CF Samples Research Articles

Interphase mechanics vs chemical compatibility: Generating a deformable PA6-carbon fiber interphase

Good interfacial adhesion is typically correlated to obtaining the best tensile/flexural performance for carbon fibre-reinforced composites. The nature or even presence of the interphase, a localized region around the fibre-matrix junction, is often discussed but notoriously difficult to visualize and characterise. Here, a surface-initiated electro-polymerization approach to covalently graft either polyacrylamide or polygylcidyl methacrylate to the carbon fibres was used. This was followed by continuous melt compounding into the polyamide-6 matrix prior to injection moulding. Analysis via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) coupled with topological/visual study through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), showed distinct surface changes after modification and at the composite fracture surface. Additionally, mechanical (tensile, flexural, and tribological characteristics) and thermal (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)) investigations were performed. The results showed that the unmodified CF samples exhibit higher tensile and flexural modulus than the modified CF samples. However, the wear rate has been significantly decreased for modified CF samples. SEM of fractured composite surfaces showcased a clear interphase region surrounding the fibre, highlighting the importance of interphase/interphase mechanics in the design of optimal composite interfaces.

Oral biofilm composition and phenotype in caries-active and caries-free children.

During development of dental caries, oral biofilms undergo changes in microbial composition and phenotypical traits. The aim of this study was to compare the acid tolerance (AT) of plaque from two groups of children: one with severe caries (CA) and one with no caries experience (CF) and to correlate this to the microbial composition and metabolic profile of the biofilms. Dental plaque samples from 20 children (2-5 years) in each group were studied. The AT was analyzed by viability assessment after exposure to an acid challenge (pH 3.5), using LIVE/DEAD® BacLight™ stain and confocal microscopy. Levels of acid tolerance (AT) were evaluated using a scoring system ranging from 1 (no/low AT), to 5 (high/all AT). Metabolic profiles were investigated following a 20 mM glucose pulse for one hour through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Microbial composition was characterized by 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing. The mean AT score of the CA group (4.1) was significantly higher than that of the CF group (2.6, p < 0.05). When comparing the end-products of glucose metabolism detected after a glucose-pulse, the CA samples showed a significantly higher lactate to acetate, lactate to formate, lactate to succinate and lactate to ethanol ratio than the CF samples (p < 0.05). The bacterial characterization of the samples revealed 25 species significantly more abundant in the CA samples, including species of Streptococcus, Prevotella, Leptotrichia and Veillonella (p < 0.05). Our results show that AT in pooled plaque from the oral cavity of children with severe caries is increased compared to that in healthy subjects and that this can be related to differences in the metabolic activity and microbial composition of the biofilms. Thus, the overall phenotype of dental plaque appears to be a promising indicator of the caries status of individuals. However, longitudinal studies investigating how the AT changes over time in relation to caries development are needed before plaque AT could be considered as a prediction method for the development of dental caries.

Profiles of brain topology for dual-functional stability in old age.

Dual-functional stability (DFS) in cognitive and physical abilities is important for successful aging. This study examines the brain topology profiles that underpin high DFS in older adults by testing two hypotheses: (1) older adults with high DFS would exhibit a unique brain organization that preserves their physical and cognitive functions across various tasks, and (2) any individuals with this distinct brain topology would consistently show high DFS. We analyzed two cohorts of cognitively and physically healthy older adults from the UK (Cam-CAN, n = 79) and the US (CF, n = 48) using neuroimaging data and a combination of cognitive and physical tasks. Variability in DFS was characterized using k-mean clustering for intra-individual variability (IIV) in cognitive and physical tasks. Graph theory analyses of diffusion tensor imaging connectomes were used to assess brain network segregation and integration through clustering coefficients (CCs) and shortest path lengths (PLs). Using support vector machine and regression, brain topology features, derived from PLs + CCs, differentiated the high DFS subgroup from low and mix DFS subgroups with accuracies of 65.82% and 84.78% in Cam-CAN and CF samples, respectively, which predicted cross-task DFS score in CF samples at 58.06% and 70.53% for cognitive and physical stability, respectively. Results showed distinctive neural correlates associated with high DFS, notably varying regional brain segregation and integration within critical areas such as the insula, frontal pole, and temporal pole. The identified brain topology profiles suggest a distinctive neural basis for DFS, a trait indicative of successful aging. These insights offer a foundation for future research to explore targeted interventions that could enhance cognitive and physical resilience in older adults, promoting a healthier and more functional lifespan.

Improved detection of mycobacteria in CF and tissue samples grown in mycobacteria growth indicator tube incubated at 30°C compared to conventional growth conditions of liquid and solid media.

Our study shows that the addition of mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) liquid culture incubated at 30°C improves the detection of mycobacteria from CF and tissue samples. MGIT incubated at 30°C recovered significantly more mycobacterial isolates than MGIT incubated at 37°C and significantly more isolates than either Lowenstein Jensen or Stonebrink solid media incubated at either 36°C or 30°C. Of 202 mycobacterial isolates recovered from 1,549 specimens, 170 were recovered from MGIT incubated at 30°C, followed by MGIT incubated at 37°C with 124 isolates and solid media culture conditions that recovered between 95 and 107 mycobacterial isolates. All conventional culture conditions combined without MGIT incubated at 30°C recovered 166 isolates. MGIT incubated at 30°C recovered the highest number of isolates detected exclusively by a single culture condition and recovered mycobacterial isolates of highly relevant mycobacterial species, including Mycobacterium abscessus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Analysis of fiber-reinforced silicon carbide formed via material extrusion

Here, we report a method for fabrication of robust and near-net shaped carbon-fiber reinforced silicon carbide (Cf/SiC) through the additive manufacturing method of material extrusion. The addition of fibers allows for enhanced damage tolerance and thermal shock resistance but little is known about the resulting affects to resulting ink rheology, printability and resulting fiber alignment in the printed components. As such, three separate inks were developed with carbon fiber loadings of 0 %, 5 % and 15 % by volume. All inks had requisite rheology for material extrusion to fabricate near-net and dense components via pressureless sintering with densities of 93.95 %, 92.11 %, and 85.65 %, respectively. Micro X-ray computed tomography and deep learning auto-segmentation was utilized to fully describe the fiber orientation in 3D, revealing highly oriented fibers. 4-point flexure testing was performed on as-printed bend bars for all 3 ink compositions. The bars had robust average flexural strengths of 114–260 MPa, with a decrease in strength observed in fiber-reinforced samples as attributed to a decrease in sample density. However, an increase in Weibull modulus (18.0 compared to 7.0–7.3) and observed fiber pull out for the 15 % Cf samples suggest promise in toughening and reliability of fiber reinforcements. Oxyacetylene torch testing was performed on all 3 types of printed parts to study the oxidation and ablation resistance of the silicon carbide samples with fibers. Only samples with fiber reinforcements survived thermal shock of testing further emphasizing the need and benefit of fiber inclusions.

Covid-19 in cystic fibrosis patients compared to the general population: Severity and virus-host cell interactions

BackgroundPeople with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) are considered at risk of developing severe forms of respiratory viral infections. We studied the consequences of COVID-19 and virus-host cell interactions in CF vs. non-CF individuals. MethodsWe enrolled CF and non-CF individuals, with /without COVID-like symptoms, who underwent nasopharyngeal swab for detection of SARS-CoV-2. Gene expression was evaluated by RNA sequencing on the same nasopharyngeal swabs. Criteria for COVID-19 severity were hospitalization and requirement or increased need of oxygen therapy. ResultsThe study included 171 patients (65 pwCF and 106 non-CF individuals). Among them, 10 pwCF (15.4 %) and 43 people without CF (40.6 %) tested positive at RT-PCR. Symptomatic infections were observed in 8 pwCF (with 2 requiring hospitalization) and in 11 individuals without CF (6 requiring hospitalization). Host transcriptomic analysis revealed that genes involved in protein translation, particularly ribosomal components, were downregulated in CF samples irrespective of SARS-CoV-2 status. In SARS-CoV-2 negative individuals, we found a significant difference in genes involved with motile cilia expression and function, which were upregulated in CF samples. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that interferon signaling in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection was upregulated in both pwCF and non-CF subjects. ConclusionsCOVID-19 does not seem to be more severe in CF, possibly due to factors intrinsic to this population: the lower expression of ribosomal genes may downregulate the protein translation machinery, thus creating an unfavorable environment for viral replication.

Impact of Corrosion in Simulated Body Fluid on Fatigue Characteristics of 3D-Printed Polylactic Acid-Coated AM60 Magnesium Alloys

In this research, the pure fatigue behaviors of AM60 magnesium alloy with polylactic acid (PLA) coating (PF-AM60-PLA) and the corrosion fatigue behaviors of magnesium alloy with PLA coating (CF-AM60-PLA) were evaluated. Polymer coating was made by fused deposition modeling (FDM) with a 3D printer and attached to standard fatigue test specimens with glue. Then, after 27 days of immersion in the simulated body fluid (SBF), the high-cycle bending fatigue test was performed on samples. Due to corrosion, the weight of the specimens was reduced by an average of 35%. The corrosion rate decreased in the first 7 days and then increased. PF samples with a coating had an average 49% increase in fatigue lifetime. Regarding the CF samples, despite the use of a 10-times stronger solution, the fatigue lifetime of these samples decreased by only 35%. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) results also showed cleavage plates and striations. In addition, the separation of the glue from the coating and Mg was observed. Corrosion products, in addition to microcracks and holes, were seen on the fracture surface of CF specimens, which caused the stress concentration and the crack initiation. Holes caused by the release of gases were also observed in polymer coatings, which were fabricated by 3D printing.

Effects of germination time on the structure, functionality, flavour attributes, and in vitro digestibility of green Altamura lentils (Lens culinaris Medik.) flour.

There has been an increase in the use of adoptable bioprocessing methods for the development of high-quality leguminous ingredients. The potential use of germinated green Altamura lentils as a food ingredient is closely related to the resulting properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of three germination times - 0 (C), 24 (G) and 48 (H) hours - on the physicochemical, microstructural, flavour, functional, and nutritional features of lentil flour samples (CF, GF and HF). Lentil flour samples were obtained by grinding both whole green seeds (C) and germinated seeds (G and H), and then sifting them to obtain a particle size < 300 μm. The germinated samples - GF (24 h) and HF (48 h) - exhibited differences (P < 0.05) in the physicochemical and bioactive properties of CF (control). Similarly, compared with those in the control sample, the total starch, amylose and total phenolic contents in the GF and HF samples decreased, while the protein content increased (p < 0.05). A decrease in the presence of intact starch granules was observed via SEM in the germinated samples. The germination time had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on the colour indices, L*, a*, and b* of the samples. Flavour attributes were significantly influenced by the germination time. Overall, a total of 14 (CF) and 17 (GF and HF) aromatic compounds were identified. The technological characteristics of the CF, GF and HF dough samples were studied using a Brabender farinograph. Germination time affects the flour properties, leading to a significant decrease in farinographic parameters such as water absorption (WA), dough development time (DT), and dough stability (DS) and an increase in the degree of dough weakening (DOS). Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to examine the gelatinization transition of the samples. Germination strongly influenced all the thermal properties of the samples. It also had a significant impact on the in vitro starch digestibility, starch fraction and glycaemic index (eGI) of the samples. In particular, the eGI of germinated lentils was lower than that of the CF. In conclusion, the germination time could be a key factor modulating some crucial lentil flour properties.

Mechanical performance of 3D-printed continuous fibre Onyx composites for drone applications: An experimental and numerical analysis

As drone technology grows in popularity, its application to automate aspects of society is increasing at a similar rate, where drones are now being trialled for delivering payloads over short distances. In order to progress the technology, 3D composite printing is being used to develop complicated parts for improved aerodynamic design that can be produced efficiently, where the resultant composite part has high specific strength and rigidity. This article reports 3D printing of high specific strength, high-temperature Polyamide 6 (Onyx), continuous glass-fibre reinforced Onyx, and carbon-fibre reinforced Onyx composites and characterising their mechanical and fracture behaviour. The Onyx + CF composites displayed up to 1243 % and 1344 % improvement in Young's modulus and tensile strength over neat Onyx samples. The flexural strength of Onyx + CF samples was up to 316.6 % higher than the flexural strength of the neat Onyx sample. SEM micrographs showed a strong bond between the hydration products and the carbon fibres, increasing their tensile and flexural strengths by preventing micro-crack propagation through fibre pull-out and breaking. The statistical analysis was conducted to ensure the validity of the results for the population and establish stress-strain relations, along with estimating errors. In addition, the carbon-fibre-reinforced Onyx composite was compared with commercially used alternatives for producing drone components. Finally, a finite element model was developed using a numerical homogenisation approach and validated to predict the tensile and flexural behaviour of Onyx and carbon-fibre reinforced Onyx samples. This study provides a direction for the next generation of drone manufacturers.

The impact of freezing methods on the quality, moisture distribution, microstructure, and flavor profile of hand-grabbed mutton during long-term frozen storage

The aim of present study was to investigate the influence of conventional freezing (CF, −18 °C), low-temperaturefreezing (LF, −40 °C), and ultra-low-temperature freezing (ULF, −80 °C) on the quality, moisture distribution, microstructure, and flavor profile of hand-grabbed mutton (HGM) during frozen storage (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days). The TPC, TVB-N, and TBARS values increased significantly with prolonged storage, while the moisture content decreased (P < 0.05). Additionally, the concentrations of aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, acids, and alkenes decreased significantly as the storage duration increased. However, the concentrations of esters and heterocyclics increased (P < 0.05). Notably, at 30–180 days of storage, the TBARS and TVB-N values in ULF samples were significantly lower than those in CF and LF samples, while the moisture content was significantly higher (P < 0.05). Low field-nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) analysis showed that ULF decreased water migration and maintained the original texture characteristics of HGM during frozen storage. The ULF and LF groups had significantly higher levels of volatiles than the CF group (P < 0.05). The findings show that ULF, with its relatively rapid freezing rates, can still maintain the high quality of HGM after 180 days of frozen storage, contributing to quality control.

Spectrum-Effect Relationship between HPLC Fingerprint and Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Chloranthus fortunei (A. Gray) Solms-Laub.

The predominant objective of the research is to establish the anti-inflammatory and analgesic spectrum-effect relationship of Chloranthus fortunei (A. Gray) Solms-Laub (CF), to reveal the pharmacodynamic basis of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of CF. The fingerprints of ten batches of CF from various origins were established by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and evaluated for similarity, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and principal component analysis (PCA). The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of CF were evaluated with the xylene-induced ear swelling in mice and the acetic acid torsion test, while the anti-inflammatory and analgesic spectrum-effect relationship of CF was evaluated by gray relational analysis (GRA) and partial least squares regression analysis (PLSR) to effectively elucidate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic substance basis of CF. The ten batches of CF HPLC fingerprints established in this work successfully identified a total of 13 common peaks that refer to 4 components, with peak 1 being neochlorogenic acid, peak 3 being chlorogenic acid, peak 5 being cryptochlorogenic acid, and peak 10 being rosmarinic acid. The HCA results presented that the ten batches of CF samples were clustered into 3 categories, which was consistent with the PCA results. Simultaneously, the results of the spectrum-effect relationship also indicated that neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and rosmarinic acid were the possible anti-inflammatory and analgesic substances of CF. In order to better understand the anti-inflammatory and analgesic substance basis of CF, this experiment established the anti-inflammatory and analgesic spectrum-effect relationship of CF, which can provide a scientific foundation for the quality evaluation and further research as well as the usage of CF herbs.

Correlations on Average Tensile Strength of 3D‐Printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Polylactic Acid, and Polylactic Acid + Carbon Fiber Specimens

In view of reducing development and production costs of components in the fields such as automobile, aviation, sports, and biomedical, additive manufacturing (AM) holds immense utility. Herein, three samples of 3D‐printed material specimens namely acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic acid + carbon fiber (PLA + CF) are fabricated at 0°, 45°, and 90° orientations using fused deposition modeling (FDM) and subsequently their mechanical properties are evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images are presented to observe the failure behavior. The uncertainty analysis performed on measured and obtained parameters reveals the maximum error of ±0.312% and ±0.3218%, respectively. From the obtained experimental results, correlations on average tensile strength in terms of elastic modulus, percent strain, standard deviation, and printing orientations are presented for each of the materials. ABS and PLA + CF specimens show the agreement of co‐relational with experimental data which lies within ±10% whereas ±3% for PLA specimens. Although on reinforcing with CF, the strength of PLA + CF samples increases considerably at all orientations as compared to PLA and ABS, virgin PLA reported greater elastic modulus as compared with PLA + CF, therefore virgin PLA finds better utilization wherever stiffness is the key requirement in design.

Retarded Charge Recombination to Enhance Photocatalytic Performance for Water-Free CO2 Reduction Using Perovskite Nanocrystals as Photocatalysts.

Femtosecond transient absorption spectral (TAS) investigations were performed to understand the carrier relaxation mechanism for perovskite nanocrystals Cs1-xFAxPbBr3 (CF, x = 0.45) and CsPbBr3 (CS), which served as efficient photocatalysts for splitting of CO2 into CO and O2 in the absence of water. Upon light irradiation for 12 h, formation of deep trap states was found for both CS and CF samples with spectral characteristics of the TAS photobleach (PB) band showing a long spectral tail extending to the long wavelength region. The charge recombination rates at the shallow surface states, bulk states, and deep-trapped surface state were found to be significantly retarded for the CF sample than for the CS sample, in agreement with the photocatalytic performances for CO product yields of the CF catalyst being greater by a factor of 3 compared to those of the CS catalyst.

Physicochemical properties and viscoelastic behavior of rice–mung bean composite flour systems as potential ingredients for plant‐based foods

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesComposite flour (CF) from cereals and legumes has been used to formulate plant‐based and/or gluten‐free food products. Fundamental knowledge regarding the properties of CF is required to formulate food products with desirable qualities. This study aimed to investigate the pasting properties, thermal properties, and viscoelastic behavior of CF, containing rice flour (RF), mung bean flour (MF), and mung bean protein concentrate (MPC). The protein contents of the CF were 17.6%‐23.6% on a wet basis.FindingsThe CF containing the highest proportion of RF had the highest pasting temperature, peak viscosity, breakdown, setback, and melting enthalpy of retrograded amylopectin. The deconvoluted thermogram from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) clearly distinguished the endotherms that arose from starch gelatinization, protein denaturation, and melting of the amylose−lipid complex. The gelatinization endotherm of CF was mainly governed by RF. CF containing a higher proportion of RF and MPC had stronger elastic behavior.ConclusionsThe type and composition of the flour greatly affected the physicochemical and viscoelastic properties of the CF. RF played an important role in the pasting and thermal properties of the CF samples. Combining RF and MPC could be used to enhance the elastic behavior of dough from CF systems.Significance and NoveltyDeconvoluted DSC peaks provided insight into the multiple thermal transitions that occurred during the processing of CF‐based foods. The overall results from this study could help in the formulation of food containing rice−mung bean CF in excess water or in a dough system.

Novel approach to recycled carbon fiber suitability assessment for additive technologies

This article presents a new approach to suitability assessment of short reclaimed carbon fiber (rCF) for additive technologies via commonly used analytical methods. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) based plastics reinforced with virgin or recycled CF samples were received, their mechanical properties and morphology of tensile fractured surface were determined by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and tensile strength test. As long as operating characteristics of CFRP are affected by single fiber strength as well as adhesion (interfacial interaction) between matrix and CF, this research also includes investigation of fiber surface with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Correlation between suggested complex parameters of investigated CF and strength of plastics (CFRP) samples was shown. It was also established that contribution of each investigated parameter is additive.

Abstract 3389: An exosomal miRNA-based liquid biopsy signature for the noninvasive early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Abstract Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States by 2030. Most of the PDAC patients are diagnosed with advanced disease, and less than 20% of patients are resectable at the time of diagnosis. The current imaging tools and blood markers (e.g. CA 19-9), are inadequate for early disease detection due to their poor specificity and sensitivity. This highlights the need to develop robust, noninvasive biomarkers for early detection of PDAC. While a large body of literature supports the use of cell-free miRNAs (cf-miRNAs) as potential diagnostic biomarkers in cancer, their tumor specificity is often debatable. Given the emerging evidence that exosomal cargo is a more robust representation of individual tumor types, in this study we sought to explore the diagnostic potential of cf-miRNAs along with exosomal miRNAs (exo-miRNAs), to establish a non-invasive miRNA signature for the early detection of PDAC. Methods: As part of the NCI’s Pancreatic Cancer Detection Consortium (PCDC) funded project, in this study, small RNA-sequencing was performed in exosome and cell-free (cf) samples from a cohort of 57 PDAC cases and 57 non-disease controls. Using rigorous bioinformatic and biostatistical approaches, we prioritized a panel of cf- and exo-miRNAs and evaluated its diagnostic performance in the sequencing-based discovery and validation cohorts. Subsequently, the performance of the discovered miRNA panel was validated using qRT-PCR assays in an independent clinical validation cohort of PDAC patients and non-disease controls (n=48/each group). The results were examined by ROC curve analysis to determine the diagnostic power of the biomarker panel individually and in combination for their ability to discriminate PDAC from controls. Results: The genomewide transcriptomic analyses led to the identification of a panel of 13 cf-miRNA and 17 exo-miRNA candidates. Sequencing validation in an independent cohort revealed that a combined panel of cf and exo-miRNAs exhibited an area under curve (AUC) of 0.89. Subsequent risk score analysis demonstrated that our biomarker signature was also robust in the identification of PDAC patients with early-stage cancers (stage I &amp; II) vs. controls (p &amp;lt;0.001). Moreover, when we combined the miRNA biomarker panel with CA19-9 values, the diagnostic performance was significantly superior when compared to the biomarker panel alone. Finally, the validation efforts in clinical cohorts by qRT-PCR revealed that the combined miRNA panel yielded an impressive accuracy with an AUC of 0.91, and a sensitivity of 0.88 and specificity of 0.87. Conclusions: In conclusion, we report a novel, exosome-based miRNA signature for the early detection of patients with PDAC; which could potentially improve early-detection efforts for this fatal malignancy. Citation Format: Kota Nakamura, Souvick Roy, Zhongxu Zhu, Eunsung Jun, Haiyong Han, Ruben M. Munoz, Satoshi Nishiwada, Geeta Sharma, Derek Cridebring, Frederic Zenhausern, Seungchan Kim, Denise Roe, Sourat Darabi, In Woong Han, Douglas Evans, Suguru Yamada, Michael Demure, Scott A. Celinski, Erkut Borazanci, Susan Tsai, John Bolton, Yasuhiro Kodera, Joon Oh Park, Song Cheol Kim, Xin Wang, Daniel Von Hoff, Ajay Goel. An exosomal miRNA-based liquid biopsy signature for the noninvasive early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 3389.

Simultaneous catalytic oxidation of nitric oxide and elemental mercury over Cu-Fe binary oxide treated by oxygen non-thermal plasma

In this study, non-thermal plasma (NTP) was adopted to improve the catalytic oxidation performance of Cu-Fe binary oxides (CFs) for efficient simultaneous removal of NO and Hg0 from coal combustion flue gas. Sample characterization indicated that the pore structure, surface morphology, and crystalline phases of CF samples were not changed after plasma treatment whereas the contents of lattice oxygen (Ol), Fe3+, and Cu2+ were largely increased. The treated CF samples exhibited far better NO removal performance compared with raw CF over a wide reaction temperature range (150–450 °C). The influences of plasma discharge time, discharge power, discharge atmosphere, and reaction temperature on NO removal performance were analyzed. O2 facilitated Hg0 and NO removal·H2O had adverse effect on Hg0 and NO removal. To some extent, the CF samples exhibited better resistant to sulfur poisoning due to the presence of Fe species. Moreover, the simultaneous removal behavior of Hg0 and NO over the modified CF samples were analyzed. NO facilitated Hg0 removal, but Hg0 had a slight inhibitory impact on NO removal. The optimum reaction temperature of simultaneous removal of NO and Hg0 was 300 °C. Finally, the mechanism responsible for NO/Hg0 removal was revealed, where CuO and Fe2O3 served as active components. During NO removal process, Fe3+, Cu2+, and Ol were first consumed and then recovered due to the existence of O2. Hg0 catalytic oxidation dominated the Hg0 removal process because Hg0 adsorption equilibrium was reached in a short time.

Interleukin-17A and interleukin-22 production by conventional and non-conventional lymphocytes in three different end-stage lung diseases.

ObjectivesThe contribution of adaptive vs. innate lymphocytes to IL‐17A and IL‐22 secretion at the end stage of chronic lung diseases remains largely unexplored. In order to uncover tissue‐ and disease‐specific secretion patterns, we compared production patterns of IL‐17A and IL‐22 in three different human end‐stage lung disease entities.MethodsProduction of IL‐17A, IL‐22 and associated cytokines was assessed in supernatants of re‐stimulated lymphocytes by multiplex assays and multicolour flow cytometry of conventional T cells, iNKT cells, γδ T cells and innate lymphoid cells in bronchial lymph node and lung tissue from patients with emphysema (n = 19), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n = 14) and cystic fibrosis (n = 23), as well as lung donors (n = 17).ResultsWe detected secretion of IL‐17A and IL‐22 by CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, innate lymphoid cells, γδ T cells and iNKT cells in all end‐stage lung disease entities. Our analyses revealed disease‐specific contributions of individual lymphocyte subpopulations to cytokine secretion patterns. We furthermore found the high levels of microbial detection in CF samples to associate with a more pronounced IL‐17A signature upon antigen‐specific and unspecific re‐stimulation compared to other disease entities and lung donors.ConclusionOur results show that both adaptive and innate lymphocyte populations contribute to IL‐17A‐dependent pathologies in different end‐stage lung disease entities, where they establish an IL‐17A‐rich microenvironment. Microbial colonisation patterns and cytokine secretion upon microbial re‐stimulation suggest that pathogens drive IL‐17A secretion patterns in end‐stage lung disease.

Factors Affecting the Microstructure, Tensile Properties and Corrosion Resistance of AA7075 Forgings.

AA7075 alloys are high strength alloys and are used as an important material for making engineering parts. Forged AA7075 alloys showed significantly decreased toughness when the material was hot deformed at a high temperature. This study investigated the effects of forging parameters on the tensile properties and the microstructure of AA7075 forgings. The tensile properties and corrosion resistance of different forgings were determined to be correlated with their microstructures. The experiment annealed and hot-deformed sample bars at 633 K, cold-deformed them at room temperature (RF), and at sub-zero temperatures (CF). After T73 heat treatment, the microstructures depended on the deformation temperature. This varied significantly, from elongated grains for hot-forged samples to equiaxial grains for cold-deformed samples. The hot-deformed samples had a tensile strength of 592 MPa for UTS, 538 MPa for YS, and 13.4% for elongation. These were stronger but less elongated than the cold-deformed samples. All hot-deformed (HF), RF, and CF samples exhibited mechanical properties that exceeded UTS > 505 MPa, YS > 435 MPa, and an elongation > 13%, and showed moderate corrosion resistance if samples were in contact with a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The toughness of the forgings could be significantly improved by decreasing the forging temperatures. The corrosion resistance of AA7075-T73 forgings was affected by the total grain boundary (GB) lengths per unit area and the 2nd phase particle counts per unit area. Increasing the high-angle grain boundary lengths (HAGBs) per unit area accelerated corrosion and increased the Icorr value.

Is it possible to cut down fishmeal and soybean meal use in aquafeed limiting the negative effects on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillet quality and consumer acceptance?

Poultry by-products (PBM) and Hermetia illucens prepupae meal (HM) are promising alternative protein sources for aquafeeds, being palatable, nutritious, and/or cost-effective, in addition to fostering circular economy. Their inclusion in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) feeds, although not detrimental for growth and wellbeing, leads to a decreased fatty acid (FA) quality, specifically, a decreased polyunsaturated FA content.The present study assessed the effect of five different diets on rainbow trout's biometric, marketable, and physical traits, oxidative status, fillet nutritional quality (of fresh and of 60-day stored fillets) and consumers' liking. The diets tested were: i) a positive-control diet, based on fishmeal (CF); ii) a plant protein-based diet (CV) resembling current commercial diets, used as additional control; 60% of the vegetable proteins were substituted with either iii) PBM (P60), iv) HM (H60) or v) both PBM and HM (H10P50).The principal component analysis considering all parameters showed two neat clusters, one grouping CF samples, the other grouping the rest of the samples. Specifically, hepatosomatic index and colour were significantly altered by the different administered diets. The most evident differences between dietary treatments were found in the FA profile, with CF fish showing a distinct FA profile in comparison to the other groups. Although the highest eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid contents were found in CF group, the total polyunsaturated FA content was not significantly different between the dietary treatments, as linoleic and linolenic acids were the lowest in the CF fillets (p < 0.001). Storage seemed to exacerbate the differences found immediately after slaughter. As a consequence of the FA profile, conjugated dienes were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the CF group compared to all the others. MDA-eq. content, although unaffected by diet at day 0, was higher (p < 0.01) after 60 days of storage in the CF group compared to H60, P60, and H10P50 fillets. Consumer likings were favourable and not statistically different between the dietary groups. Only 20% of the consumers criticised the gustative attributes of P60 and H10P50, while almost 25% of them criticised CF, CV, and H60.In summary, the P60, H60 and H10P50 diets were not less than the commercial-like CV diet. Combining PBM and HM showed positive results and needs further studies. Improving the n-3/n-6 ratio remains a priority to be addressed when formulating aquafeeds with innovative ingredients.