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Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024In this paper, results of research on the reactivities of selected biomass types considering their application in pyrometallurgical processes of metal production are...
In this paper, results of research on the reactivities of selected biomass types considering their application in pyrometallurgical processes of metal production are presented. Walnut shells, sunflower husk pellets and spent coffee grounds were selected as biomass materials. Their use as potential reducers in the process of metallurgical slag decopperisation is an innovative approach to this subject. The thermogravimetric findings show that all three tested biomass types are classified as highly reactive. The time to reach maximum reactivity ranges from 1.5 to 3 min and, the lowest value is recorded for the sample of spent coffee grounds. The sample hold time of two hours enables copper content reduction to approx. 1 wt% for practically all the reducers tested. A longer duration of liquid slag contact with the reducer results in a decreased copper content in the slag to a value below 1 wt%. Copper concentrations of 0.5 wt% and lower are observed with a hold time of 4 h. The preliminary results indicate that there is great potential for the use of this type of material in non-ferrous metallurgy, which may translate into replacing fossil raw materials and thus introducing the principles of a sustainable process in this case of metal production.
PubMed: 38893954
DOI: 10.3390/ma17112691 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Linear polyamides, known as nylons, are a class of synthetic polymers with a wide range of applications due to their outstanding properties, such as chemical and thermal... (Review)
Review
Linear polyamides, known as nylons, are a class of synthetic polymers with a wide range of applications due to their outstanding properties, such as chemical and thermal resistance or mechanical strength. These polymers have been used in various fields: from common and domestic applications, such as socks and fishing nets, to industrial gears or water purification membranes. By their durability, flexibility and wear resistance, nylons are now being used in addictive manufacturing technology as a good material choice to produce sophisticated devices with precise and complex geometric shapes. Furthermore, the emergence of triboelectric nanogenerators and the development of biomaterials have highlighted the versatility and utility of these materials. Due to their ability to enhance triboelectric performance and the range of applications, nylons show a potential use as tribo-positive materials. Because of the easy control of their shape, they can be subsequently integrated into nanogenerators. The use of nylons has also extended into the field of biomaterials, where their biocompatibility, mechanical strength and versatility have paved the way for groundbreaking advances in medical devices as dental implants, catheters and non-absorbable surgical sutures. By means of 3D bioprinting, nylons have been used to develop scaffolds, joint implants and drug carriers with tailored properties for various biomedical applications. The present paper aims to collect evidence of these recently specific applications of nylons by reviewing the literature produced in recent decades, with a special focus on the newer technologies in the field of energy harvesting and biomedicine.
Topics: Printing, Three-Dimensional; Biocompatible Materials; Humans; Bioprinting
PubMed: 38893319
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112443 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Tooth loss during the lifetime of an individual is common. A strategy to treat partial or complete edentulous patients is the placement of dental implants. However,...
Tooth loss during the lifetime of an individual is common. A strategy to treat partial or complete edentulous patients is the placement of dental implants. However, dental implants are subject to bacterial colonization and biofilm formation, which cause an infection named peri-implantitis. The existing long-term treatments for peri-implantitis are generally inefficient. Thus, an electrical circuit was produced with zirconia (Zr) samples using a hot-pressing technique to impregnate silver (Ag) through channels and holes to create a path by LASER texturing. The obtained specimens were characterized according to vitro cytotoxicity, to ensure ZrAg non-toxicity. Furthermore, samples were inoculated with using 6.5 mA of alternating current (AC). The current was delivered using a potentiostat and the influence on the bacterial concentration was assessed. Using AC, the specimens displayed no bacterial adhesion (Log 7 reduction). The in vitro results presented in this study suggest that this kind of treatment can be an alternative and promising strategy to treat and overcome bacterial adhesion around dental implants that can evolve to biofilm.
Topics: Staphylococcus aureus; Dental Implants; Zirconium; Biofilms; Humans; Bacterial Adhesion; Electric Stimulation; Surface Properties; Peri-Implantitis; Silver
PubMed: 38891904
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115719 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... May 2024During the mid-2000s to the early 2010s, the domestic ethanol industry witnessed substantial growth, with ethanol coproducts emerging as vital elements for plant... (Review)
Review
During the mid-2000s to the early 2010s, the domestic ethanol industry witnessed substantial growth, with ethanol coproducts emerging as vital elements for plant profitability and livestock feeding. Initially serving as supplementary revenue streams, coproducts from ethanol production have evolved into diverse value-added offerings, bolstering revenue streams, and sustaining profit margins. This study reviews existing economic research on ethanol coproducts, detailing methodologies, product focus, and research locations. Initially gathering 972 articles from 9 databases, 110 articles were synthesized. We find that most studies primarily examined the growth and future of the ethanol industry with a limited focus on specific coproducts. Feed-use distillers' grains, especially dried distillers' grains, were the most widely published while newer coproducts like pelletized, de-oiled, and high-protein distillers' grains were relatively understudied. Non-feed-use products were notably overlooked, highlighting the need for exploration beyond conventional applications. The evolving market landscape for ethanol co-products has surpassed published academic understanding of the economic tradeoffs necessitating further research into product dynamics, pricing, marketing, market structures, and regulatory frameworks. This highlights and underscores the importance of investigating value-added grains across diverse commodities and geographic contexts to inform strategic decision-making and policy formulation.
PubMed: 38891596
DOI: 10.3390/ani14111551 -
Polymers May 2024In this study, a solid masterbatch of starch-iodine complex with 6.7 wt.% iodine was prepared in pellet form using a ZSK-30 twin-screw extruder. Thermogravimetric (TGA)...
In this study, a solid masterbatch of starch-iodine complex with 6.7 wt.% iodine was prepared in pellet form using a ZSK-30 twin-screw extruder. Thermogravimetric (TGA) and isothermal TGA analysis of the pellets revealed that there was no significant loss of iodine due to sublimation during reactive extrusion. These solid pellets demonstrated antifungal properties when applied to strawberries via dip coating in an aqueous solution, extending their shelf life from two days to eight days, thereby reducing fungal growth and visual decay. Furthermore, the solid pellets displayed antibacterial activity against , as evidenced by the clear zone of inhibition observed in the Kirby-Bauer test. To enhance practical application, these pellets were further blended with PLA-PBAT film formulations at 10 and 18% by wt. to make blown films with effective iodine loadings of 0.7 and 1.3% by wt. These films showed superior antibacterial activity against compared with PLA control films and the commercial silver antimicrobial-containing films during direct inoculation tests as per ISO 22196. Tensile strength and elongation at break in machine direction (MD) for the starch-iodine-containing blown films were comparable to the control films in MD, but tensile strength was reduced to 37-40% in the transverse direction (TD). This was due to a non-uniform dispersion of the starch-iodine complex in the films, as confirmed by the visual and SEM analyses. Thus, this study illustrates the practical utility of the solid starch-iodine complex as a safe and efficient means of introducing iodine into an environment, mitigating the typical hazards associated with handling solid iodine.
PubMed: 38891434
DOI: 10.3390/polym16111487 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Glycoalkaloids (TGAs, total glycoalkaloids), toxic secondary metabolites, are found in potatoes (110-335 mg·kg DW), mainly in the peel. Colorful, unpeeled potatoes are...
Glycoalkaloids (TGAs, total glycoalkaloids), toxic secondary metabolites, are found in potatoes (110-335 mg·kg DW), mainly in the peel. Colorful, unpeeled potatoes are an innovative raw material for the production of snacks which are poorly tested in terms of their glycoalkaloid content. Third-generation snacks and French fries made from red-fleshed Mulberry Beauty (MB) and purple-fleshed Double Fun (DF) potatoes were produced with the use of 1% solutions of ascorbic, citric, lactic, malic, and tartaric acids to stabilize the structure of anthocyanins in the raw material and maintain their color in obtained products. The influence of the type of acid and thermal processes, like frying, microwaving, and baking, on the content of glycoalkaloids in ready-made products was examined. Only 0.45-1.26 mg·100 g of TGA was found in pellet snacks and 1.32-1.71 mg·100 g in French fries. Soaking blanched potatoes in organic acid solution reduced the α-chaconine content by 91-97% in snacks and by 57-93% in French fries in relation to the raw material to the greatest extent after the use of malic acid and the DF variety. The effect of lactic and citric acid was also beneficial, especially in the production of baked French fries from MB potatoes.
PubMed: 38890940
DOI: 10.3390/foods13111712 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024The application of organic fertilizers is one of the most important agricultural measures aimed at improving the flavor and productivity of , with the granulation and...
The application of organic fertilizers is one of the most important agricultural measures aimed at improving the flavor and productivity of , with the granulation and coating of organic fertilizers, which can reduce seepage losses of great significance to the ecosystem. In this study, Jingcai 8 tomato was selected as the test material. Headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) methods were used to investigate the effects of different pelletized organic fertilizers and various coating materials on the flavor profile of the tomatoes. The results indicated that 67 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified in the tomato fruits and 62 volatile compounds were identified in the leaves under different fertilizer treatments. The volatile compound content of the fruits in the BP treatment group was 35.38 μg/g, which was higher than that in other treatment groups, and the volatile compound content of the leaves was lower. A differential compound analysis with log|fold change| ≥ 1 and variable important in projection (VIP) > 1 highlighted styrene, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and (E, E)-2,4-hexadienal as the major up-regulated compounds and methyl salicylate as the major down-regulated compound in the tomato fruit BCK (control) vs. BP. Moreover, the α-phellandrene content decreased in the tomato leaves. In addition, an analysis of the tomato fruit differential compounds and compounds with odor activity values (OAV) of ≥ 1, considering the OAV values of characteristic aroma compounds, identified key compounds affecting the flavor of the tomato fruits under the BP treatment. These included 2-nonenal, (E)-2-pentylfuran, trans-β-ionone, 1-penten-3-one, (E, E)-2,4-hexadienal, and 3-hexenol (fruity, floral, and herbaceous odors), (E, E)-2,4-heptadienal (fatty odor), and hexanal (green odor). The combined results analysis of the volatile compound content, differential compounds, and OAV values of characteristic aroma compounds aimed to clarify that the BP treatment group, which applied pelletized, large-grain organic fertilizer with polyurethane (pozzolanic + small-grain oil-coated + 2% paraffinic + 4% polyurethane) as a coating material, proved to be most effective in influencing the flavor of the tomato fruits. This finding lays the foundation for its potential commercial application in artificial orchards.
PubMed: 38890880
DOI: 10.3390/foods13111653 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024The preparation of matrix-matched material for elemental quantitative analysis in rice flour matrix is proposed here for the first time as part of a feasibility study...
The preparation of matrix-matched material for elemental quantitative analysis in rice flour matrix is proposed here for the first time as part of a feasibility study using the SN-ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS methods. It was prepared via the spiking process in colloidal solution of rice flour with different levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), followed by drying in a climatic chamber. Comparative studies of the results on external calibration and gravimetric standard addition ICP-MS approaches through the use of calibration standard solutions were discussed. Method bias from the external calibration method was investigated, demonstrating the systematic effect arising from the sample matrix. Characterizing the concentration of measurands was then reasonably proposed using the gravimetric standard addition ICP-MS. Using powdered rice matrix reference material for ICP-MS calibration following acid digestion, the study showed a good agreement of recovery studies. A feasibility study of the LA-ICP-MS method as a direct solid analysis performed on the matrix-matched standard was then discussed. In the study, large fluctuation of signals was found for constructing calibration curve, generating poor linearity, especially for As and Pb, although yttrium (Y) as internal standard was applied. This might be ascribed to a limited microscale of homogeneity, and particularly laser-induced preferential evaporation of volatile elements. Using a number of measured data points, the mean and median were statistically recommended to improve precision. An attempt to use of similar matrix in both standard and sample is a critical point to consider to minimize the elemental fractionation effect. The proposed approach to prepare matrix-matched material could be a potential means for achieving elemental quantitation.
PubMed: 38890833
DOI: 10.3390/foods13111604 -
EuroIntervention : Journal of EuroPCR... Jun 2024Long-term follow-up is essential to evaluate the impact of polymer degradation in drug-eluting stents (DES). (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Long-term follow-up is essential to evaluate the impact of polymer degradation in drug-eluting stents (DES).
AIMS
We aimed to compare durable-polymer DES (DP-DES) and biodegradable-polymer DES (BP-DES) during a 3-year follow-up to evaluate the entire period of polymer resolution (before, during, and after degradation).
METHODS
The HOST REDUCE POLYTECH RCT Trial was a randomised clinical trial enrolling patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and comparing the efficacy and safety of DP-DES and BP-DES. The primary outcome was a patient-oriented composite outcome (POCO), and the key secondary outcome was a device-oriented composite outcome (DOCO).
RESULTS
A total of 3,413 ACS patients were randomised to either the DP-DES (1,713 patients) or BP-DES (1,700 patients) group. During the 3-year follow-up, the risk of the POCO was similar between the DP-DES and BP-DES groups (14.8% vs 15.4%, hazard ratio [HR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80-1.14; p=0.613). However, the risk of the DOCO was lower in the DP-DES group (6.0% vs 8.0%, HR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57-0.95; p=0.020). In a landmark analysis, the lower risk of the DOCO for the DP-DES group was evident during the transition from the early to the late period after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (from 8 to 16 months post-PCI; 1.8% vs 3.3%, HR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.34-0.84; p=0.007), which was mainly driven by a risk reduction of target lesion revascularisation.
CONCLUSIONS
In ACS patients, DP-DES showed similar results to BP-DES regarding the POCO up to 3 years. For the DOCO, DP-DES were superior to BP-DES; this was due to the higher event rate during the period of polymer degradation.
Topics: Humans; Drug-Eluting Stents; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Male; Female; Polymers; Middle Aged; Aged; Absorbable Implants; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Treatment Outcome; Prosthesis Design; Time Factors
PubMed: 38887886
DOI: 10.4244/EIJ-D-23-01053 -
Stem Cell Research & Therapy Jun 2024Cartilage is a kind of avascular tissue, and it is difficult to repair itself when it is damaged. In this study, we investigated the regulation of chondrogenic...
BACKGROUND
Cartilage is a kind of avascular tissue, and it is difficult to repair itself when it is damaged. In this study, we investigated the regulation of chondrogenic differentiation and vascular formation in human jaw bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (h-JBMMSCs) by the long-chain noncoding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) during cartilage tissue regeneration.
METHODS
JBMMSCs were isolated from the jaws via the adherent method. The effects of lncRNA SNHG1 on the chondrogenic differentiation of JBMMSCs in vitro were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Pellet experiment, Alcian blue staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and modified Sirius red staining. RT-qPCR, matrix gel tube formation, and coculture experiments were used to determine the effect of lncRNA SNHG1 on the angiogenesis in JBMMSCs in vitro. A model of knee cartilage defects in New Zealand rabbits and a model of subcutaneous matrix rubber suppositories in nude mice were constructed for in vivo experiments. Changes in mitochondrial function were detected via RT-qPCR, dihydroethidium (DHE) staining, MitoSOX staining, tetramethyl rhodamine methyl ester (TMRM) staining, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) detection. Western blotting was used to detect the phosphorylation level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3).
RESULTS
Alcian blue staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and modified Sirius Red staining showed that lncRNA SNHG1 promoted chondrogenic differentiation. The lncRNA SNHG1 promoted angiogenesis in vitro and the formation of microvessels in vivo. The lncRNA SNHG1 promoted the repair and regeneration of rabbit knee cartilage tissue. Western blot and alcian blue staining showed that the JAK inhibitor reduced the increase of STAT3 phosphorylation level and staining deepening caused by SNHG1. Mitochondrial correlation analysis revealed that the lncRNA SNHG1 led to a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, an increase in mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in ATP levels. Alcian blue staining showed that the ROS inhibitor significantly alleviated the decrease in blue fluorescence caused by SNHG1 knockdown.
CONCLUSIONS
The lncRNA SNHG1 promotes chondrogenic differentiation and angiogenesis of JBMMSCs. The lncRNA SNHG1 regulates the phosphorylation of STAT3, reduces the level of ROS, regulates mitochondrial energy metabolism, and ultimately promotes cartilage regeneration.
Topics: RNA, Long Noncoding; Humans; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Rabbits; Mitochondria; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Chondrogenesis; Mice; Mice, Nude; Regeneration; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Cartilage; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Angiogenesis
PubMed: 38886785
DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03793-2