was detected in 6 subjects (42.9%) treated without mitomycin postoperatively within 6 months period (Fisher's Exact Test 2-sided, p=0.12). These subjects underwent revision endoscopic repair with mitomycin and had no need for further dilatations with acceptable control of symptoms during a follow-up period ranging between 14 and 78 months. CONCLUSION: Mitomycin improves the surgical treatment outcome of CA and reduces the rate of restenosis significantly without any complications. However, further prospective randomized studies are needed to fully investigate the benefits of mitomycin therapy in CA surgery.

[Age-related changes in the human gastric wall from birth to 16 years]. / Vozrastnye izmeneniia stenki zheludka u cheloveka ot rozdeniia do 16 let.

Age changes of layers of the gastric wall were studied in 45 specimens obtained from neonatal period up to 16 years. It was detected that mucosa of stomach cardial and fundal region thickens almost equally (1.6 fold). Mucosa of pyloric region thickens 2.2 fold. 1.9 fold thickening of submucosa occurs in cardial and fundal regions of stomach and 3 fold thickening occurs in pyloric region. Increase of muscular coat thickness of cardial and fundal regions was 1.5 fold; that of serous coat was 2.2 fold. 2.6 thickening of pyloric region muscular coat was noted.

[Pulmonary ventilation indices of patients following the surgical correction of mitral stenosis]. / Pokazateli legochnoi ventiliatsii u bol'nykh posle khirurgicheskoi korrektsii mitral'nogo stenoza.

The method of spiroveloergometry was used in 97 patients after operation of mitral commissurotomy for studying reserves of pulmonary ventilation and its relation to the level of physical working capacity. The results obtained have shown that in patients of worse functional classes the ventilation potency of the lungs deteriorated which resulted in the restricted physical working capacity. It should be necessarily taken into consideration when making programs for the rehabilitation of cardiosurgical patients.