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Scientific Reports Jun 2024Β-glucans are polysaccharide macromolecules that can be found in the cell walls of molds, such as Rhizopus oryzae. They provide functional properties in food systems...
Β-glucans are polysaccharide macromolecules that can be found in the cell walls of molds, such as Rhizopus oryzae. They provide functional properties in food systems and have immunomodulatory activity, anticancer, and prebiotic effects; reduce triglycerides and cholesterol; and prevent obesity, among others benefits. Furthermore, potato starch production requires a large amount of water, which is usually discharged into the environment, creating problems in soils and bodies of water. The physical parameters to produce β-glucans were determined, liquid waste from potato starch processing was used and native Rhizopus oryzae was isolated and identified from cereal grains. The isolates grew quickly on the three types of agars used at 25 °C and 37 °C, and they did not grow at 45 °C. Rhizopus oryzae M10A1 produced the greatest amount of β-glucans after six days of culture at 30 °C, pH 6, a stirring rate of 150 rpm and a fermentation volume of 250 mL. By establishing the physical fermentation parameters and utilizing the liquid waste from potato starch, Rhizopus oryzae M10A1 yielded 397.50 mg/100 g of β-glucan was obtained.
Topics: beta-Glucans; Solanum tuberosum; Starch; Fermentation; Rhizopus oryzae; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Rhizopus; Temperature
PubMed: 38942961
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66000-5 -
Nano-micro Letters Jun 2024The poor interfacial stability not only deteriorates fibre lithium-ion batteries (FLBs) performance but also impacts their scalable applications. To efficiently address...
The poor interfacial stability not only deteriorates fibre lithium-ion batteries (FLBs) performance but also impacts their scalable applications. To efficiently address these challenges, Prof. Huisheng Peng team proposed a generalized channel structures strategy with optimized in situ polymerization technology in their recent study. The resultant FLBs can be woven into different-sized powering textiles, providing a high energy density output of 128 Wh kg and simultaneously demonstrating good durability even under harsh conditions. Such a promising strategy expands the horizon in developing FLB with particular polymer gel electrolytes, and significantly ever-deepening understanding of the scaled wearable energy textile system toward a sustainable future.
PubMed: 38942958
DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01451-z -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Microporous organic polymers that have three-dimensional connectivity stemming from monomers with tetrahedral or tetrahedron-like geometry can have high surface areas...
Microporous organic polymers that have three-dimensional connectivity stemming from monomers with tetrahedral or tetrahedron-like geometry can have high surface areas and strong fluorescence. There are however few examples of such polymers based on hindered biaryls, and their fluorescence has not been studied. Hypothesizing that the contortion in a hindered biphenyl moiety would modulate the optical properties of a polymer built from it, we synthesized a meta-enchained polyphenylene from a 2,2',6,6'-tetramethylbiphenyl-based monomer, in which the two phenyl rings are nearly mutually perpendicular. The polymer was microporous with S = 495 m g. The polymer absorbed near-UV light and emitted blue fluorescence despite the meta-enchainment that would have been expected to break the conjugation. A related copolymer, synthesized from 2,2',6,6'-tetramethylbiphenyl-based and unsubstituted biphenyl-based monomers, was microporous but not fluorescent.
PubMed: 38942951
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65743-5 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024The increasing water contamination by toxic heavy metals, particularly hexavalent chromium, has become a significant environmental concern. This study explores the...
The increasing water contamination by toxic heavy metals, particularly hexavalent chromium, has become a significant environmental concern. This study explores the pyrolysis of termite-processed biomass, specifically Pinus elliottii particleboard and its termite droppings (TDs), to produce biochar and its application for chromium (VI) adsorption. Termite droppings, rich in lignin, and particleboard, rich in cellulose, were pyrolyzed at various temperatures to assess the effect of biomass composition on biochar properties. The study found that lignin-rich termite droppings produced biochar with higher fixed carbon content and specific surface area than cellulose-rich particleboard biochar. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy revealed significant molecular structure changes during pyrolysis, which influenced the adsorption capabilities of the biochar. Adsorption experiments demonstrated that TD biochar exhibited significantly higher chromium (VI) adsorption capacity, attributed to its distinct chemical composition and enhanced surface properties due to higher lignin content. These findings underscore the crucial role of lignin in producing efficient biochar for heavy metal adsorption, highlighting the practical applicability of termite-processed biomass in water purification technologies.
Topics: Charcoal; Lignin; Chromium; Animals; Cellulose; Biomass; Adsorption; Isoptera; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Pyrolysis; Pinus; Water Purification; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
PubMed: 38942919
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65959-5 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Gravitational wave telescope place extremely high demands on structural thermal deformation, making material selection a critical issue. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer...
Gravitational wave telescope place extremely high demands on structural thermal deformation, making material selection a critical issue. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is an ideal choice for the support structure of telescope due to its low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and designable properties. However, current research on the optimization of the CTE of CFRP is scarce, and conventional methods struggle to find layups that meet the requirements. In this paper, an unconventional layup optimization method is proposed to solve this problem. Initially defining the characteristics of the telescope structure and using different layup material for the main and side support rods to minimize thermal deformation. Subsequently, the NSGA-II algorithm is used to optimize the layups which are divided into conventional and unconventional layups. Specimens are then produced from these results and tested to assess the impact of processing errors on practical applications. The results demonstrate that the optimized CFRP meet the CTE requirements and, when applied to the structure, significantly reduces the thermal deformation in the eccentric direction compared to conventional designs. Additionally, a numerical analysis evaluates the effect of ply orientation errors on the performance of unconventional layups, discussing the method's limitations within these contexts.
PubMed: 38942818
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65836-1 -
Scientific Data Jun 2024Time-course transcriptome expression data were constructed for four parts of the silk gland (anterior, middle, and posterior parts of the middle silk gland, along with...
Time-course transcriptome expression data were constructed for four parts of the silk gland (anterior, middle, and posterior parts of the middle silk gland, along with the posterior silk gland) in the domestic silkworm, Bombyx mori, from days 0 to 7 of the last-instar larvae. For sample preparation, silk glands were extracted from one female and one male larva every 24 hours accurately after the fourth ecdysis. The reliability of these transcriptome data was confirmed by comparing the transcripts per million (TPM) values of the silk gene and quantitative reverse transcription PCR results. Hierarchical cluster analysis results supported the reliability of transcriptome data. These data are likely to contribute to the progress in molecular biology and genetic research using B. mori, such as elucidating the mechanism underlying the massive production of silk proteins, conducting entomological research using a meta-analysis as a model for lepidopteran insect species, and exploring medical research using B. mori as a model for disease species by utilising transcriptome data.
Topics: Bombyx; Animals; Larva; Transcriptome; Female; Male; Silk
PubMed: 38942767
DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03560-1 -
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B Jun 2024The ability of small lipophilic molecules to penetrate the blood-brain barrier through transmembrane diffusion has enabled researchers to explore new diagnostics and...
The ability of small lipophilic molecules to penetrate the blood-brain barrier through transmembrane diffusion has enabled researchers to explore new diagnostics and therapies for brain disorders. Until now, therapies targeting the brain have mainly relied on biochemical mechanisms, while electrical treatments such as deep brain stimulation often require invasive procedures. An alternative to implanting deep brain stimulation probes could involve administering small molecule precursors intravenously, capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, and initiating the formation of conductive polymer networks in the brain through polymerization. This study examines the aggregation behavior of five water-soluble conducting polymer precursors sharing the same conjugate core but differing in side chains, using spectroscopy and various computational chemistry tools. Our findings highlight the significant impact of side chain composition on both aggregation and spectroscopic response.
PubMed: 38942741
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c02891 -
International Journal of Biological... Jun 2024Controlled drug delivery systems offer numerous advantages. This research evaluates Opuntia leaf mucilage grafted with polyacrylamide (OPM-g-PAM) as a promising...
Evaluation of microwave irradiated Polyacrylamide grafted Opuntia leaf mucilage graft copolymer (OPM-g-PAM) as effective controlled release polymer for release of Rosuvastastin as model drug.
Controlled drug delivery systems offer numerous advantages. This research evaluates Opuntia leaf mucilage grafted with polyacrylamide (OPM-g-PAM) as a promising controlled-release polymer. PAM chains were grafted onto the backbone of OPM using a microwave-assisted method. Optimization of the best grade was based on % grafting efficiency and intrinsic viscosity, followed by extensive physical and analytical characterizations. Analytical characterizations revealed semicrystalline nature of the biomaterial. SEM and AFM observations revealed rough and porous surfaces, indicating effective grafting. Swelling behavior showed maximum sensitivity at pH 7, with reduced swelling at higher sodium chloride concentrations. A comparative study of % drug release of Rosuvastatin over 24 h showed that the optimized grade controlled drug release effectively, achieving 78.5 % release compared to 98.8 % for GF-3. The release data fitted the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, with an "n" value of 0.8334, indicating non-Fickian (anomalous) diffusion. Bacterial biodegradability studies confirmed the high biodegradability of the graft copolymer. In vitro acute toxicity tests showed no toxicity, as confirmed by histopathological studies of heart, liver, and kidney. Overall, the results indicate that OPM-g-PAM is a highly promising material for use in drug delivery systems, demonstrating potential as a novel controlled-release polymer.
PubMed: 38942673
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133200 -
International Journal of Biological... Jun 2024The ever-increasing demand for energy and environmental concerns have driven scientists to look for renewable and eco-friendly alternatives. Bio-based thermoelectric... (Review)
Review
The ever-increasing demand for energy and environmental concerns have driven scientists to look for renewable and eco-friendly alternatives. Bio-based thermoelectric (TE) composite materials provide a promising solution to alleviate the global energy crisis due to their direct conversion of heat to electricity. Cellulose, the most abundant bio-polymer on earth with fascinating structure and desirable physicochemical properties, provides an excellent alternative matrix for TE materials. Here, recent studies on cellulose-based TE composites are comprehensively summarized. The fundamentals of TE materials, including TE effects, TE devices, and evaluation on conversion efficiency of TE materials are briefly introduced at the beginning. Then, the state-of-the-art methods for constructing cellulose-based TE composites in the forms of paper/film, aerogel, liquid, and hydrogel, are highlighted. TE performances of these composites are also compared. Following that, applications of cellulose-based TE composites in the fields of energy storage (e.g., supercapacitors) and sensing (e.g., self-powered sensors) are presented. Finally, opportunities and challenges that need investigation toward further development of cellulose-based TE composites are discussed.
PubMed: 38942663
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132908 -
Journal of Dairy Science Jul 2024This study investigated the effects of feeding an amylase-enabled corn silage (ACS) on the performance and enteric gas emissions in lactating dairy cows. Following a...
This study investigated the effects of feeding an amylase-enabled corn silage (ACS) on the performance and enteric gas emissions in lactating dairy cows. Following a 2-wk covariate period, 48 mid-lactation Holstein cows were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments in a 10-wk randomized complete block design experiment. Treatments were diets containing the same proportion of corn silage (40% of dietary DM) as follows: (1) a conventional hybrid corn silage control (CON), (2) ACS replacing the control silage (ADR), and (3) the ADR diet replacing soybean hulls with ground corn grain to achieve the same dietary starch concentration as CON (ASR). Control corn silage and ACS were harvested on the same day and contained 40.3% and 37.1% DM and (% of DM): 37.2% and 41.0% NDF and 37.1% and 30.0% starch, respectively. Enteric gas emissions were measured using the GreenFeed system. Two cows were culled due to health-related issues during the covariate period. Ruminal fluid was collected from 24 cows (8 per treatment) using the orogastric ruminal sampling technique. When compared with CON, cows fed ADR had increased DMI during experimental wk 3, 4, and 9, but treatment did not affect milk or ECM milk yields (39.0 kg/d on average; SEM = 0.89). Compared with CON, feed efficiency (per unit of milk, but not ECM) tended to be lower for ADR, whereas milk true protein concentration (a tendency) and yield were lower for ASR. Milk urea N was decreased by both ADR and ASR diets relative to CON. Compared with CON, daily CH emission and emission intensity were increased by ADR but not ASR. Total protozoal count tended to be increased by both diets formulated with ACS when compared with control corn silage. Total-tract digestibility of dietary NDF was greater for ASR, and that of ADF was greater for both ADR and ASR versus CON. The molar proportion of acetate (a tendency) and acetate-to-propionate ratio were increased by ADR, but not ASR, when compared with CON. Replacement of CON with ACS (having lower starch concentration) in the diet of dairy cows increased DMI during the initial weeks of the experiment, maintained ECM, tended to decrease feed efficiency, and increased enteric CH emissions, likely due to increased intake of digestible fiber, compared with CON.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Female; Starch; Lactation; Zea mays; Silage; Rumen; Diet; Milk; Fermentation; Amylases; Animal Feed; Gases
PubMed: 38942561
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23957