Combination Of Sonication Research Articles

Newly synthesized chitosan-stevioside-TPGS nanoparticles (CSdNPs) attenuate the effects of high doses of free stevioside in male rats via inhibition of PRAP-α gene expression

This study investigated newly synthesized of chitosan-St-TPGS-NPs and chitosan-Sd-TPGS-NPs (CStNPs and CSdNPs) produced by a combination of sonication and emulsification/solvent evaporation method and in combination with the ionic gelation method with slight modifications. The newly synthesized CStNPs and CSdNPs were characterized by several technical methods such as SEM, TEM and FT-IR. In this study, 60 male Wistar rats were divided randomly into six groups. Each group included 10 animals with control group, stevia group (St), stevioside group (Sd), CNPs group, chitosan-stevia-TPGS nanoparticles (CStNPs) group, chitosan-stevioside-TPGS nanoparticles (CSdNPs) group. All the groups received their daily dosages orally for two months. After the end of the experiment, a blood sample was collected for estimation of the liver enzyme concentration (ALT, AST, ALP, and TSB), lipids profile (TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and HDL-C), hematological parameters (RBCs, WBCs, Hb, and PCV, also FAS, FBG, and TyG index). Analysis was performed to assess the average change (AFC) in PPAR-α gene expression in all study groups. The results suggested that there is a significant difference in FAS (pg/mL) levels between the control group (494.2 ± 15.8) and the St or free Sd groups at the end of 2nd month (511.6 ± 16.2, and 561.7 ± 17.2), respectively. In addition the highly significant differences were registered between the Sd group in comparison with CNPs, CStNPs, and CSdNPs groups at the end of the experiment. On the other hand, the results of this study suggested that there is a significant difference in AFC between the control group (5.86 ± 0.58) and St or free Sd groups at the end of the 2nd month (3.00 ± 0.22, and 1.86 ± 0.12), respectively. In addition, highly significant differences were found between the Sd group (1.86 ± 0.12) and the CNPs, CStNPs, and CSdNPs groups at the end of the experiment (4.98 ± 0.25, 3.91 ± 0.24, and 4.02 ± 0.45). This study concluded that St and in large form Sd have harmful effects on the male liver of male rats. The newly synthesized (CStNPs and CSdNPs) should attenuate the risk of St and Sd via the activation of PPAR-α gene expression and inhibition of FAS.

Piezoresistive properties of well-dispersed carbon nanotubes (CNTs) modified cement paste

When developing smart cement-based sensors with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as conductive fillers, CNTs with good dispersion can enhance the conductivity and piezoresistive properties of cement-based materials. In this study, a combination of sonication and dispersant was used to disperse CNTs, and then investigated the piezoresistive properties of well-dispersed CNTs modified cement paste. The experimental results showed that the dispersant used was polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and when the mass ratio of PVP to CNTs was 4:1, the sonication time was 25 min, and the standing time did not exceed 3 h, CNTs had higher dispersion quality. The resistivity of the cement paste decreased by two orders of magnitude with increasing CNTs dosage and exhibited visible percolation phenomenon with percolation thresholds ranging from 0.1 % to 0.3 %. The fractional change in resistivity, stress sensitivity and strain sensitivity of cement paste under cyclic loading reached the maximum values of 10.95 %, 1.146 %/MPa and 123.450 %, respectively, with high repeatability (92.63 %) and low hysteresis (8.40 %) when the content of CNTs was 0.4 %. At the same time, CNTs improved the microstructure of the cement paste, which positively affected the mechanical, electrical conductivity and piezoresistive properties of the material.

Systematic evaluation of methods for iron-impregnation of biochar and effects on arsenic in flooded soils.

There is a need for innovative strategies to decrease the mobility of metal(loids) including arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in agricultural soils, including rice paddies, so as to minimize dietary exposure to these toxic elements. Iron (Fe)-modified biochars (FBCs) are used to immobilize As and Cd in soil-water systems, but there is a lack of clarity on optimal methods for preparing FBCs because there are only limited studies that directly compare BCs impregnated with Fe under different conditions. There is also a lack of information on the long-term performance of FBCs in flooded soil environments, where reductive dissolution of Fe (oxy)hydroxide phases loaded onto biochar surfaces may decrease the effectiveness of FBCs. This study uses material characterization methods including FTIR, SEM-EDX, BET, and adsorption isotherm experiments to investigate the effects of Fe-impregnation methods (pH, pyrolysis sequence, and sonication) on the morphology and mineralogy of Fe loaded onto the biochar surface, and to FBC adsorbent properties for arsenate (As(V)), arsenite (As(III)), and Cd. Acidic impregnation conditions favored the adsorption of As(III) onto amorphous Fe phases that were evenly distributed on the biochar surface, including within the biochar pore structure. The combination of sonication with acidic Fe-impregnation conditions led to the best adsorption capacities for As(V) and As(III) (4830 and 11,166 μg As g-1 biochar, respectively). Alkaline Fe-impregnation conditions led to the highest Cd adsorption capacity of 3054 μg Cd g-1 biochar, but had poor effectiveness as an As adsorbent. Amending soil with 5% (w/w) of an acid-impregnated and sonicated FBC was more effective than an alkaline-impregnated FBC or ferrihydrite in decreasing porewater As concentrations. The acid-impregnated FBC also had greater longevity, decreasing As by 54% and 56% in two flooded phases, probably due to the greater stability of Fe(III) within the biochar pore structure that may have a direct chemical bond to the biochar surface. This study demonstrates that FBCs can be designed with selectivity towards different As species or Cd and that they can maintain their effectiveness under anaerobic soil conditions. This is the first study to systematically test how impregnation conditions affect the stability of FBCs in soils under multiple drying-rewetting cycles.

Delving into judiciously extracted inexpensive micro-algal dyes for DSSCs: Spectral decipherment and time-oriented extraction systems

The temperature and extraction techniques used for natural dye fabrication in dye-sensitized solar cells have significant implications for the future economy, influencing the efficiency and yield of dye extraction. This study analyzes the optical properties of microalgal dyes, examining reflectance and photo-electron energy scans, alongside emission rates in the UV–visible region, using aqueous methanol and ethanol solvents. Different time-oriented extraction methods, involving heating and a combination of sonication and heating, are assessed for their impact on specific and non-specific dye and pigment peaks. Extended heating periods result in dye degradation, while longer sonication proves efficient at 60 °C. The sonication technique's efficiency exponentially increases with Scenedesmus sp. concentration but not as much with Asterarcys quadricellulare at 60 °C. Asterarcys quadricellulare exhibits higher efficiency with ethanol, especially at 80 °C, and performs comparably with Scenedesmus sp. The optimal heating duration ranges from 10 to 25 min, while sonication is more efficient within 25 to 40 min for both temperatures.

Facile synthesis of FeCeOx nanoparticles encapsulated carbon nitride catalyst for highly efficient and recyclable synthesis of substituted imidazoles

Herein, we developed a novel composite called FeCeOx@g-C3N4 through a combination of sonication, sintering, and hydrothermal techniques to implement the principles of green chemistry by utilizing reusable nanocomposites in one-pot reactions. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the catalyst's structure, composition, and morphology, various characterization methods were employed. These included FT-IR analysis to examine chemical bonds, SEM and TEM imaging to visualize the catalyst's surface and internal structure, TGA to assess thermal stability, EDS for elemental composition analysis, and XRD to determine crystal structure. The FeCeOx@g-C3N4 nanocatalyst demonstrated remarkable efficacy in the one-pot synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted and 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazole. Noteworthy features of this catalyst included high percentage yield, mild reaction conditions, short reaction time, and an efficient and straightforward procedure. Furthermore, the FeCeOx@g-C3N4 composite exhibited excellent recyclability and reusability. It could be recycled and reused up to four times without a significant decline in catalytic activity.

Novel method to recover Salmonella enterica cells for Tn-Seq approaches from lettuce leaves and agricultural environments using combination of sonication, filtration, and dialysis membrane

Salmonella enterica in agricultural environments has become an important concern, due to its potential transmission to humans and the associated public health risks. To identify genes contributing to Salmonella adaptation to such environments, transposon sequencing has been used in recent years. However, isolating Salmonella from atypical hosts, such as plant leaves, can pose technical challenges due to low bacterial content and the difficulty to separate an adequate number of bacteria from host tissues. In this study, we describe a modified methodology using a combination of sonication and filtration to recover S. enterica cells from lettuce leaves. We successfully recovered over a total of 3.5 × 106Salmonella cells in each biological replicate from two six-week old lettuce leaves, 7 days after infiltration with a Salmonella suspension of 5 × 107 colony forming units (CFU)/mL. Moreover, we have developed a dialysis membrane system as an alternative method for recovering bacteria from culture medium, mimicking a natural environment. Inoculating 107 CFU/mL of Salmonella into the media based on plant (lettuce and tomato) leaf and diluvial sand soil, a final concentration of 109.5 and 108.5 CFU/mL was obtained, respectively. One millilitre of the bacterial suspension after 24 h incubation at 28 °C using 60 rpm agitation was pelleted, corresponding to 109.5 and 108.5 cells from leaf- or soil-based media. The recovered bacterial population, from both lettuce leaves and environment-mimicking media, can adequately cover a presumptive library density of 106 mutants. In conclusion, this protocol provides an effective method to recover a Salmonella transposon sequencing library from in planta and in vitro systems. We expect this novel technique to foster the study of Salmonella in atypical hosts and environments, as well as other comparable scenarios.

Discovery of Novel Effector Protein Candidates Produced in the Dorsal Gland of Adult Female Root-Knot Nematodes.

Root-knot nematodes (RKN) (Meloidogyne spp.) represent one of the most damaging groups of plant-parasitic nematodes. They secrete effector proteins through a protrusible stylet to manipulate host cells for their benefit. Stylet-secreted effector proteins are produced within specialized secretory esophageal gland cells, one dorsal gland (DG) and two subventral glands (SvG), whose activity differ throughout the nematode life cycle. Previous gland transcriptomic profiling studies identified dozens of candidate RKN effectors but were focused on the juvenile stages of the nematode, when the SvGs are most active. We developed a new approach to enrich for the active DGs of M. incognita adult female RKN for RNA and protein extraction. Female heads were manually cut from the body, and a combination of sonication and vortexing was used to dislodge contents inside the heads. DG-enriched fractions were collected by filtering, using cell strainers. Comparative transcriptome profiling of pre-parasitic second-stage juveniles, female heads, and DG-enriched samples was conducted using RNA sequencing. Application of an established effector mining pipeline led to the identification of 83 candidate effector genes upregulated in DG-enriched samples of adult females that code for proteins with a predicted signal peptide but lack transmembrane domains or homology to proteins in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In situ hybridization resulted in the identification of 14 new DG-specific candidate effectors expressed in adult females. Taken together, we have identified novel candidate Meloidogyne effector genes that may have essential roles during later stages of parasitism. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Combined Effect of Ultrasound and Low-Heat Treatments on E. coli in Liquid Egg Products and Analysis of the Inducted Structural Alterations by NIR Spectroscopy.

In this study, sonication with mild heat treatment was used to reduce the E. coli count in inoculated liquid whole egg, egg yolk and albumen. Ultrasonic equipment (20/40 kHz, 180/300 W) has been used for 30/60 min with a 55 °C water bath. The combination of sonication and low-heat treatment was able to reduce the concentration of E. coli from 5-log CFU × mL-1 below 10 CFU × mL-1 at 300 W, 40 kHz and 60 min of sonication in liquid egg products. The 60 min treatment was able to reduce the E. coli concentration below 10 CFU × mL-1 in the case of egg yolk regardless of the applied frequency, absorbed power or applied energy dose. The 30 min treatment of sonication and heating was able to reduce significantly the number of E. coli in the egg products, as well. Our results showed that sonication with mild heat treatment can be a useful technique to decrease the number of microorganisms in liquid egg products to a very low level. Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate structural changes in the samples, induced by the combined treatment. Principal component analysis showed that this method can alter the C-H, C-N, -OH and -NH bonds in these egg products.

Degradation of cosmetic ingredient methylparaben by zinc oxide nanoparticles, aided by sonication, light or a combination of sonication and light

Parabens are frequently used in cosmetics and their high quantities in wastewater are detrimental to the ecosystem. The effect of sonication, light aid and a combination of both on nano-sized zinc oxide-mediated degradation of methylparaben (MP) was investigated using electronic spectroscopy and differential conductometry. The time-dependent absorption at λ max of MP (i.e. 254 nm) was used to monitor the system. The degradation process that followed pseudo-first-order kinetics was augmented by the presence of ZnO. Light exposure gave better results than sonication; however, a negative synergy was observed under the combined catalysis. This limitation was overcome using constant sonication time, a high amount of catalyst and variable light exposure duration. Conductivity measurements revealed an excess of free radical or neutral species. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) indicated a wurtzite hexagonal structure and crystallite size of 39 nm for ZnO NPs. In Fourier transform infrared spectrum, the Zn-O band was observed at 618 cm−1.

What is the best technic to dislodge Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm on medical implants?

BackgroundBacterial biofilm can occur on all medical implanted devices and lead to infection and/or dysfunction of the device.In this study, artificial biofilm was formed on four different medical implants (silicone, piccline, peripheral venous catheter and endotracheal tube) of interest for our daily clinical and/or research practice. We investigated the best conventional technic to dislodge the biofilm on the implants and quantified the number of bacteria. Staphylococcus epidermidis previously isolated from a breast implant capsular contracture on a patient in the university hospital of Dijon was selected for its ability to produce biofilm on the implants. Different technics (sonication, Digest-EUR®, mechanized bead mill, combination of sonication plus Digest-EUR®) were tested and compared to detach the biofilm before quantifying viable bacteria by colony counting.ResultsFor all treatments, the optical and scanning electron microscope images showed substantial less biofilm biomass remaining on the silicone implant compared to non-treated implant.This study demonstrated that the US procedure was statistically superior to the other physical treatment: beads, Digest-EUR® alone and Digest-EUR® + US (p < 0.001) for the flexible materials (picc-line, PIV, and silicone). The number of bacteria released by the US is significantly higher with a difference of 1 log on each material. The result for a rigid endotracheal tube were different with superiority for the chemical treatment dithiothreitol: Digest-EUR®. Surprisingly the combination of the US plus Digest-EUR® treatment was consistently inferior for the four materials.ConclusionsDepending on the materials used, the biofilm dislodging technique must be adapted. The US procedure was the best technic to dislodge S. epidermidis biofilm on silicone, piccline, peripheral venous catheter but not endotracheal tube. This suggested that scientists should compare themselves different methods before designing a protocol of biofilm study on a given material.

Comparative Study of Different Sampling Methods of Biofilm Formed on Stainless-Steel Surfaces in a CDC Biofilm Reactor.

The formation of biofilms in dairy processing plants can reduce equipment efficiency, contribute to surface deterioration, and contaminate dairy products by releasing the microorganisms they contain, which may cause spoilage or disease. However, a more representative identification of microbial communities and physico-chemical characterization requires to detach and recover adequately the entire biofilm from the surface. The aim of this study is to develop an efficient technique for in-plant biofilm sampling by growing a strain of Pseudomonas azotoformans PFl1A on stainless-steel surface in a dynamic CDC biofilm reactor system using tryptic soy broth (TSB) and milk as growth media. Different techniques, namely, swabbing, scraping, sonic brushing, synthetic sponge, and sonicating synthetic sponge were used and the results were compared to a standard ASTM International method using ultrasonication. Their efficiencies were evaluated by cells enumeration and scanning electron microscopy. The maximum total viable counts of 8.65 ± 0.06, 8.75 ± 0.08, and 8.71 ± 0.09 log CFU/cm2 were obtained in TSB medium using scraping, synthetic sponge, and sonicating synthetic sponge, respectively, which showed no statistically significant differences with the standard method, ultrasonication (8.74 ± 0.02 log CFU/cm2). However, a significantly (p < 0.05) lower cell recovery of 8.57 ± 0.10 and 8.60 ± 0.00 log CFU/cm2 compared to ultrasonication were achieved for swabbing and sonic brushing, respectively. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy showed an effective removal of biofilms by sonic brushing, synthetic sponge, and sonicating synthetic sponge; However, only the latter two methods guaranteed a superior release of bacterial biofilm into suspension. Nevertheless, a combination of sonication and synthetic sponge ensured dislodging of sessile cells from surface crevices. The results suggest that a sonicating synthetic sponge could be a promising method for biofilm recovery in processing plants, which can be practically used in the dairy industries as an alternative to ultrasonication.

Simultaneous focused ultrasound solid–liquid extraction and dispersive solid-phase extraction clean-up for gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in crustacean gammarids meeting the requirements of the European Union Water Framework Directive

The study presents the development and validation of a method for the determination of seven priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, including fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene, for which the EU has set environmental quality standards, EQS, for biota) in gammarid samples combining focused ultrasound solid–liquid extraction and dispersive solid-phase extraction clean-up in one step followed by gas chromatography–triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (GC–QqQ-MS/MS). The method is designed to analyse small about 100 mg dry weight (dw) samples obtained after lyophilisation of 500 mg wet weight (ww) samples. The sample preparation procedure is simple, environment friendly (method was classified as “an excellent green analysis” according to the analytical Eco-Scale assessment), non-laborious and low-cost and, apart from the sample extract concentration step, is quick. Thorough disintegration of the gammarids is achieved by a combination of sonication and the addition of granular anhydrous Na2SO4 to the gammarid suspension, thus avoiding the need to grind the sample prior to analysis. The QqQ-MS/MS detector, thanks to its excellent selectivity and sensitivity, allows to meet the EQS requirements for PAHs in biota with a good margin (limits of quantification in the range of 0.12 and 0.56 ng g‒1 ww). The method has been successfully validated (in terms of linearity, method limits, precision, trueness, robustness, measurement uncertainty and comparative analysis of real samples), and has been shown to be suitable for monitoring and evaluating the PAHs contamination in surface water biota.

Everolimus loaded NPs with FOL targeting: preparation, characterization and study of its cytotoxicity action on MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines

Background and objective: The mortality cases of breast cancer (BC) are probably caused by inadequate of the benefits of treatment and early detection, moreover the lack of appropriate facilities for diagnosis and detection, also high cost effective of the treatment. The preparation of Everolimus (EV) loaded PLGA-TPGS NPs (nano-EV) targeting with folate (PLGA-TPGS-EV-FOL) and investigate their toxicity effect on human MCF-7 BC cell lines may be given an appropriate lines in BC treatment. Methods: EV loaded NPs were prepared by combination of sonication and emulsification/solvent evaporation method with slight modifications into four formulations A, B, C , and D. EV loaded NPs were characterized by FESEM and TEM for particle size (PS) and zeta potential (ZP), FT-IR, drug loading (DL%), encapsulation efficiency (EE%), In vitro drug release, inhibition concentration IC50 and cell viability%, apoptosis, angiogenesis, glucose transporting, and HIF-1A mRNA gene expression. Results: Formulation B of EV loaded NPs was found to be lowest PS 100±12.7 nm, PDI 0.152, and have ZP, -23.2.5. The higher DL% content of EV was detected as 7.32±1.1% and EE% was 87± 2.6% in formulation B. The results suggested that the free EV dissolution was 80% within 4h but release profile of A, B, C, and D formulations within 4h were 34, 23, 26, 30%, respectively. EV formulated in NPs showed better effects against the MCF-7 BC cell line than EV free and EV loaded NPs formulation B achieved even better therapeutic effect than A, C, and D formulations. HIF-1A mRNA gene expression was decreased when treated the MCF-7 BC cells with EV loaded NPs formulation B compare to expression in untreated cells. Conclusion: EV loaded NPs may be useful in lowering the cost of treatment and may be involved in the decline of chemotherapy side effects.

Modeling the Effects of Physical Methods on Olive Bitterness Components

Olive fruit is rich in various micronutrients, especially phenolics and antioxidants, which are widely consumed as an important component of a healthy diet. In table olive production, chemical applications applied to reduce bitterness cause quality loss, salt accumulation and wastewater. Considering all these factors, within the scope of this study, the combined effects of sonication, freezing-thawing and drying processes, known as unique positive and successful applications, were investigated using RSM. For this purpose, total phenolic content (TPC), oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol content were examined while producing dry olives from ripe Edremit (Ayvalık) olives. It was found that raw Edremit olives had TPC at 16.28±0.58 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/ g dry matter (DM). Oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol content at 15.39±1.70 mg/g DM and 0.544±0.06 mg/g DM, respectively. The quadratic model was found to be the most accurate in modeling and identifying TPC in experimental samples. According to ANOVA results, the most effective parameters on TPC were investigated as sonication time (A), drying temperature (C), interactive effect of sonication time and freezing temperature (AB), sonication time and drying temperature (AC) and the quadratic effect of sonication time (A2). It was evaluated that, the combination of sonication, freezing and drying reduced the oleuropein content to 0.307-0.501 mg/g DM and hydroxytyrosol content to 0.135-0.202 mg/g DM regardless of the level of parameters (p>0.05). Consequently, it was proven that sonication, freezing- thawing and drying for desired level of TPC and oleuropein can be provided. For further studies, consumer expectation and sensory evaluation are required for targeted industrial applications.

Purification of commercial grade bentonite from LamDong, Vietnam for nano-size montmorillonite

The article will report the purification of Dilinh bentonite sample deposits of Lamdong province in Vietnam. The combination of sonication, sedimentation and dispersant (NaPO3)6 were applied to increase the montmorillonite (MMT) content. To evaluate the effect of (NaPO3)6 concentration, X-ray diffraction, Infra-red spectra, X-ray fluorescence spectra, dynamic light scatteringand scanning electron microscopy analyses were carried out. The results showed that, when (NaPO3)6content increased, the fraction of MMT increased and that of quartz decreased. The optimum (NaPO3)6 content was 5 wt%,to eliminate maximum of quartz and other non clay minerals, the recovery yield was 71.2%.This was a high quality MMT selection process; the purified MMT is suitable for application as nanofiller in high performance polymer nanocomposites.

Enhanced tensile strength, fracture toughness and piezoresistive performances of CNT based epoxy nanocomposites using toroidal stirring assisted ultra-sonication

The importance of proper CNT dispersion is still the main challenge in CNTs doped epoxy nanocomposites. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of toroidal stirring-assisted sonication on final mechanical, electrical and electromechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Two different samples were produced i.e. one with just sonication (M1 batch) and the other was produced using a combination of sonication and high toroidal stirring in an iterative approach (M2 batch). While piezoresistivity performance of the CNT based nanocomposites were mainly investigated in the literature for tensile mode and less attempts were conducted in presence of a pre-crack, both tensile and fracture tests were performed in this study to measure mechanical and electromechanical properties of the nanocomposites. SEM and FESEM were used for the microstructural characterizations. Results showed that M2 batch resulted in a better mechanical, electrical, and piezoresistivity performance than the M1 batch resulting from a better CNT dispersion and less amount of voids in the former compared to the latter. In fact, tensile strength and fracture toughness was increased by 70% and 17%, respectively for M2 batch with respect to M1 batch . Moreover, piezoresistive-sensitivity of the M2 batch increased 14%, compared to M1 batch. Finally, different trends in piezoresistivity was revealed in the fracture test before the occurrence of macroscopic damage, attributed to state of CNT dispersion and manifesting as a negative and positive trend for the M2 and M1 batches, respectively.

The impact of sonication cultures when the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection is inconclusive.

In the absence of a gold standard criterion for diagnosing prosthetic joint infections (PJI), sonication of the removed implant may provide superior microbiological identification to synovial fluid and peri-implant tissue cultures. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the role of sonication culture compared to tissue cultures for diagnosing PJI, using different consensus and international guidelines for PJI definition. Data of 146 patients undergoing removal of hip or knee arthroplasties between 2010 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The International Consensus Meeting (ICM-2018), Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS), Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the European Bone and Joint Infection Society (EBJIS), and a modified clinical criterion, were used to compare the performance of microbiological tests. McNemar´s test and proportion comparison were employed to calculate p-value. Overall, 56% (82/146) were diagnosed with PJI using the clinical criteria. Out of these cases, 57% (47/82) tested positive on tissue culture and 93% (76/82) on sonication culture. Applying this clinical criterion, the sensitivity of sonication fluid and tissue cultures was 92.7% (95% CI: 87.1%- 98.3%) and 57.3% (95% CI: 46.6%-68.0%) (p<0.001), respectively. When both methods were combined for diagnosis (sonication and tissue cultures) sensitivity reached 96.3% (95% CI: 91.5%-100%). Sonication culture and the combination of sonication with tissue cultures, showed higher sensitivity rates than tissue cultures alone for all diagnostic criteria (ICM-18, MSIS, IDSA and EBJIS) applied. Conversely, tissue culture provided greater specificity than sonication culture for all the criteria assessed, except for the EBJIS criteria, in which sonication and tissue cultures specificity was 100% and 95.3% (95% CI: 87.8-100%), respectively (p = 0.024). In a context where diagnostic criteria available have shortcomings and tissue cultures remain the gold standard, sonication cultures can aid PJI diagnosis, especially when diagnostic criteria are inconclusive due to some important missing data (joint puncture, histology).

Combination of sonication with anti‐browning treatments as a strategy to increase the shelf life of fresh‐cut potatoe (cv. Monalisa)

Two antioxidant solutions, a patented mixture based on vitamin C and other compounds (Natureseal®, MV) and green tea extract (GT), were proposed to prevent browning in sliced potatoes. Combination with ultrasound (US) at two frequencies (35 and 130 kHz) was also evaluated, but no significant enhancement of the effects was detected with US. In MV-treated samples, respiration rate and dry matter (19.7%) were higher than they were in the control (CK) (17.3%) or GT-treated samples (16.8%). Neither membrane integrity nor malondialdehyde content was significantly affected by the addition of MV or GT, but in MV samples the antioxidant activity was increased sixfold at the beginning of the storage (39.1 mmol ascorbic acid equivalents/kg), but decreased after 9 days. A yellowish coloration on the surface of GT samples (L*a*b* values being 68.3, −6.4, and 25.3, respectively), attributed to the coloration of the tea concentrate, was observed. In the conditions studied, GT was not able to delay browning in potatoe slices. In contrast, MV solution preserved the original color of the sliced potatoes (69.6, −6.7, and 27.7 for L*a*b*, respectively), during the 9-day storage at 4°C. Novelty Impact Statement Sulfites are used as an additive to maintain food color, shelf life, and prevent the growth of fungi or bacteria. However, they are considered as allergenic substances. The study proves the efficacy of vitamin C as a substitute to sulfites to preserve fresh-cut potatoes and delay their browning.

Iridium(III) Complex-Loaded Perfluoropropane Nanobubbles for Enhanced Sonodynamic Therapy.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a novel promising approach for the minimally invasive treatment of cancer derived from photodynamic therapy (PDT). In this study, we have explored an effective sonosensitizer for SDT by loading the iridium(III) complex [Ir(ppy)2(en)] OOCCH3, where ppy = 2-phenylpyridine and en = ethylenediamine], from now on referred to as Ir, with high photosensitizing ability, into echogenic nanobubbles (Ir-NBs). Akin to photosensitizers, sonosensitizers are acoustically activated by deep-tissue-penetrating low-frequency ultrasound (US) resulting in a localized therapeutic effect attributed to an excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The Ir-NB formulation was optimized, and the in vitro characterizations were carried out, including physical properties, acoustic performance, intracellular ROS generation, and cytotoxicity against two human cancer cell lines. Ir-NBs had an average size of 303.3 ± 91.7 nm with a bubble concentration of 9.28 × 1010 particles/mL immediately following production. We found that the initial Ir feeding concentration had a negligible effect on the NB size, but affected the bubble concentration as well as the acoustic performance of the NBs. Through a combination of sonication and Ir-NBs treatment, an increase of 68.8% and 69.6% cytotoxicity in human ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-3) and human breast cancer cells (MCF-7), respectively, was observed compared to the application of Ir-NBs alone. Furthermore, Ir-NBs exposed to the US also induced the highest levels of intracellular ROS generation compared to free Ir and free Ir with empty NBs. The combination of these results suggests that the differences in treatment efficacy is a direct result of acoustic cavitation. These results provide evidence that US activated Ir-loaded NBs have the potential to become an effective sonosensitizer for SDT.

The degradation of cellulose in ionic mixture solutions under the high pressure of carbon dioxide.

This work aims to study the product characteristics of cellulose degradation not only by a hydrothermal process but also in combination with a sonication process. Herein, 4.3 mL of oxalic acid (H2C2O4)–sodium chloride (NaCl) solution containing cellulose was placed into a stainless steel reactor (or the mixture was placed into the reactor after the sonication process for 1 hour); then, carbon dioxide (CO2) was released for pressurization. Degradation was performed under certain pressures (70 and 200 bar) and temperatures (125 °C and 200 °C) at various times. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) results indicated that the sonication pretreatment process affected the solid cellulose, making it rougher or fibrous than the non-sonicated process. XRD characterization results indicated that both process types caused changes in the crystallinity and composition of cellulose I and II with pressure, temperature, and time. The combination of sonication and hydrothermal processes resulted in lower crystallinity. Changes in crystallinity showed different characteristics in swelling, reduced the interaction between chains, and even broke the polymer chains inside the particles. In a hydrothermal process at 200 bar and 200 °C, a maximum reducing sugar concentration of 5.1 g L−1 was obtained, while 3.2 g L−1 was obtained in the combined sonication and hydrothermal process under the same operating condition, which is below the value attained at 200 °C and 70 bar. These results indicated the existing competition between the formation and further degradation of the reducing sugar, a phenomenon explained by the presence of a monomer (reducing sugar), an oligomer (cellotriose), and 5-HMF (5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde) in a liquid product processed under hydrothermal conditions.