In this work, powdered Calotropis gigantea seedpods were characterized and used as biosorbents of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution. FT-IR spectroscopy demonstrated functional groups characteristics of cellulose. Steric exclusion chromatography donated an average molecular weight of 230 kg/mol of the biopolymer. The polymolecularity index value (1.95) proved the good homogeneity of the polysaccharide. Scanning electron microscopy features displayed a homogenous morphology and porous structure. X-ray diffraction patterns showed peaks characteristics of cellulose and non-cellulose compositions. Thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis displayed exothermal decompositions at 316.9 °C and 456 °C. The maximum biosorption capacity of methylene blue was 88.36 mg/g at pH = 6, time = 60 min, and T = 21 °C. The level was comparable to some other studied agricultural wastes. The adsorption mechanism followed pseudo-second-order and Freundlich models. As it is abundant, available, low-cost, and easily recovered from solution, C. gigantea seedpods could be used as an effective biomaterial for the removal of organic pollutants from contaminated waters. Novelty statement An abundant, available, and low-cost Calotropis gigantea seedpod was used, for the first time, as an effective biomaterial for the biosorption of organic pollutants. The biosorption level was found to be comparable to some other agricultural wastes studied previously in the literature.During self-reporting, respondents underreport their smoking status for various reasons. We aimed to evaluate the difference between smoking status self-reporting and urinary cotinine tests in Korea respondents. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the differences between self-reporting and urinary cotinine criteria. The dependent variable was the underreporting of smoking status; independent variables were sociodemographic, health status, and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. Total underreporting was 3.6% when Cot ≥164 and 4.0% when Cot-variable (classified) criteria underreported. Positive associations were found between smoking and age, education, drinking, and SHS. Underreporting in the nonsmoker group (odds ratio [OR] = 2.336; confidence interval [CI] = 1.717-3.179) was significantly associated with SHS, but this difference was nonsignificant in the ex-smoker group (OR = 1.184; CI = 0.879-1.638). Underreporting was 3.6% to 4.0%, and C-statistics was about 0.7, indicating that outcomes could be classified. SHS in nonsmokers was positively associated with underreporting; however, only the nonsmoker group had positive associations, demonstrating unintentional underreporting due to SHS.
  In 1999, an education reform was implemented in Poland, which added 1 year to the shortest available educational path-that of basic vocational education. Under the new system, students choosing this path receive one additional year of general education. According to the authors of the reform, this should improve the students' position in the labor market, as a shortage of general skills was identified as the main deficit of basic vocational school leavers prior to the reform.
 
  The study assesses the impact of the 1999 reform on the hourly wage of individuals who completed formal education after obtaining a basic vocational school certificate.
 
  The analysis is based on individual data from the Polish Labor Force Survey for the years 2001-2016. As the education reform was implemented simultaneously across the country, a regression discontinuity design is used to assess its impact.
 
  The study finds that one additional year of general education has led to a 13% increase in the hourly wages of individuals who completed basic vocational schools. This effect is higher than those reported in studies for other countries where the wage premium is typically found to be under 10%. This may be because the extension of compulsory schooling in Poland affected individuals with relatively low general skills and abilities.
 The study finds that one additional year of general education has led to a 13% increase in the hourly wages of individuals who completed basic vocational schools.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ml385.html  This effect is higher than those reported in studies for other countries where the wage premium is typically found to be under 10%. This may be because the extension of compulsory schooling in Poland affected individuals with relatively low general skills and abilities.Phenolic compounds, omnipresent in plants, are a crucial part of the human diet and are of considerable interest due to their antioxidant properties and other potential beneficial health effects, for instance, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. The consumption of a variety of plant-based foods containing various phenolic compounds has increased due to published scientific verification of several health benefits. The release of phenolic compounds and change in their bioactivities examined through in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion could provide information on the biological potency of bioactive components, which will allow us to elucidate their metabolic pathways and bioactivities at target sites. This review reports on the recent research results focused on changes during the gastro and/or intestinal phase. The effect of digestive enzymes and digestive pH conditions during simulated digestion accounted for the variations in bioaccessibility and bioavailability of phenolic antioxidants as well as the corresponding antioxidant activities were also summarized and presented in the review.
  Jugular bulb abnormalities (JBA) such as high riding jugular bulb and jugular bulb diverticulum can extend or erode into the middle and inner ear. In this report, we report on a series of 6 patients with jugular bulb anomalies involving the internal auditory canal (IAC).
 
  A retrospective case series.
 
  Six females, ages 6 to 63 presenting with myriad of otologic symptoms including hearing loss, tinnitus, balance disturbance, fullness, and otalgia were discovered to have JB eroding into IAC. Computerized tomography, but not Magnetic Resonance Imaging, was able to identify IAC erosion by a significantly enlarged JB.
 
  A significantly enlarged JB eroding into the IAC maybe congenital or acquired. It can present with a variety of common otologic symptoms. Long term follow-up is needed to determine the natural history of JB anomalies involving the IAC and need for intervention.
 A significantly enlarged JB eroding into the IAC maybe congenital or acquired. It can present with a variety of common otologic symptoms.