In silico dose adjustment of levothyroxine after total thyroidectomy using fuzzy logic methodology: A proof-of-concept study.

Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is used to raise undesirably low concentrations of natural thyroid hormones, commonly by administrating levothyroxine (LT4). Finding the appropriate LT4 dose regime, particularly for patients undergone thyroidectomy, is still demanding more effort, and much research has been conducted. Providing a new fuzzy logic system, a useful control algorithm, we aim to introduce a proper LT4 dosing regimen for every thyroidectomized patient in a computerized environment. Consequently, we contrast the differences between our proposed dose regime and conventional monotherapy methods using THYROSIM, a thyroid simulation application. Considering our nine defined comparative criteria, results reveal that the FLS dose regime is dominant in terms of six indexes, while the discrepancies are not noticeable in the other three indexes. A great superiority of FLS dose regime is its ability to reduce the time to reach desirable thyrotropin (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, TSH) serum concentration to 6 days post-thyroidectomy, and keep the T4, T3, and TSH values in the normal window afterward. The proposed FLS could be an applicable decision support system for physicians as they can define their intended Individual Target Value of TSH for each patient to optimize LT4 dose adjustment.

Efficient removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous media by unmodified and modified nanodiamonds.

This article deals with the adsorption performances of the unmodified nanodiamond (ND) and thermally oxidized nanodiamond (Ox-ND) for the removal of different heavy metal ions such as Fe (III), Cu (II), Cr (VI), and Cd (II) from wastewater. The adsorption capacities of the ions onto adsorbents are higher and follow the order: Ox-ND-3 > Ox-ND-1.5 > ND, which is consistent with their surface areas, zeta potentials, and the presence of carboxyl groups, suggesting that electrostatic attractions between the positive metal ions and the negatively charged adsorbents are the predominant adsorption mechanisms. Adsorption capacities of these adsorbents were found to be 26.8, 31.3, and 45.7 mg/g for Fe (III), 25.2, 30.5, and 44.5 mg/g for Cu (II), 33.6, 44.1, and 55.9 mg/g for Cr (VI), and 40.9, 52.9, and 67.9 mg/g for Cd (II) over ND, Ox-ND-1.5, and Ox-ND-3, respectively. The impact of various operating parameters such as agitation time, initial metal ion concentration, temperature, pH solution, adsorbent dosage, and coexistence of the metal ions on the adsorption performance of Ox-ND-3 towards Cd (II) ions along with the batch adsorption experiments were performed. The equilibrium was reached in 120 min and adsorption data were fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic as well as the Freundlich isotherm models. Adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic, while the maximum removal efficiency of Cd (II) ions occurred at pH of 6.9 and at 4 g/L dosage. These findings demonstrated that thermally oxidized nanodiamond (Ox-ND) can be a versatile adsorbent to remove the Cd (II) ions from wastewater.

Genetic variability and identification of quantitative trait loci affecting plant growth and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in the model legume Medicago truncatula under control and salt stress conditions.

Salinity is one of the major stresses that limits crop production worldwide and affects most physiological activities in plants. In order to study the genetic control of salt stress in the model legume Medicago truncatula Gaertn., an experiment was undertaken to determine the genetic variability and to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling several traits related to plant growth and physiology in a population of recombinant inbred lines. Shoot and root DW, relative water content, leaf area, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and Na+ and K+ in shoots and roots were measured. The experiment was carried out with three replications. ANOVA showed a large genetic variation and transgressive segregation for the traits studied, suggesting putative complex tolerance mechanisms. A total of 21 QTLs were detected under control conditions and 19 QTLs were identified under 100mm salt stress conditions, with three QTLs being common to both situations. The percentage of total phenotypic variance explained by the QTLs ranged from 4.6% to 23.01%. Overlapping QTLs for different traits were also observed, which enables us to discriminate independent traits from linked ones. The results should be helpful information for further functional analysis of salt tolerance in M. truncatula.