bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monitoring Compositional Changes in Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) Sourced from Different Waste Stream Diets Using Attenuated Total Reflectance Mid Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics
Authors: Hoffman Louwrens C. , Zhang Shuxin , Alagappan Shanmugam , Wills Volant , Yarger Olympia , Cozzolino Daniel
Published: November 2022

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, L.) larvae are characterized by their ability to convert a variety of organic matter from food waste into a sustainable source of food (e.g., protein). This study aimed to evaluate the use of attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy to monitor changes in the composition as well as to classify black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) samples collected from two growth stages (fifth and sixth instar) and two waste stream diets (bread and vegetables, soy waste). The BSFL samples were fed on either a soy or bread-vegetable mix waste in a control environment (temperature 25 °C, and humidity 70%). The frass and BSFL samples harvested as fifth and sixth instar samples were analyzed using an ATR-MIR instrument where frequencies at specific wavenumbers were compared and evaluated using different chemometric techniques. The PLS regression models yield a coefficient of determination in cross-validation (R2) > 0.80 for the prediction of the type of waste used as diet. The results of this study also indicated that the ratio between the absorbances corresponding to the amide group (1635 cm−1) and lipids (2921 + 2849 cm−1) region was higher in diets containing a high proportion of carbohydrates (e.g., bread-vegetable mix) compared with the soy waste diet. This study demonstrated the ability of MIR spectroscopy to classify BSFL instar samples according to the type of waste stream used as a diet. Overall, ATR-MIR spectroscopy has shown potential to be used as tool to evaluate and monitor the development and growth of BSFL. The utilization of MIR spectroscopy will allow for the development of traceability systems for BSFL. These tools will aid in risk evaluation and the identification of hazards associated with the process, thereby assisting in improving the safety and quality of BSFL intended to be used by the animal feed industry.
Smartphone-Based Dopamine Detection by Fluorescent Supramolecular Sensor
Authors: Santonocito Rossella , Tuccitto Nunzio , Pappalardo Andrea , Trusso Sfrazzetto Giuseppe
Published: November 2022

Supramolecular recognition of dopamine by two quinoxaline cavitands was studied in solution by fluorescence titrations, ESI-MS and ROESY measurements. In addition, the tetraquinoxaline cavitand was dropped onto a siloxane-based polymeric solid support, obtaining a sensor able to detect dopamine in a linear range of concentrations 10 Mm–100 pM, with a detection limit of 1 pM, much lower than the normal concentration values in the common human fluids (plasma, urine and saliva), by using a simple smartphone as detector. This sensor shows also good selectivity for dopamine respect to the other common analytes contained in a saliva sample and can be reused after acid–base cycles, paving the way for the realization of real practical sensor for human dopamine detection.
Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity from Spent Coffee Grounds as a Powerful Approach for Its Valorization
Authors: Andrade Carolina , Perestrelo Rosa , Câmara José S.
Published: November 2022

Coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverages, and its consumption generates copious amounts of waste. The most relevant by-product of the coffee industry is the spent coffee grounds, with 6 million tons being produced worldwide per year. Although generally treated as waste, spent coffee grounds are a rich source of several bioactive compounds with applications in diverse industrial fields. The present work aimed at the analysis of spent coffee grounds from different geographical origins (Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Timor, and Ethiopia) for the identification of bioactive compounds with industrial interest. For this purpose, the identification and quantification of the bioactive compounds responsible for the antioxidant activity attributed to the spent coffee grounds were attempted using miniaturized solid-phase extraction (µ-SPEed), combined with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (UHPLC-PDA). After validation of the µ-SPEed/UHPLC-PDA method, this allowed us to conclude that caffeine and 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA) are the most abundant bioactive compounds in all samples studied. The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity are highest in Brazilian samples. The results obtained show that spent coffee grounds are a rich source of bioactive compounds, supporting its bioprospection based on the circular economy concept closing the loop of the coffee value chain, toward the valorization of coffee by-products.
Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters Conjugated with α-Lipoic Acid
Authors: Chen Yun-Fang , Hsu Chun-Chieh , Chung Ching-Hu
Published: November 2022

Fluorescent gold nanoclusters conjugated with α-lipoic acid (FANC) is a promising biocompatible fluorescent nanomaterial with a high potential for drug development. However, there is still no FANC-related research on toxicology, which is very important for future research and the development of healthy food supplements or drugs. This study uses oral administration of FANC to determine the most appropriate dose range in ICR mice for further evaluation. The in vivo acute and subacute toxicity study was conducted by oral administration of FANC to male and female ICR mice. Animal survival, body weight, daily food consumption, hematological profile, organ coefficient, serum biochemistry profile, and histopathological changes were analyzed. FANC did not show any form of morbidity or mortality at acute and subacute toxicity in both male and female ICR mice. Animal behavior, daily food consumption, hematological profile, organ coefficient, and histopathology showed no treatment-related malignant changes at single and repeated doses. Furthermore, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CRE) levels showed no significant malignant changes, which indicated that FANC does not cause liver and renal damage. The only change observed in this study was the change in body weight. The body weight of the FANC-treated group was slightly decreased in female mice but increased in male mice; however, the body weight decreases were below the threshold of concern, and there was no dose–response effect. In conclusion, no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) in repeated doses was considered in 20 μM/100 μL/25 g male and female ICR mice.
EMHD Nanofluid Flow with Radiation and Variable Heat Flux Effects along a Slandering Stretching Sheet
Authors: Ali Aamir , Khan Hajra Safdar , Saleem Salman , Hussan Muhammad
Published: November 2022

Nanofluids have gained prominence due to their superior thermo-physical properties. The current paper deals with MHD nanofluid flow over a non-linear stretchable surface of varying thickness in the presence of an electric field. We investigated the effects of nanometer-sized copper (Cu) particles in water (base fluid) as a nanofluid, as well as non-linear thermal radiation, variable fluid viscosity, Joule heating, viscous dissipation, and non-uniform heat flux. The current study’s aim is influenced by the immense applications in industry and machine building. It has been observed that linear stretching sheets have been extensively used in heat transfer research. Moreover, no effort has been made yet to model a non-linear stretching sheet with variable thickness. Furthermore, the effects of electromagnetohydrodynamics (EMHD) boundary-layer flow of a nanofluid with the cumulative impact of thermal radiation, variable viscosity, viscous dissipation, Joule heating, and variable heat flux have been investigated. Sheets with variable thicknesses are practically significant in real-life applications and are being used in metallurgical engineering, appliance structures and patterns, atomic reactor mechanization and paper production. To investigate the physical features of the problem, we first examined the model and identified all the physical properties of the problem. This problem has been formulated using basic laws and governing equations. The partial differential equations (PDEs) that govern the flow are converted into a system of non-dimensional ordinary differential equations (ODE’s), using appropriate transformations. The Adam–Bashforth predictor-corrector technique and Mathematica software are utilized to numerically solve the resulting non-dimensionalized system. The interaction of various developing parameters with the flow is described graphically for temperature and velocity profiles. It is concluded that the velocity of nanoparticles declines as the intensity of the magnetic field increases. However, the temperature of the nanomaterials rises, as increasing the values of the electric field also increases the velocity distribution. The radiation parameter enhances the temperature field. The temperature of the fluid increases the occurrence of space- and time-dependent parameters for heat generation and absorption and radiation parameters.
New Conjugates Based on AIS/ZnS Quantum Dots and Aluminum Phthalocyanine Photosensitizer: Synthesis, Properties and Some Perspectives
Authors: Yakovlev Dmitry , Kolesova Ekaterina , Sizova Svetlana , Annas Kirill , Tretyak Marina , Loschenov Victor , Orlova Anna , Oleinikov Vladimir
Published: November 2022

Today, fluorescent diagnostics and photodynamic therapy are promising methods for diagnosing and treating oncological diseases. The development of new photosensitizers (PS) is one of the most important tasks to improve the efficiency of both laser-induced diagnostics and therapy. In our study, we conjugated PS with AIS/ZnS triple quantum dots (QDs) to obtain non-aggregated complexes. It was shown that the conjugation of PS with QDs does not change the PS fluorescence lifetime, which is a marker of the preservation of PS photophysical properties. In particular, efficient resonant Förster energy transfer (FRET), from QDs to PS molecules in the conjugate, increases the PS luminescence response. The FRET from QD to PS molecules with different ratios of donor and acceptors are shown. It has been demonstrated that the average efficiency of FRET depends on the ratio of PS and QD and reaches a maximum value of 80% at a ratio of 6 PS molecules per 1 QD molecule. Thus, these studies could help to contribute to the development of new complexes based on QD and PS to improve the efficiency of phototheranostics.
Encapsulation of Imazalil in HKUST-1 with Versatile Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Dong Hongqiang , He Yuke , Fan Chen , Zhu Zhongqiang , Zhang Chunrong , Liu Xinju , Qian Kun , Tang Tao
Published: November 2022

Based on high surface areas, adjustable porosity and microbicide activity, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) HKUST-1 are widely used as drug release carriers for their slow degradation characteristics under slightly acidic conditions. In this work, porous HKUST-1 was reacted rapidly by cholinium salt (as the deprotonation agent and template) in an aqueous solution at room temperature. A novel antimicrobial system based on an imazalil encapsulated metal organic framework (imazalil IL-3@HKUST-1) was established. Imazalil IL-3@HKUST-1 could achieve synergism in inhibiting pathogenic fungi and bacteria. Moreover, six days after treatment, the slow and constant release of imazalil from imazalil IL@HKUST-1 exhibited better sustainability and microbicidal activity than imazalil. We believe that the method may provide a new strategy for related plant diseases caused by bacteria or fungi.
Protecting Chiller Systems from Cyberattack Using a Systems Thinking Approach
Authors: Khan Shaharyar , Madnick Stuart
Published: November 2022

Recent world events and geopolitics have brought the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyberattacks to the forefront. While there has been considerable attention to attacks on Information Technology (IT) systems, such as data theft and ransomware, the vulnerabilities and dangers posed by industrial control systems (ICS) have received significantly less attention. What is very different is that industrial control systems can be made to do things that could destroy equipment or even harm people. For example, in 2021 the US encountered a cyberattack on a water treatment plant in Florida that could have resulted in serious injuries or even death. These risks are based on the unique physical characteristics of these industrial systems. In this paper, we present a holistic, integrated safety and security analysis, we call Cybersafety, based on the STAMP (System-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes) framework, for one such industrial system—an industrial chiller plant—as an example. In this analysis, we identify vulnerabilities emerging from interactions between technology, operator actions as well as organizational structure, and provide recommendations to mitigate resulting loss scenarios in a systematic manner.
Effect Assessment of Aurantio-Obtusin on Novel Human Renal Glomerular Endothelial Cells Model Using a Microfluidic Chip
Authors: Qin Wen , Yang Zhuo , Yin Jiyong , Chen Di , Huo Junsheng , Wang Jingbo , Wang Liyuan , Zhuo Qin
Published: November 2022

Cassiae semen is widely used as a raw material of health food. Anthraquinone compounds, the main components in cassiae semen, have been reported to show nephrotoxicity. Aurantio-obtusin (AO) is a major anthraquinone compound extracted from cassiae semen. This study investigates the effects of AO on the morphology and physiological function of human renal glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs) on a microfluidic chip device for the first time. HRGECs were cultured on a microfluidic plate and exposed to a series of AO concentrations. Compared with traditional 96-well culture, HRGECs cultured on the microfluidic chip appeared to better mimic the glomerular microenvironment in vivo. AO induced different degrees of damage to cellular morphology and physiological function. The leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), increased in the AO treated groups. At the same time, cell viability and expression of ZO-1 in the AO treated groups decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The innovative device enables direct visualization and quantification to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of AO on HRGECs, and provides a useful visual in vitro model for studying health effect of health food.
Influence of Parental and Offspring Dietary Behaviors on the Association of Overweight and Obesity between Two Generations: Results from a Cross-Sectional Analysis of Parent-Offspring Trios in China
Authors: Ma Qi , Chen Ting , Liu Jieyu , Chen Manman , Gao Di , Li Yanhui , Ma Tao , Wang Xinxin , Chen Li , Ma Ying , Zhang Yi , Dong Yanhui , Xing Yi , Ma Jun
Published: November 2022

Limited evidence exists on the influence of dietary behaviors on the association of overweight/obesity between parents and offspring. This study aimed to investigate the influence of dietary behaviors on the association of overweight/obesity between two generations, and puts forward strategies for preventing childhood obesity. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey conducted in China; a total of 40,197 parent-offspring pairs were included. Overweight/obesity was defined based on the body mass index and waist circumstance; the association of overweight/obesity between two generations was evaluated by multivariate and binary logistic regression and stratified analyses. Compared with the offspring who were free of parental overweight/obesity, the ORs of offspring with both parental overweight/obesity reached 2.66, 1.72 and 4.04 for general, simple abdominal and compound obesity. The offset effect of dietary behaviors was observed on the association between parental obesity and the offspring’s general or simple abdominal obesity, with non-significant ORs when parents or/and offspring had healthy dietary behaviors. It was difficult for a healthy diet alone to offset the high heritability and intergenerational transmission of childhood obesity caused by parental obesity. Multifaceted improvement of lifestyle behaviors, and a combination of individual and family engagement, could be targeted measures to control childhood obesity.
RETRACTED: Association of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake on Inflammatory Gene Expression and Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ghasemi Darestani Nadia , Bahrami Abolfazl , Mozafarian Mohammad , Esmalian Afyouni Nazgol , Akhavanfar Roozbeh , Abouali Reza , Moradian Arsalan
Published: November 2022

The health benefits of omega-3 fatty acid (FA) supplementation on inflammatory gene expression (IGE) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are becoming more evident. However, an overview of the results from randomized controlled trials is lacking. This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of omega-3 fatty acid intake on MS (based on the criteria of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)) and inflammatory gene expression (IGE). A search was conducted of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science for cohort studies published from the inception of the database up to May 2022 that assessed the associations of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), α-linolenic acid (ALA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with EDSS and inflammatory gene expression (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8)) outcomes. For the highest vs. lowest comparison, the relative risk (RR) estimates with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled using the random-effect model. In total, 13 cohort studies with 1353 participants were included in the meta-analysis during periods of 3 to 144 weeks. A significant inverse relationship was found between DHA and EDSS scores (RR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.62, 1.48; p < 0.00001). Our results also showed that omega-3 FAs significantly upregulated the gene expression of PPAR-γ (RR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.52, 1.38; p < 0.03) and downregulated the expression of TNF-α (RR: −0.15; 95% CI: −0.99, 0.70; p < 0.00001) and IL-1 (RR: −0.60; 95% CI: −1.02, −0.18; p < 0.003). There was no clear evidence of publication bias with Egger’s tests for inflammatory gene expression (p = 0.266). Moreover, n-3 PUFAs and EPA were not significantly associated with EDSS scores (p > 0.05). In this meta-analysis of cohort studies, blood omega-3 FA concentrations were inversely related to inflammatory gene expression (IGE) and EDSS score, which indicates that they may hold great potential markers for the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of MS. However, further clinical trials are required to confirm the potential effects of the omega-3 FAs on MS disease management.
Reduced Risk of Oat Grain Contamination with Fusarium langsethiae and HT-2 and T-2 Toxins with Increasing Tillage Intensity
Authors: Hofgaard Ingerd Skow , Aamot Heidi Udnes , Seehusen Till , Holen Børge Magne , Riley Hugh , Dill-Macky Ruth , Edwards Simon G. , Brodal Guro
Published: November 2022

Frequent occurrences of high levels of Fusarium mycotoxins have been recorded in Norwegian oat grain. To elucidate the influence of tillage operations on the development of Fusarium and mycotoxins in oat grain, we conducted tillage trials with continuous oats at two locations in southeast Norway. We have previously presented the content of Fusarium DNA detected in straw residues and air samples from these fields. Grain harvested from ploughed plots had lower levels of Fusarium langsethiae DNA and HT-2 and T-2 toxins (HT2 + T2) compared to grain from harrowed plots. Our results indicate that the risk of F. langsethiae and HT2 + T2 contamination of oats is reduced with increasing tillage intensity. No distinct influence of tillage on the DNA concentration of Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium avenaceum in the harvested grain was observed. In contrast to F. graminearum and F. avenaceum, only limited contents of F. langsethiae DNA were observed in straw residues and air samples. Still, considerable concentrations of F. langsethiae DNA and HT2 + T2 were recorded in oat grain harvested from these fields. We speculate that the life cycle of F. langsethiae differs from those of F. graminearum and F. avenaceum with regard to survival, inoculum production and dispersal.
HA PEGylated Filler in Association with an Infrared Energy Device for the Treatment of Facial Skin Aging: 150 Day Follow-Up Data Report
Authors: Kubik Paweł , Jankau Jerzy , Rauso Raffaele , Galadari Hassan , Protasoni Marina , Gruszczyński Wojciech , Grzanka Dariusz , Smolińska Marta , Antosik Paulina , Piesiaków Maria-Luiza , Kodłubańska Lidia , Zagajewska Anna , Łukasik Bartłomiej , Stabile Giorgio , Zerbinati Nicola
Published: November 2022

Background: The face is the area most exposed to the normal course of skin aging, both intrinsically and extrinsically. The aim of the study was to evaluate the cellular and clinical response of a therapeutic protocol aimed at countering facial skin aging. Materials and Methods: Twenty female patients with facial skin laxity and photodamage underwent combined therapy including mesotherapy using non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid with calcium hydroxyapatite and an infrared energy-based device treatment with subsequent implementation of PEG-cross-linked hyaluronic acid soft tissue fillers. To evaluate the benefits, patients underwent histological, immunological, and biomechanical evaluations before the treatment and at 21 and 150 days after the treatment. Results: The histological results at 21 days and 150 days after the procedure showed an increase in the number of fibroblasts and angiogenesis. As for the immunological aspect, it was shown that the treatment has an immunomodulating action, avoiding the activation of CD4 and CD8 cells. Biomechanical data showed that, at 150 days after treatment, the average changes in skin elasticity increased by 72% and the skin hydration increased by 49%. Conclusions: A combination of an infrared energy-based device treatment with both non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid and novel PEG-cross-linked hyaluronic acid leads to numerous positive cutaneous changes after histological, immunological, and biomechanical evaluations.
Synthesis of β-Cyclodextrin-Decorated Dendritic Compounds Based on EDTA Core: A New Class of PAMAM Dendrimer Analogs
Authors: González-Méndez Israel , Loera-Loera Esteban , Sorroza-Martínez Kendra , Vonlanthen Mireille , Cuétara-Guadarrama Fabián , Bernad-Bernad María Josefa , Rivera Ernesto , Gracia-Mora Jesús
Published: November 2022

In this work, two dendritic molecules containing an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) core decorated with two and four β-cyclodextrin (βCD) units were synthesized and fully characterized. Copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) click chemistry under microwave irradiation was used to obtain the target compounds with yields up to 99%. The classical ethylenediamine (EDA) core present in PAMAM dendrimers was replaced by an EDTA core, obtaining platforms that increase the water solubility at least 80 times compared with native βCD. The synthetic methodology presented here represents a convenient alternative for the rapid and efficient construction of PAMAM analogs. These molecules are envisaged for future applications as drug carriers.
Comparison of the University Pharmacy Education Programs in Germany and Vietnam
Authors: Baecker Daniel , Mai Dung Do Thi , Pham-The Hai , Hai-Nam Nguyen
Published: November 2022

During the global COVID pandemic, the importance of professionals in the health care sector has been put in a new light, including pharmacists. In this context, the focus is also on how pharmacists are trained in different countries. Through an exchange of pharmacy teaching staff from a German to a Vietnamese university, the pharmacy education programs in both countries were compared. Aspects such as access to studies, structure of studies, and further training opportunities were considered. Differences and similarities emerged. In both countries, students first acquire basic knowledge and then delve deeper into pharmaceutical content in main studies. There is, expectedly, a great overlap in the content of the courses. Overall, the education at Vietnamese universities seems to be more practice-oriented due to a large number of placements. This also allows a specialization, which can be pursued in Germany with self-interest after graduation. There, the preparation for everyday work in the community pharmacy is separated from the university by a mandatory practical year. For the future, efforts are being made in both countries to strengthen the importance of clinical pharmacy in the curriculum. To this end, the Vietnamese are taking their inspiration from abroad in many cases, including Germany.
Optical Spectral Approach to Breast Tissue Oxygen Saturation Analysis for Mastectomy Perioperative Control
Authors: Kustov Daniil M. , Krivetskaya Anna A. , Savelieva Tatiana A. , Gorbunov Andrey S. , Kashirina Elena P. , Kharnas Sergey S. , Levkin Vladimir V. , Krasnovsky Vitaly I. , Anosova Ekaterina Yu. , Momatiuk Daria V. , Ibragimov Ramil S. , Loschenov Victor B.
Published: November 2022

The purpose of our research is to study the ability of the developed method of hemoglobin detection, based on the fiber-optic spectral analysis in visible region, to determine the level of blood supply to breast tissues before surgical treatment, intraoperatively and during observation of the patient in the postoperative period, when breast tissue is healing. The significant effect of subcutaneous adipose tissue on the shape of diffuse reflectance spectra due to scattering leads to a decrease in the accuracy of determining hemoglobin oxygen saturation and hemoglobin concentration from them. The variability of the subcutaneous adipose tissue layer is quite high, which also leads to a high variability of the spectra within a class of tissues that are in the same physiological state, which implies that the intraclass variability due to this factor should be assessed for a specific problem, not considering it random. For this purpose, in our work, we constructed optical phantoms simulating various thicknesses of the subcutaneous adipose tissue in order to determine the effect of its light scattering on the diffuse reflectance spectrum and to select the optimal configuration of optical fibers.
Performance of the Improved Priestley-Taylor Model for Simulating Evapotranspiration of Greenhouse Tomato at Different Growth Stages
Authors: Gong Xuewen , Bo Guokui , Liu Hao , Ge Jiankun , Li Xiaoming , Gao Shikai
Published: November 2022

Mastering crop evapotranspiration (ET) and improving the accuracy of ET simulation is critical for optimizing the irrigation schedule and saving water resources, particularly for crops cultivated in a greenhouse. Taking greenhouse-grown tomato under drip irrigation as an example, two weighing lysimeters were used to monitor ET at two seasons (2019 and 2020), whilst meteorological factors inside the greenhouse were measured using an automatic weather station. Then the path analysis approach was employed to determine the main environmental control factors of ET. On this basis, an improved Priestley-Taylor (IPT) model was developed to simulate tomato ET at different growth stages by considering the influence of environmental changes on model parameters (e.g., leaf senescence coefficient, temperature constraint coefficient and soil evaporative water stress coefficient). Results showed that the average daily ET varied from 0.06 to 6.57 mm d−1, which were ~0.98, ~2.58, ~3.70 and ~3.32 mm/d at the initial, development, middle and late stages, respectively, with the total ET over the whole growth stage of ~333.0 mm. Net solar radiation (Rn) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) were the direct influencing factors of ET, whereas air temperature (Ta) was the limiting factor and wind speed (u2) had a little influence on ET. The order of correlation coefficients between meteorological factors and ET at two seasons was Rn > VPD > Ta > u2. The IPT model can accurately simulate ET in hourly and daily scales. The root mean square error of hourly ET at four stages changed from 0.002 to 0.08 mm h−1 and daily ET varied from 0.54 to 0.57 mm d−1. The IPT coefficient was close to the recommended PT coefficient (1.26) when the average Ta approaches 26 °C and LAI approaches 2.5 cm2 cm−2 in greenhouse conditions. Our results can provide a theoretical basis for further optimization of greenhouse crop irrigation schedules and improvement of water use efficiency.
Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) Approach to the Development of Analytical Procedures for Medicinal Plants
Authors: Park Geonha , Kim Min Kyoung , Go Seung Hyeon , Choi Minsik , Jang Young Pyo
Published: November 2022

Scientific regulatory systems with suitable analytical methods for monitoring quality, safety, and efficacy are essential in medicinal plant drug discovery. There have been only few attempts to adopt the analytical quality by design (AQbD) strategy in medicinal plants analysis over the last few years. AQbD is a holistic method and development approach that understands analytical procedure, from risk assessment to lifecycle management. The enhanced AQbD approach reduces the time and effort necessary to develop reliable analytical methods, leads to flexible change control through the method operable design region (MODR), and lowers the out-of-specification (OOS) results. However, it is difficult to follow all the AQbD workflow steps in the field of medicinal plants analysis, such as defining the analytical target profiles (ATPs), identifying critical analytical procedure parameters (CAPPs), among others, because the complexity of chemical and biological properties in medicinal plants acts as a barrier. In this review, various applications of AQbD to medicinal plant analytical procedures are discussed. Unlike the analysis of a single compound, medicinal plant analysis is characterized by analyzing multiple components contained in biological materials, so it will be summarized by focusing on the following points: Analytical methods showing correlations within analysis parameters for the specific medicinal plant analysis, plant raw material diversity, one or more analysis targets defined for multiple phytochemicals, key analysis attributes, and analysis control strategies. In addition, the opportunities available through the use of design-based quality management techniques and the challenges that coexist are also discussed.
Numerical Simulation of Dispersion Patterns and Air Emissions for Optimal Location of New Industries Accounting for Environmental Risks
Authors: Bseibsu Ali , Madhuranthakam Chandra Mouli R. , Yetilmezsoy Kaan , Almansoori Ali , Elkamel Ali
Published: November 2022

One of the main reasons for air pollution is industrial plants releasing huge amounts of air pollutants in the form of gas emissions. The different chemical pollutants and their corresponding levels present in these emissions, and their proximity to the industrial source, have serious effects on the nearby ecosystems. Some of the industrial nuisances include noise, smoke, dirt, dust, odor and noxious gases, which have to be minimized (if possible, eliminated), especially if the location is desired to be used as a community site. When choosing locations at which to build either new industrial plants or new community sites, software can be used to assess both the short-term and long-term concentration profiles of the various detrimental air pollutants. In this study, the AERMOD model was used to find an optimal location to build a new plant in Toledo, Ohio, USA. Simulations were performed to study the pollutant emissions and their dispersion patterns for four different geographic locations situated away from an existing plant in this region. The AERMOD model, along with the IRAP-h View model, which is approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has been successfully used to assess the fate and transport of pollutants from the proposed new industrial plants. The hazard quotients from the analysis of the results for these four different geographic locations were assessed. The highest total non-cancer hazard indices of 18.7 and 13.2 were obtained for fisher adult and fisher child, respectively, in one of the four locations. The acute inhalation quotient risk was less than the target hazard index of 0.25 for all the four locations. With respect to the concentrations of several chemicals of potential concern (COPC), such as soil, produce, beef, chicken, milk and pork, the fourth location (farthest east) recorded the minimum range values compared to the other three locations.
Amino Acid-Assisted Sand-Milling Exfoliation of Boron Nitride Nanosheets for High Thermally Conductive Thermoplastic Polyurethane Composites
Authors: Zheng Shihao , Wang Bing , Zhang Xiaojie , Qu Xiongwei
Published: November 2022

Boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) show excellent thermal, electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. They are often used as fillers in polymers to prepare thermally conductive composites, which are used in the production of materials for thermal management, such as electronic packaging. Aside from the van der Waals force, there are some ionic bond forces between hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) layers that result in high energy consumption and make BNNSs easily agglomerate. To overcome this issue, L-lysine (Lys) was first employed as a stripping assistant for preparing graft-functionalized BNNSs via mechanical sand-milling technology, and the obtained Lys@BNNSs can be added into thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) by solution mixing and hot-pressing methods to prepare thermally conductive composites. This green and scalable method of amino acid-assisted sand-milling can not only exfoliate the bulk h-BN successfully into few-layer BNNSs but also graft Lys onto the surface or edges of BNNSs through Lewis acid–base interaction. Furthermore, benefiting from Lys’s highly reactive groups and biocompatibility, the compatibility between functionalized BNNSs and the TPU matrix is significantly enhanced, and the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of the composite are remarkably increased. When the load of Lys@BNNSs is 3 wt%, the thermal conductivity and tensile strength of the obtained composites are 90% and 16% higher than those of the pure TPU, respectively. With better thermal and mechanical properties, Lys@BNNS/TPU composites can be used as a kind of heat dissipation material and have potential applications in the field of thermal management materials.
Evaluation of Physico-Mechanical Properties on Oil Extracted Ground Coffee Waste Reinforced Polyethylene Composite
Authors: Kuan Hoo Tien Nicholas , Tan Ming Yee , Hassan Mohamad Zaki , Zuhri Mohamed Yusoff Mohd
Published: November 2022

The current work discusses ground coffee waste (GCW) reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composite. GCW underwent two types of treatment (oil extraction, and oil extraction followed by mercerization). The composites were prepared using stacking HDPE film and GCW, followed by hot compression molding with different GCW particle loadings (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%). Particle loadings of 5% and 10% of the treated GCW composites exhibited the optimum level for this particular type of composite, whereby their mechanical and thermal properties were improved compared to untreated GCW composite (UGC). SEM fracture analysis showed better adhesion between HDPE and treated GCW. The FTIR conducted proved the removal of unwanted impurities and reduction in water absorption after the treatment. Specific tensile modulus improved for OGC at 5 vol% particle loading. The highest impact energy absorbed was obtained by OGC with a 16% increment. This lightweight and environmentally friendly composite has potential in high-end packaging, internal automotive parts, lightweight furniture, and other composite engineering applications.
Effect of Latex Purification and Accelerator Types on Rubber Allergens Prevalent in Sulphur Prevulcanized Natural Rubber Latex: Potential Application for Allergy-Free Natural Rubber Gloves
Authors: Rojruthai Porntip , Sakdapipanich Jitladda , Wiriyanantawong Jinjutha , Ho Chee-Cheong , Chaiear Naesinee
Published: November 2022

Natural rubber (NR) gloves manufactured from NR latex are widely utilized in various applications as a personal protective device due to their exceptional barrier characteristics in infection control. However, the use of NR gloves was associated with concerns on NR protein allergy. With comprehensive leaching procedures now a common practice in NR latex glove factories to eliminate latent rubber proteins and chemical allergens, occurrences and complaints of protein allergy from medical glove users have decreased drastically over the past two decades. The present work aims to eliminate further the residual rubber allergens in NR latex through effective purification of the NR latex and compounding the thus purified latex with an established formulation for allergy-free NR for glove applications. NR latex was purified by deproteinization and saponification, respectively. Several analytical techniques were used to verify rubber allergens eliminated in the purified latexes. Saponified NR (SPNR) latex was the purified NR latex of choice since it is devoid of allergenic proteins and poses the lowest risk of Type I allergy. The purified NR latex was compounded with zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZDEC), zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate (ZDBC), and zinc 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (ZMBT), respectively, for glove dipping. Among the investigated accelerators, only ZDBC was not detected in the artificial sweat that came into contact with the dipped articles. Thus, it is deduced that ZDBC poses the lowest risk of Type IV allergy to consumers. Additionally, the morphological and physical properties of dipped articles were assessed. It was revealed that the dipped film from the SPNR latex compounded with ZDBC provided thinner and less yellow products with a more uniform internal structure and a tensile strength comparable to those of commercial NR gloves.
Development and Evaluation of a Novel Sulfonated Phenol–Formaldehyde Resin with High Dispersion Stability
Authors: Meng Xianxing , Wang Likun , Wang Hongwei , Zhang Fang , Su Taying , Cheng Kunmu
Published: November 2022

Sulfonated phenol–formaldehyde (SPF) resin used as a cross-linker for petroleum reservoir conformance control was synthesized under alkaline conditions. The reaction process of SPF resin was evaluated by measuring the solution’s viscosity with respect to phenol–formaldehyde (PF) resin. The molecular structure of SPF resin was characterized by both FTIR and HPLC–MS/MS. The influence of the formaldehyde/phenol molar ratio (F/P) and the sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate/phenol molar ratio (S/P) on the properties of SPF were analyzed in terms of the storage time, coagulation value, molecular size, and zeta potential. The results indicate that the presence of formaldehyde sodium bisulfite could slow down condensation reaction. Phenol rings were connected by methylene bridges in the position of o–p, and sulfonated SPF resin molecules all had one sulfonate group on the oligomer structure. The storage time decreased from 87 to 6 days, and the zeta potential decreased from −3.02 to −7.70 mV with the increase in F/P (1.2–2.0). Meanwhile, the sedimentation value and the diameter increased from 3.291 × 104 to 5.045 × 104 mg/L and from 2.7 to 5.3 nm, respectively. Sulfonation could significantly increase the storage time and dispersion stability. With the increase in S/P (0.1–0.35), the storage time increased from 15 to 86 days, the sedimentation value increased from 1.927 × 104 to 5.269 × 104 mg/L, and the diameter decreased from 6.3 to 3.0 nm. This paper can present new ideas for improving the storage stability and salt tolerance of phenol–formaldehyde resin and further improving the range of its applications, which has essential reference significance.
Improved Synthetic Route of Incorporation of Nanosilicon Species into Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin and Preparation of Novel ZnAl-Layered Double-Hydroxide Hybrid Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin
Authors: Dremelj Ana , Cerc Korošec Romana , Pondelak Andreja , Mušič Branka
Published: November 2022

Hybrid phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins represent one of the most important niche groups of binding systems for composites. New industrial needs, environmental requirements, and price fluctuations have led to further research on materials with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties. The preparation of novel hybrid materials can be achieved by inclusion of various elements or functional groups in the organic polymer phenolic framework. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a PF-based hybrid material with different nanoscale silicone species and ZnAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH). The main goals of this study were to improve the synthetic pathways of hybrid resin, as well as to prepare granulated composite materials and test samples and determine their characterization. Added inorganic species increased the glass-transition temperature by a minimum of 8 °C, which was determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Rheological properties (melting viscosity and flow distance) of the hybrid resin were measured. The homogeneity of distribution of added species across the organic matrix was evaluated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). With synthesized new hybrid-binding systems, we prepared different granulated composite materials and evaluated them with the measurements of rheological properties (flow curing characteristics). Tensile strength of samples, prepared from granulated composite material, improved by more than 5%.
Research on Co-Combustion Behaviors of Binary and Ternary Blends of Coal, Walnut Shell, and Biochar by TGA
Authors: Wang Rui , Song Xianglei , Liu Shanjian , Liu Zhuwei
Published: November 2022

In this paper, the co-combustion behavior of the walnut shell, biochar, and coal, and the respective binary and ternary blends were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in the oxy-fuel atmosphere (21% O2/79% CO2). The combustion reactivity of coal was similar to biochar but lower than that of the walnut shell. The presence of the walnut shell improved the combustion performance of coal and biochar. The interaction between only biochar and coal was inhibited in the binary blends. The presence of the walnut shell in the ternary blend covered up the inhibition between biochar and coal. The average activation energy of each sample was obtained using the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) kinetic models. The results of this study provide a reference for the rational utilization of biomass and biochar and the practical improvement of the thermal conversion efficiency of coal.
Waste Derived Graphene Oxide-ZnO: An Efficient Photocatalyst for Rhodamine 6G
Authors: Rashid Mohd , Al-Zaqri Nabil , Guerrero-Barajas Claudia , Hussain Fida , Ibrahim Mohamad Nasir Mohamad
Published: November 2022

The catalyst’s photocatalytic activity under sunlight was tested using graphene oxide (GO) from plant cellulose waste and modified by ZnO nanomaterial. The absorbance of the dye’s solution (Rhodamine 6G) was recorded as λmax = 555 nm at regular time intervals. The degradation kinetics of rhodamine was evaluated by applying first-order integrated rate expression, kt = −ln (C/C0). The half-life (t1/2), the rate constant (k), and the time constant τ (Tau) have been obtained by the above rate expression. The rate constant of the reactions carried out with the different materials was calculated and the values obtained were: k_ZnO =1.574 × 10−2, k_GO =1.01 × 10−2 and k_C-GO-ZnO = 4.7 × 10−3 min−1. The degradation efficiency presented by GO, ZnO and GO-ZnO catalysts was 66.67, 70.84, and 70.07%, respectively. FTIR spectroscopy was used to investigate the interactions between the catalyst and the dye. To the best of our knowledge, waste-derived GO-ZnO has not been previously reported for the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine 6G.
Basic Conceptual Structure for the Assessment of the Natural Services Provided by Hydroelectricity Projects
Authors: Rosales-Asensio Enrique , Loma-Osorio Iker de , González-Cobos Noemí , Pulido-Alonso Antonio , Borge-Diez David
Published: November 2022

This paper presents and defines a method for standardizing ecosystem services in the context of hydropower projects and demonstrates its applicability through the Folsom hydropower plant in California. In particular, this paper uses the Final Ecosystem Goods and Services Classification System (FEGS-CS) to provide a structured framework for identifying ecosystems, the potential services they provide, and their beneficiaries. In this paper, the benefit transfer technique is used for estimating non-market values for new policy contexts. The total value of this case study is about USD 169 million per year for the Folsom hydropower plant in California. The advantage of the proposed framework lies in its ability to be imported and applied to any other hydropower facility, and it can be extensively used both for new and existing power plants.
Mathematical Modeling and Robust Multi-Objective Optimization of the Two-Dimensional Benzene Alkylation Reactor with Dry Gas
Authors: Yang Menglin , Shen Feifei , Ye Zhencheng , Du Wenli
Published: November 2022

The benzene alkylation reactor using the dry gas is the most significant equipment in the ethylbenzene manufacturing process. In this paper, a two-dimensional homogeneous model is developed for steady state simulation of the industrial multi-stage catalytic reactor for ethylbenzene. The model validation on a practical benzene alkylation reactor shows the model is accurate and can calculate the hot spot temperatures. The composition of dry gas from upstream process varies with the operating conditions, which can cause unexpected hot spots in the reactor and catalyst deactivation. Considering the uncertainty in dry gas composition, a robust multi-objective optimization framework is proposed: first, the back-off in constraints is introduced to the multi-objective optimization problem to hedge against the worst case; then the optimal operating point can be selected using the multi-criteria decision-making. The reactor optimization objectives are maximizing selectivity of ethylene and conversion of ethylbenzene, and the distribution ratios of dry gas are defined as decision variables. Results of robust multi-objective optimization show the selectivity and conversion at the optimal operating point are 90.88% (decreased by 0.24% compared to the practical condition) and 99.94% (increased by 0.72%). Importantly, the proportion of violations of the hot spot constraints decreases from 13.7% of the traditional method to 3.8% by applying the proposed robust multi-objective optimization method.