Amount Of Absorption Research Articles

Predicting Pharmacokinetics of Active Constituents in Spatholobi caulis by Using Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Models

Background/Objectives: Spatholobi Caulis (SPC) is a medicinal plant that mainly grows in China and Southeast Asian countries and commonly used in clinics; the pharmacokinetic characteristics in humans need to be determined. This study was to establish the physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models of multiple active constituents from SPC in rats, and predict the pharmacokinetic properties of rats with different dosages and extrapolated to humans. Methods: The parameters were collected based on our previous study and by prediction using ADMET Predictor software predict. The PBPK models for 3′-methoxydadizein (1), 8-O-methylretusin (2), daidzin (3), and isolariciresinol (4) administered orally to rats were established using GastroPlus software. These models were employed to simulate the pharmacokinetic properties in rats across various dosages, and subsequently extrapolated to humans. The calculated parameters including Cmax, Tmax, and AUC were compared with observed values. The accuracy of the PBPK models was assessed using fold-error (FE) values. Result: The FE values ranged from 1.03 to 1.52, meeting the PBPK model regulations where FE should be less than 2. The sensitivity analysis focusing on the absorption amount and AUC0→t of these four constituents in humans was also conducted. These results confirm the successful establishment of PBPK models of these four constituents from SPC in this study, and these models were applicable to predict pharmacokinetics across various doses and extrapolate across species. Conclusions: The PBPK models of four constituents can be used to predict the pharmacokinetic characteristics in humans after oral administration of SPC and provide useful data for safe and rational medication in clinical practice.

Properties of polyurethane foam/natural fibre composite for air conditioning insulation

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the fabrication of a biocomposite with insulating properties suitable for application in refrigeration pipe systems. The objective of this study was to utilise coconut husk and rice husk in a 1:1 ratio as reinforcement for flexible polyurethane foam. Biocomposites were made using hand mixing and casting technique reinforcement ratios of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% weight ratios from reinforcement husks. A thermal resistivity test, along with tensile test and water absorption measurements as a function of fibre content, was conducted according to ASTM standards. The study demonstrated that incorporating coconut and rice husks as reinforcement in polyurethane foam significantly improved the tensile properties of the composite material. The composite reinforced with 25% weight has been found to have highest tensile stress. In contrast, the thermal resistivity is observed to decrease as the fibre content is increased. A maximum thermal resistivity at 5% wt was found from the reinforcement. On the other hand, the amount of water absorption of the polymer compound increases with the increase in weight percentage of natural fibres. Based on these results, Flexible polyurethane foam reinforced with coconut husks and rice husks shows a promising solution for use as insulation for air conditioning pipes.

Finite element analysis on the compression and crush responses of laminates with unidirectionally arrayed chopped strand in 0° plies

AbstractThe outstanding mechanical performance and flowability of unidirectionally arrayed chopped strands laminates (UACS) give them an advantage in the manufacture of engineering structures with complex geometries. In this research, the mechanical response of UACS laminates with bi‐angled slits and staggered slits under quasi‐static compression and progressive crushing loads is numerically analyzed for the first time. The aim is to clarify the damage mechanism of UACS laminates under compressive and crushing load. Simulation results reveal that the compressive strength of [90/0]4s UACS laminates with bi‐angled slits is 635.9 MPa, with an error of 4.2% compared to experimental data. For the stacking sequence of [0/90]4s, the strength is measured as 581.96 MPa with a 5% error. Proposed finite element model could accurately describe the mechanical properties of UACS laminates. Additionally, the progressive crushing response is in good agreement with the experimental data, the error in energy absorption for [90/0]4s UACS laminates with bi‐angled slits is noted at 7% compared to experimental values. It has been demonstrated that bi‐angled slits significantly contribute in restraining the propagation of delamination and improving the amount of energy absorption of UACS laminates.Highlights The mechanical response of UACS laminates under compressive and progressive crushing load was numerically analyzed. The compressive damage propagation of UACS laminates with different slit patterns in 0° layer was demonstrated. The effect of different slit patterns on inhibiting delamination propagation and increasing energy absorption of UACS laminates under progressive crushing load was numerically analyzed.

The effect of plasma activated water on antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized by cyanobacterium Alborzia kermanshahica

BackgroundSilver nanoparticles are extensively researched for their antimicrobial properties. Cold atmospheric plasma, containing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, is increasingly used for disinfecting microbes, wound healing, and cancer treatment. Therefore, this study examined the effect of water activated by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma and gliding arc discharge plasma on the antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles from Alborzia kermanshahica.MethodsSilver nanoparticles were synthesized using the boiling method, as well as biomass from Alborzia kermanshahica extract grown in water activated by DBD and GA plasma. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated using UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Additionally, the disk diffusion method was used to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of the manufactured nanoparticles against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.ResultsThe spectroscopy results verified the presence of silver nanoparticles, indicating their biosynthesis. The highest amount of absorption (1.049) belonged to the nanoparticles synthesized by boiling under GA plasma conditions. Comparing the FTIR spectra of the plasma-treated samples with DBD and GA revealed that the DBD-treated samples had more intense peaks, indicating that the DBD method proved to be more effective in enhancing the functional groups on the silver nanoparticles. The DLS results revealed that the boiling method synthesized silver nanoparticles under DBD plasma treatment had a smaller particle size (149.89 nm) with a PDI of 0.251 compared to the GA method, and the DBD method produced nanoparticles with a higher zeta potential (27.7 mV) than the GA method, indicating greater stability of the biosynthesized nanoparticles. Moreover, the highest antimicrobial properties against E. coli (14.333 ± 0.47 mm) were found in the DBD-treated nanoparticles. TEM tests confirmed that spherical nanoparticles attacked the E. coli bacterial membrane, causing cell membrane destruction and cell death. The GC-MS results showed that compounds like 2-methylfuran, 3-methylbutanal, 2-methylbutanal, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, benzaldehyde, 2-phenylethanol, and 3-octen-2-ol were much higher in the samples that were treated with DBD compared to the samples that were treated with GA plasma.ConclusionThe research indicated that DBD plasma was more efficient than GA plasma in boosting the antimicrobial characteristics of nanoparticles. These results might be a cornerstone for future advancements in utilizing cold plasma to create nanoparticles with enhanced antimicrobial properties.

Sound absorbing chandeliers for multitalker noise control in large halls

During social gatherings in large halls, multiple conversations taking place simultaneously can lead to very high noise levels. Increasing the amount of sound absorption in the hall can be very effective in this context: due to the Lombard effect, the noise level drops with 6 dB when doubling the equivalent absorption area, while only a 3 dB drop occurs for sources of constant sound power. However, the possibilities for the absorptive treatment of existing venues can be highly limited, especially when dealing with architectural heritage. Therefore, in the present study, sound absorbing chandeliers, consisting of dense arrangements of absorbing objects, have been designed, developed, tested, and applied in a hard-walled historic hall that hosts social gatherings of more than 800 people. Experiments in the hall during busy events have confirmed the effectiveness of the chandeliers, yet it was also found that, since the ceiling has become the main absorptive surface, they loose efficiency due to the resulting sound field directionality. Furthermore, the individual vocal effort was observed to stay constant when the background nose level was decreasing. Both effects have been thoroughly studied and analyzed, and a prediction methodology to account for these effects has been proposed.

SS 25268:2023, an acoustic standard for listeners and speakers

The sound environment in many classrooms is not good, and we know that poor room acoustics impedes learning and has a negative effect on teachers' voice health. Sound reflections in the room have a great impact on both speech intelligibility and speech comfort. SS 25268 is a Swedish sound standard for, among others, school buildings. The standard uses reverberation time, RT, to put requirement on room acoustics. There is a connection between the amount of sound absorption in the room and RT according to Sabine formula. The problem is that Sabine formula requires a diffuse sound field witch very seldom occurs in classrooms with acoustic ceilings. Another problem is when RT is evaluated with T20, the early reflections are not included, and early reflections have a great impact on speech intelligibility. The standard have been updated to a new version, SS 25268:2023. In this standard there is an opportunity for landlords to put other requirements then RT to evaluate the room acoustics. The standard have an appendix to help landlords, principals and teachers to better understand how to put the right acoustic requirements on their school buildings to create both good speech intelligibility and speech comfort.

A-095 A New CO2 Assay with Concentrated Reagent Having Superior Onboard Stability on Mindray BS-2800M Analyzer

Abstract Background Measurement of total content of CO2 in serum or plasma can be used to assist in the diagnosis of various acid-base disorders. There are small amounts (about 0.04%) CO2 in the earth’s atmosphere, or more in an enclosed clinical laboratory space. The environmental CO2 could be dissolved into the CO2 reagent continuously, in particular at lowered temperature when it is opened and stored on the system, which leads an impact on CO2 assay performance. Presently, competitors mainly use additional inserts or with small opening of the reagent container to reduce the contact with air from reagent, to improve its onboard stability. Here, we designed a new CO2 assay by optimizing the reagent formulation with a new protection mechanism to reduce the amount of CO2 absorption to the reagent and improved its onboard stability. This study evaluated performances of the new CO2 assay on Mindray BS-2800M analyzer. Methods Mindray CO2 assay with concentrated reagent is based on PEPC (Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase) enzymatic method. It is designed with an innovative mechanism of reagent formulations with a protective layer of chemical(s) on top of the reagent that prevents CO2 from entering the reagent and reduced its impact to its on-board stability. The onboard stability was conducted with a constant reagent consumption mode to simulate as it in clinical lab use. The onboard study used two levels of Quality Control materials and serum pools. According to CLSI protocols, the following assay performances were evaluated: onboard stability, precision, method comparison, linearity, and interference. Results On Mindray BS-2800M analyzer, Mindray CO2 assay demonstrated an excellent onboard stability. With uncapped reagent on the system, the stability is for 21 days without recalibration, with less than ± 5% deviation from day zero. In parallel onboard stability studies, with Roche CO2 reagent on Cobas c701 system, the relative deviation from day zero was found to be within ±10%; and other three manufacturers` results with deviation exceeded ±10% vs. day zero in 7 days. The linearity of Mindray CO2 assay was determined as from 2.0 to 50.0 mmol/L. Our CO2 assay correlated well with Roche CO2 on Cobas c701 (Mindray = 1.0032 * Roche - 0.0186, r≥0.99). The repeatability and with-lab CVs were ranged from 0.64% to 3.41%, respectively. There was no significant interference (<±10%), at CO2 concentration of 15 mmol/L with bilirubin up to 60 mg/dL,hemolysate up to 800 mg/dL, Intralipid up to 1000 mg/dL, triglycerides up to 1000 mg/dL. Conclusions On Mindray BS-2800M analyzer, the new CO2 assay demonstrated a good ability against environmental CO2 inference in 21 days of onboard time. The new CO2 assay also shown good performances in precision, correlation (accuracy) and anti-interference from endogenous substances. Therefore, we conclude that the new Mindray CO2 assay is suitable for routine clinical laboratory use.

Enhancing polypropylene-based separator efficiency in lithium-ion batteries through maleic anhydride addition and corona radiation modification

Polypropylene-grafted-maleic anhydride (PPMA) as a modifier of polypropylene (PP) at different contents and the corona radiation for surface ionization at various modification times were applied to promote the PP-based separator efficiency. The determined microstructural characteristics showed an improvement in the separator's porosity of 6–139 % at the tension amounts of 700–900 %, however, more stretching hurts the mechanical properties. The electrostatic interactions formed between the electrolytes and anhydrides increased the electrolyte sorption capacity in the samples and the surface wettability by 740 % and 25 %, respectively. The electrical test results indicated that the anhydrides led to capturing the electrolytes in the separator and created a resistance against the ion diffusion. This phenomenon reduced the separator resistance from 475 to 165 Ω, and enhanced the charge capacity and ion conductivity from 585 to 871 mAh/g and 0.29 to 0.34 S cm−1, respectively, while the PPMA content increased from 20 to 60 wt.%. The achieved FT-IR illustrated that the ionization caused the creation of more polar groups in the LIB separator, which increased the bulk and surface wettability by 420 % and 21 %, respectively, without any change in the microstructure of the separator. However, raising the exposure time in the radiation process decomposed the sample surface and led to damage in the separator microstructure. This issue reduced the separator porosity as well as the electrolyte absorption amount and ion conductivity.

Two‐Dimensional Solidification Simulation of PCM Molten Salt as a Thermal Energy Storage for Stirling Engine

ABSTRACTThermal energy storage technologies have been widely used to mitigate intermittency from renewable energy sources such as solar energy. Phase change material (PCM) is a material that can be used as a heat storage medium and is available in a wide range of operating temperatures. Molten salt is one of the PCMs that has the advantage of a very high operating temperature. The PCM solidification simulation based on HitecXL molten salt using COMSOL Multiphysics software was carried out with variations in heat absorption of 1–5 kW/m2, assuming constant heat absorption. The results showed that the PCM solidification process started from the surface of the Stirling engine heat exchanger pipe. The part of the PCM that is solidified falls due to gravity, causing a phenomenon similar to a droplet. The flow that occurred was natural, driven by the buoyancy force resulting from density changes due to temperature gradients in the solidification process. The time required for the PCM to completely solidify was closely related to the amount of heat absorption; the greater the heat absorption from the pipe, the faster the PCM is fully solidified.

Assessing Human Iron Kinetics Using Stable Iron Isotopic Techniques.

Stable iron isotope techniques are critical for developing strategies to combat iron deficiency anemia, a leading cause of global disability. There are four primary stable iron isotope methods to assess ferrokinetics in humans. (i) The fecal recovery method applies the principles of a metabolic balance study but offers enhanced accuracy because the amount of iron isotope present in feces can be directly traced back to the labeled dose, distinguishing it from endogenous iron lost in stool from shed intestinal cells. (ii) In the plasma isotope appearance method, plasma samples are collected for several hours after oral dosing to evaluate the rate, quantity, and pattern of iron absorption. Key metrics include the time of peak isotope concentration and the area under the curve. (iii) The erythrocyte iron incorporation method measures iron bioavailability (absorption and erythrocyte iron utilization) from a whole blood sample collected 2 weeks after oral dosing. Simultaneous administration of oral and intravenous tracers allows for separate measurements of iron absorption and iron utilization. These threemethods determine iron absorption by measuring tracer concentrations in feces, serum, or erythrocytes after administration of a tracer. In contrast, (iv) in iron isotope dilution, an innovative new approach, iron of natural composition acts as the tracer, diluting an ad hoc modified isotopic signature obtained via prior isotope administration and equilibration with body iron. This technique enables highly accurate long-term studies of iron absorption, loss, and gain. This review discusses the application of these kinetic methods and their potential to address important questions in hematology andiron biology.

The effect of ceramides on skin absorption by Raman spectroscopy.

Ceramides are essential epidermal constituents that play a critical role in skin moisturization treatment as a raw material in cosmetics formulation. Recently, ceramides have been known to be frequently applied in various cosmetic formulations. Despite ceramide's beneficial characteristics, academic research regarding ceramides and their skin absorption remains insufficient. Therefore, our study conducted clinical research employing Raman spectroscopy to investigate the effects of ceramides on skin absorption to enhance the understanding of ceramides' dermatological functionality and their topical application in cosmetics science. Twenty healthy individuals with dry skin have participated in this clinical trial. In this double-arm designed trial, the test group received an investigational product with ceramides (5000ppm) and a control group received an investigational product without the ceramides while all other components remained identical. The subjects visited the clinical research center and acclimatized for 30 min in constant humidity and temperature for equilibrium, subsequently conducting a measurement. Before the trial, the research subject's target site (lower arm area) was kept clean, devoid of any cosmetic administering 24h before the trial when investigational product was topically applied. Our findings with Raman spectroscopy statistically demonstrate that skin absorption amount, speed and depth for both groups improved overall (p<0.05) after administration of the investigational product. Notably, the test group received an investigational product with ceramides (5000ppm) indicating superior effectiveness across all parameters compared to a control group from comparison analysis of each parameter (p<0.05). This study concludes that ceramide-containing cosmetics provide a beneficial effect on skin absorption via visual and statistical results of Raman spectroscopy analysis.

Evaluating the Effects of BSA-Coated Gold Nanorods on Cell Migration Potential and Inflammatory Mediators in Human Dermal Fibroblasts.

Albumin-coated gold nanoparticles display potential biomedical applications, including cancer research, infection treatment, and wound healing; however, elucidating their interaction with normal cells remains an area with limited exploration. In this study, gold nanorods (GNR) were prepared and coated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) to produce GNR-BSA. The functionalized nanoparticles were characterized based on their optical absorption spectra, morphology, surface charge, and quantity of attached protein. The interaction between GNR-BSA and BSA with normal cells was investigated using human dermal fibroblasts. The cytotoxicity test indicated cell viability between ~63-95% for GNR-BSA over concentrations from 30.0 to 0.47 μg/mL and ~85-98% for BSA over concentrations from 4.0 to 0.0625 mg/mL. The impact of the GNR-BSA and BSA on cell migration potential and wound healing was assessed using scratch assay, and the modulation of cytokine release was explored by quantifying a panel of cytokines using Multiplex technology. The results indicated that GNR-BSA, at 10 μg/mL, delayed the cell migration and wound healing 24 h post-treatment compared to the BSA or the control group with an average wound closure percentage of 6% and 16% at 6 and 24 h post-treatment, respectively. Multiplex analysis revealed that while GNR-BSA reduced the release of the pro-inflammatory marker IL-12 from the activated fibroblasts 24 h post-treatment, they significantly reduced the release of IL-8 (p < 0.001), and CCL2 (p < 0.01), which are crucial for the inflammation response, cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. Although GNR-BSA exhibited relatively high cell viability towards human dermal fibroblasts and promising therapeutic applications, toxicity aspects related to cell motility and migration must be considered.

Comparison of the Characteristics of Baekak(chalk) and Hobun(shell) Pigment for Dancheong based on Natural Raw Materials

Calcium carbonate white pigments were manufactured by classifying them into Baekak(chalk) and Hobun(Shell) according to the type of natural raw material, and their material characteristics were analyzed. Their performances were compared by evaluating their weather resistance, antifungal activity, and flame retardancy. The main components of Baekak pigments are calcite and dolomite, and those of Hobun pigments a re calcite and a ragonite. Depending on the raw material, the specific factors identified are Mg from the mineral composition of Baekak pigments, and P and S from the protein composition of Hobun pigments. The particle shape of the pigment shows a crystal structure unique to minerals in the case of Baekak pigments, but the Hobun pigments are classified into plate-shaped or columnar structures depending on the raw material and are in an aggregated state with a large specific surface area. While the absorption amount of Baekak pigments made from limestone and dolomite is similar, that of Hobun pigments shows differences depending on the raw material, with the absorption amount being high in the order of oyster &gt; cockle &gt; clam. As a result of the color analysis, both the Baekak and the Hobun pigments had L* values of over 90 and opacity of over 90, indicating good whiteness and painting workability. As a result of the accelerated weathering test, the final color difference value(ΔE) was less than 2.02, which was difficult to recognize with the naked eye, and the Hobun pigment showed superior color and film stability compared to the Baekak pigment. As a result of the antifungal test, all calcium carbonate-based white pigments showed high preventive effects against decay fungi, and among them, the pigment made from clams and cockles showed excellent antiseptic properties. In addition, the pigment made from clams and cockles has been shown to have flame retardant properties, and it is expected that it will contribute to enhancing the preservation of organic cultural heritage when applied to it.

Comparison of Energy Absorptive Capacities of Different Aluminum Alloy Foams Placed Inside the Crash Box

Increasing population worldwide and the resulting increasing number of automobiles increase the risk of traffic accidents. Due to this increasing risk, automobile manufacturers take various safety measures to protect drivers and passengers in case of possible accidents. Crash boxes are one of the passive safety system elements that are the first to absorb the impact in the event of a front or rear impact accident, absorbing the resulting deformation energy and ensuring that it is transmitted into the car at the least possible level. Therefore, increasing the energy absorption ability of crash boxes is an extremely important issue. In this study, it was aimed to increase the energy absorption capabilities by placing aluminum foam based materials produced by using the powder metallurgy method using three different aluminum alloys (Al2024, Al5083, and Al6061) inside the crash boxes, which are normally manufactured as hollow. In addition, the produced aluminum foams were compared in terms of pore sizes with SEM images. It can be said that Al6061 is the most ideal material among the alloys used in terms of pore structure and homogeneity. On the other hand, Al6061 alloys produced the greatest damped energy value within the parameters of the investigation, 221.711 J. This value was 169.556 J for Al2024 alloy and 214.101 J for Al5083 alloy. As a result, it was concluded that the amount of energy absorption can be increased by about 4-5 times by using metallic foams produced using aluminum materials compared to the empty crash box.

Evaluation of cold plasma treatment technology in biosynthesized silver nanoparticles encapsulated with chitosan by Aliinostoc persicum SA14 against HepG-2

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the commonest cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality. The combination of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and nanoparticles is a promising treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma cancers. In the present study, activated water was prepared using the cold atmospheric plasma technique (JET and PAW), and then the biosynthesis ability of silver nanoparticles by the cyanobacterium Aliinostoc persicum SA14 was measured after cultivation in the culture medium containing activated water at 5, 15, and 20 min. After the encapsulation of nanoparticles with chitosan and UV–visible spectroscopy analysis, the characterization of AgNPs, including FTIR analysis. X-ray diffraction, particle size and zeta potential, SEM, TEM, as well as cytotoxicity assays against HepG-2 cell lines, were performed. The comparison of the absorption spectra of silver oxide nanoparticles prepared by the boiling-dender method at concentrations and different times showed that the production of silver nanoparticles was confirmed for all three samples based on the amount of absorption obtained. The outcomes of field emission scanning electron microscopy at all magnifications exhibited that spherical nanoparticles are scattered on the surface of the polymer matrix. Furthermore, the FT-IR spectrum and XRD crystallography confirmed the success of chitosan's production of microcoated silver nanoparticles. The results of the cytotoxicity test against HepG-2 cell lines showed that with increasing concentrations of silver nanoparticles, the survival frequency of cancer cells declined significantly. In conclusion, the tests confirmed that the silver nanoparticles produced by cyanobacteria act as both a stabilizing and reducing agent. The results indicated that CAP decreases nanoparticle size, decreases surface charge distribution of AgNP, and induces uptake, aggregation, and enhanced cytotoxicity against HepG-2 in vitro. The chitosan-AgNPs with cold plasma could have potential applications in the food, agricultural, and pharmaceutical industries.

CO2 activation of magnesium slag for the preparation of unburned aggregate: Performance evaluation, CO2 absorption, and ecological benefits

For the development of unburned aggregate, accelerated carbonation technology is deemed to be a significant curing method. In this paper, accelerated carbonation was applied in preparing magnesium slag unburned aggregate (MSUA). The effects of curing time on physical property, phase evolution, CO2 absorption, microstructure and stability of MSUA were explored by employing XRD, TGA, MIP and SEM-BSE characterization techniques. According to the results, with the increase of carbonation time, the mechanical strength and apparent density of MSUA prepared by accelerated carbonation technology enhance, while the water absorption rate declines. The predominant form of the carbonation product is calcite (CaCO3), accompanied with amorphous silica gel. The amount of CO2 absorption has positive correlation with time, exhibiting an absorption rate of 18.5 % at 168 h of carbonation. On the other hand, with 3 h CO2 curing of MSUA, the alkali-silica reaction (ASR) expansion can be completely suppressed. As observed from MIP analysis, the increase of carbonation time reduces the porosity of aggregates. SEM analysis also reveals that gel pores are filled with carbonation products, leading to a denser structure of the aggregate matrix, which is possibly a crucial factor for the suppression to ASR expansion. Based on these findings, MSUA is demonstrated to have enormous potential in substituting natural aggregates and reducing carbon emissions.

Sound absorption characteristics of 3‐dimensional printed biodegradable structure backed with luffa fiber

AbstractIn this work, an investigation has been carried out on the sound absorption properties of the microperforated composites prepared by filling natural luffa fiber and synthetic luffa fiber. These composite structures are created by 3‐dimensional printing of polylactic acid, which exhibits excellent biodegradability. After preparing the structure, the micro‐perforation is done at the top of the composite with the help of a heated cylindrical drill. During the printing process, the infill density (printing parameter) and type of luffa fiber (natural and synthetic) have been varied to find out its effect on acoustic properties. Finally, a comparative study is carried out among natural luffa fiber and without using natural luffa fiber. The results showed excellent sound absorption of luffa filled structure compared to an unfilled structure. Out of three different infilled densities, the density of 5 % revealed a maximum amount of absorption, suggesting the potential applications of these structures in the field of sound absorption.

Oxygen-doping induced tunable optoelectronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) 1T-MgF2 monolayer: A first-principles study

Here, we studied the physical properties of atomic oxygen-doped two-dimensional (2D) MgF2 monolayer using density functional theory. The undoped MgF2 exhibits an insulating behavior. However, it shows a small amount of incident light absorption in the visible region when an F-atom is substitutional doped with an oxygen (O) atom. Further, the increasing oxygen concentration shows an enhanced optical absorption of light in the visible spectrum. Hence, it can be used as an absorption band pass/stop filter. The absorption spectrum is consistent with the calculated extinction coefficient. The increased absorption shows the improved conductivity of doped MgF2. Moreover, the dielectric constant and refractive index increase with increasing O-doping concentration. Its refractive index enhances more than that of silicon (3.9). The increased O-doping also enhances the reflection of light in the microwave to the infrared region, which is justified by the transmission spectrum. The energy losses also increase with increasing O-concentration. These losses show the existence of plasma resonances. The dielectric and optical responses show that it behaves like a high-k dielectric material for large O-doping concentrations. The discussion above indicates that the O-doped 2D MgF2 monolayer is an excellent electronic and dielectric material for electronic, optical, and optoelectronic applications.

Production of nanocomposite films based on low density polyethylene/surface activated nanoperlite for modified atmosphere packaging applications

The modified atmosphere packaging films based on polyethylene nanocomposites reinforced with perlite nanoparticles were prepared using a blow molding machine. The perlite particles were first reduced to nano dimensions using an abrasive mill, then the porosity of nanoperlite was increased to improve their efficiency in absorbing ethylene gas. For this purpose, 6 normal sodium hydroxide solution at 50°C temperature was used. Finally, perlite nanoparticles were modified by polymethyl hydrogen siloxane silane compound. In each of the stages of grinding and modifying the perlite surface, the necessary tests including dynamic light diffraction test, nitrogen absorption test and ethylene gas absorption test were performed using gas chromatography method. The results showed that the size of perlite particles was reduced to 500 nm by using an abrasive mill, and the surface modification process increased the specific surface area of perlite by 10 times. Based on this, the amount of ethylene gas absorption in perlite nanoparticles with modified surface increased up to 3 times compared to normal perlite. The results of the gas chromatography test showed that the nanocomposite film based on polyethylene reinforced with 6% by weight of modified perlite nanoparticles has several times the efficiency in absorbing ethylene gas compared to the potassium permanganate sachets The results of the mechanical properties tests of nanocomposite film in comparison with pure polyethylene film showed that nanocomposite film has higher properties than pure polyethylene. The results of shelf-life tests of green tomatoes packed in nanocomposite film based on polyethylene reinforced with modified nanoperlite showed that green tomatoes can be stored for two months using the prepared modified atmosphere packaging.

Exploring the synergistic effects of chuanxiong rhizoma and Cyperi rhizoma in eliciting a rapid anti-migraine action based on pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

Ethnopharmacological relevanceHerb-herb combination has been used to maximize the therapeutic efficacy in the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. Chuanxiong rhizoma (called Chuanxiong in Chinese, CX) and Cyperi rhizoma (called Xiangfu in Chinese, XF) have been used alone or in combination (CRCR) to treat migraine dating back to Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD317) of China. But no data demonstrate the possible necessities or advantages of combining CX and XF for migraine. Aim of the studyThis study explores the combination mechanism based on pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Materials and methodsA nitroglycerin-induced acute migraine model in rats was used to evaluate the anti-migraine effects of CRCR and the individual herbs using behavior, real time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot experiments. The absorption characteristics of active components involved in the anti-migraine action were analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. ResultsCX and CRCR significantly reversed the abnormal levels of vasoactive substances (5-HT, CGRP, MMP-2 and MMP-9) to normal levels, but XF did not. XF and CRCR significantly decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-a), and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). CRCR significantly decreased the mRNA expression levels of c-fos, iNos and nNos, and the corresponding protein expression levels of c-Fos, iNOS, and nNOS. CRCR inhibited NOS/NO pathway by downregulating the expression levels of NOS and NO. Furthermore, CRCR significantly increased the intestinal absorption rate and amount, and changed the pharmacokinetic parameters of active components in comparison with the individual herbs. ConclusionsCX had an advantage in regulating vasoactive substances, and XF focused on regulating inflammatory cytokines. CRCR is more effective in treating migraine than the individual herbs by depending on the synergistic action of CX and XF. This research provided some critical evidences on synergistic action between herb-herb interactions, and revealed the potential advantages of herb-herb combination in traditional Chinese medicine.