Experimental Conditions Research Articles

Enhancing the quality and shelf life of semi‐smoked sausages with sesame seed additions

SummaryThis study investigates strategies to improve the quality and prolong the shelf life of semi‐smoked sausages made from beef by incorporating vegetable products. In this study, sesame seeds and sesame oil were employed as plant‐based products. Organoleptic analysis was comprehensively conducted, assessing sensory characteristics such as taste, aroma, texture and visual appearance of semi‐smoked sausages. Evaluations were performed by experienced experts, ensuring a meticulous and precise investigation of the sensory attributes of the product. The analysis encompasses a comprehensive examination of microbiological parameters over varying storage periods, a detailed study of the overall chemical composition, sensory evaluations and scrutiny of pH variations and oxidative processes during the 0–30 days storage interval. Distinct groups, including a control group (Group 1—sausages without vegetable additives), Group 2 (sausages with sesame seed incorporation) and Group 3 (sausages with sesame oil inclusion), were subjected to the experimental conditions. Evaluating the pH levels revealed a significant gradual increase in Group 3 compared to both the control (P ≤ 0.01) and Group 2 (P ≤ 0.05). Simultaneously, water activity values experienced a notable decrease to 0.944 (P ≤ 0.05) in all groups, providing a uniform trend across the experiment. The introduction of plant‐based ingredients, particularly sesame, and the comprehensive examination of various production technologies, encompassing both standard and accelerated processes, distinguish this study from existing works. Furthermore, the research takes into account a complex array of factors acting as barriers, providing valuable practical insights for potential improvements in the production of semi‐smoked sausages.

Choosing the best way: how wild common marmosets travel to efficiently exploit resources

While foraging, animals have to find potential food sites, remember these sites, and plan the best navigation route. To deal with problems associated with foraging for multiple and patchy resources, primates may employ heuristic strategies to improve foraging success. Until now, no study has attempted to investigate experimentally the use of such strategies by a primate in a context involving foraging in large-scale space. Thus, we carried out an experimental field study that aimed to test if wild common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) employ heuristic strategies to efficiently navigate through multiple feeding sites distributed in a large-scale space. In our experiment, we arranged four feeding platforms in a trapezoid configuration with up to 60 possible routes and observe marmosets’ decisions under two experimental conditions. In experimental condition I, all platforms contained the same amount of food; in experimental condition II, the platforms had different amounts of food. According to the number and arrangement of the platforms, we tested two heuristic strategies: the Nearest Neighbor Rule and the Gravity Rule. Our results revealed that wild common marmosets prefer to use routes consistent with a heuristic strategy more than expected by chance, regardless of food distribution. The findings also demonstrate that common marmosets seem to integrate different factors such as distance and quantity of food across multiple sites distributed over a large-scale space, employing a combination of heuristic strategies to select the most efficient routes available. In summary, our findings confirm our expectations and provide important insights into the spatial cognition of these small neotropical primates.

Cobalt nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanotubes with high specific surface area activate peroxymonosulfate to degrade ciprofloxacin

Advanced oxidation method based on sulfate radical (SO4−) are increasingly used to degrade organic pollutants. However, high-efficient and stable catalysts are still needed at this stage. In this study, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes coated cobalt nanoparticles (Co@NCNTs) were prepared by a simple and rapid pyrolysis method and employed as a high performance peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator for degradation of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP). The Co@NCNTs/PMS system achieved 100 % removal of CIP in 40 min with low metal leaching. The effects of Co@NCNTs on PMS activation under different experimental conditions were investigated. The catalyst maintained excellent catalytic activity in the presence of different anions and humic acids and in a wide pH range (4–9). SO4– was identified as the active substance primarily responsible for removing CIP. The possible degradation pathway of CIP was proposed by analyzing the degradation intermediates of CIP. This work provides a high-performance catalyst to activate PMS for the removal of antibiotic with low metal leaching.

Nitrogen uptake in lentil cultivar mixtures is not predictable from pure stands performance but is correlated with agronomic parameters and experimental conditions

BackgroundIn the context of rising costs of raw materials and environmental degradation caused by livestock farming, the agri-food sector faces significant challenges in sourcing sustainable proteins. Grain legumes have emerged as cost-effective protein sources, with lower water footprint and GHG emissions compared to animal sources. However, their cultivation is threatened by strong yield fluctuations. Leveraging intra-specific diversity through cultivar mixtures in cropping systems can effectively buffer biotic and abiotic stresses, hence increasing yield stability. In this study, we investigate the effect of intra-specific diversity on lentil nitrogen uptake under pot (2020) and field conditions (2021). We hypothesize that cultivars with higher affinity for nitrogen fixation influence the other components of the mixture, and that nitrogen uptake dynamics are a possible driver in modulating cultivar mixture behaviour. We designed two-, three-, and four-cultivar mixtures with a trait-blind approach and compared them to sole cultivars.Results and conclusionsOur results show inconsistencies across the two experimental years, indicating that lentils may shift their nitrogen source from the atmosphere to the soil when grown in pots. Mixtures 15N enrichment was not always consistent with pure stand performance, suggesting that cultivar mixtures may have an unpredictable cumulative effect on nitrogen uptake. Regarding correlations with agronomic parameters, we observed a significant correlation between nodules number and nitrogen concentration, regardless of experimental conditions. Finally, we found that 15N excess emerged as a significant predictor for pure stands’ yield, but the differences were diluted with the increase in diversity levels. The findings on 15N enrichment responses, cultivar impacts, and complex mixture effects on soil microbiota underscore the need for further research.

A novel dual recognition sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymers and photochemical aptamer for non-autofluorescence determination of dopamine

Dopamine (DA), as a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in neuronal communication. Abnormal levels of DA concentration in vivo are associated with severe neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Highly selective and highly efficient determination of DA from complex biological samples is very important. In this work, m-MIPs@DA@ZGGC-Apt, a novel sandwich structure persistent luminescence sensor was designed based on a photochemical aptamer sensor and magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (m-MIPs). By modifying aptamers on the surface of ZGGC persistent luminescent nanoparticles, ZGGC-Apt probes with dual capabilities (recognition and detection) were obtained, which allowed for specific recognition and autofluorescence-free detection of DA. The m-MIPs recognition probe with specific cavity captures of DA was synthesized using Fe3O4 as the imprint carrier. In the presence of both probes, a m-MIPs@DA@ZGGC-Apt sandwich structure was formed continuously in real samples with the increase in DA concentration, resulting in a strong the luminescence response. Under optimal experimental conditions, satisfactory selectivity and sensitivity were obtained by the dual recognition sensor achieved a wide linear range from 0.01 to 100 μM and a low detection limit of 0.0065 μM. Moreover, the designed sensor showed good reliability and practicability in the detection of small molecule DA in real biological samples.

Doping tungsten in iron-cobalt layered double hydroxides with interwoven ultra-thin nanosheet structures enhances the degradation of metronidazole by activating calcium sulfite

Tungsten-doped iron-cobalt layered bimetallic hydroxides (CoFeW-LDHs) were used for activating sulfite to degrade metronidazole (MTZ) in this study. The characterization results confirmed the presence of vertically aligned hierarchical ultrathin nanosheets forming a porous network, which enhances the material's ability to activate CaSO3. The study investigated the optimal Co/Fe/W atomic ratio in the catalysts and examined the impact of various parameters, such as catalyst dosage, CaSO3 concentration, initial pH, and MTZ concentration. Under the best experimental conditions identified, the degradation rate of MTZ reached 95% within 60 min. Mechanism analysis revealed that W doping promoted oxidation–reduction reactions between Co(Ⅱ)/Co(Ⅲ) and Fe(Ⅲ)/Fe(Ⅱ) on the catalyst surface, facilitating CaSO3 activation and the continuous generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) like 1O2 and SO4•−. Based on experimental, density functional theory (DFT), and quantitative structure–activity relationship analyses, the study proposed a degradation pathway and evaluated the ecotoxicity of MTZ and its intermediates. MTZ was found to be converted via three pathways into low or non-toxic intermediates, ultimately mineralizing into small inorganic molecules. Even after five cycles, Co3FeW-LDHs maintained a removal efficiency of over 90% for MTZ. The material's ease of synthesis, high activity, and stability suggest significant potential for practical application in environmental cleanup efforts.

Removal of furosemide from water by emulsion liquid membrane: Influence of experimental conditions and real water matrices

This work investigates the removal of furosemide (FSM) from low pH aqueous phase by emulsion liquid membrane (ELM). The influence of various experimental conditions on FSM permeation rate and subsequent emulsion stability, such as surfactant concentration, diluent type, stripping solution concentration, feed solution pH, stripping solution/membrane solution volume ratio, emulsification time and speed, stirring rate, initial FSM concentration, and emulsion/feed solution volume ratio, was evaluated. The ability to extract FSM in different natural complex matrices was examined. The ELM system is formed by Span 80 (5% w/w) as surfactant, hexane as diluent, NaOH (0.01 N) as stripping agent, stripping solution/membrane solution volume ratio of 1/1, treatment volume ratio of 20/200, and mixing rate of 200 rpm. The treatment process demonstrates complete removal of FSM within a remarkably short time span of 20 min. In seawater and natural mineral water, the extraction efficiency is 94.3% and 96.8%, respectively, after 20 min. Additionally, the stripping efficiency of FSM is reported to be excellent (100%), demonstrating the remarkable ability of ELM to remove and recover FSM from water. For these reasons, the ELM technique is a particularly interesting process for treating FSM-contaminated water.

Cathodal bilateral transcranial direct-current stimulation regulates selenium to confer neuroprotection after rat cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

Non-invasive transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe ischaemic stroke therapy. Cathodal bilateral tDCS (BtDCS) is a modified tDCS approach established by us recently. Because selenium (Se) plays a crucial role in cerebral ischaemic injury, we investigated whether cathodal BtDCS conferred neuroprotection via regulating Se-dependent signalling in rat cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. We first showed that the levels of Se and its transport protein selenoprotein P (SEPP1) were reduced in the rat cortical penumbra following I/R, whereas cathodal BtDCS prevented the reduction of Se and SEPP1. Interestingly, direct-current stimulation (DCS) increased SEPP1 level in cultured astrocytes subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation reoxygenation (OGD/R) but had no effect on SEPP1 level in OGD/R-insulted neurons, indicating that DCS may increase Se in ischaemic neurons by enhancing the synthesis and secretion of SEPP1 in astrocytes. We then revealed that DCS reduced the number of injured mitochondria in OGD/R-insulted neurons cocultured with astrocytes. DCS and BtDCS prevented the reduction of the mitochondrial quality-control signalling, vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) and syntaxin-4 (STX4), in OGD/R-insulted neurons cocultured with astrocytes and the ischaemic brain respectively. Under the same experimental conditions, downregulation of SEPP1 blocked DCS- and BtDCS-induced upregulation of VAMP2 and STX4. Finally, we demonstrated that cathodal BtDCS increased Se to reduce infract volume following I/R. Together, the present study uncovered a molecular mechanism by which cathodal BtDCS confers neuroprotection through increasing SEPP1 in astrocytes and subsequent upregulation of SEPP1/VAMP2/STX4 signalling in ischaemic neurons after rat cerebral I/R injury. KEY POINTS: Cathodal bilateral transcranial direct-current stimulation (BtDCS) prevents the reduction of selenium (Se) and selenoprotein P in the ischaemic penumbra. Se plays a crucial role in cerebral ischaemia injury. Direct-current stimulation reduces mitochondria injury and blocks the reduction of vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) and syntaxin-4 (STX4) in oxygen-glucose deprivation reoxygenation-insulted neurons following coculturing with astrocytes. Cathodal BtDCS regulates Se/VAMP2/STX4 signalling to confer neuroprotection after ischaemia.

Unsaturation and polar compounds of vegetable oils affect the properties of sunflower wax‐oleogels

AbstractAlthough it is important to understand the factors affecting the physical properties of oleogels for their application in food products, the effects of the kind of oils and components in them are not well understood. Previous studies on the effects of unsaturation and polar compounds of oils on the properties of oleogels reported inconsistent results, presumably, due to different gelling agents, experimental conditions, and different amounts of minor components in oils. In this study, a systematic study was conducted with 12 vegetable oils with and without polar compounds to understand these effects on the properties of 3% and 7% sunflower wax (SW)‐oleogels. In general, oils with higher unsaturation produced oleogels with lower gel strength. Polar compounds in oil negatively affected the gel strength. Melting and crystallization temperatures increased with increasing unsaturation of oil. The platelet shape of SW crystals was almost identical, regardless of the kind of oil. Solid wax content values were similar across the oleogel samples with 12 different oils. This study enlightens several factors affecting the physical properties of SW‐oleogels.Practical Application: This study provides information about the effects of unsaturation of oil and polar compounds in oil on firmness and melting properties of sunflower wax (SW)‐based oleogels. It was found that the firmness of SW‐oleogel can be significantly different (up to 65%) depending on vegetable oils used, and it decreased with increasing unsaturation of oil. It was also found that the firmness of the oleogel can be increased by up to 36% by removing polar compounds in oil. Solid wax content (SWC) of oleogels did show meaningful correlations with the firmness of SW‐oleogels. All the oleogels examined in this study had very similar shapes and sizes of SW crystals. For practical application, the unsaturation of oil and the polar compound content have to be considered when designing oleogels with desired textural properties.

Circadian Rhythms of Body Temperature and Locomotor Activity in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats under Frequent Changes in Light Conditions.

Changes in lighting accompany modern urbanization trends and can lead to various pathologies based on circadian disturbances. In this study, we assessed the changes in the circadian rhythm of core body temperature (Tcore) and locomotor activity of Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) following exposure to different lighting conditions: extended light phase of the day (16 h-8 h, 20 h-4 h, 24 h-0 h), light pollution, monochromatic light, and bright light therapy. The telemetry data was collected after experimental lighting conditions during periods with standard lighting (12 h of light and 12 h of darkness) and was processed using linear and cosinor analysis. The daily rhythms of rats' parameters persisted in accordance with the standard lighting regime. Tcore changes were observed in both groups compared to the initial period: in WKY, a decrease in Tcore during the darkness and an increase during the light; in SHR, the opposite trend, with Tcore increased during the darkness and decreased during the light phase of the day. A relationship between Tcore and activity was observed with weak correlation. WKY exhibited more pronounced signs of adaptive variation and desynchronization compared to SHR, which could be associated with a wider range of functional capabilities of the organism without cardiovascular pathology.

The research on the particle concentration distribution of directed airflow in cleanrooms for operators.

Existing research of non-unidirectional cleanrooms generally suggests that lower-side return air outlets provide better control effect on indoor particle concentration. As a result, there has been relatively less focus on return air outlets. However, installing return air outlets oriented towards operators as particle emission sources can reduce the impact on process layout and improve space utilization, while also provide less impact from upper particle emission sources on the workbench area. To investigate the characteristics of return air outlet for operators (abbreviated as H), this study compared the particle concentration distribution, non-uniformity, and purification efficiency of return air oultet H and the traditional lower-side (abbreviated as L) return air outlets by experiments and CFD simulations. Based on the theory of mass conservation, the expression of required air supply volume under equivalent cleanroom conditions was derived. Under corresponding experimental and simulation conditions, the particle concentration differences range from 2.0% to 12.7% for return air outlet H and from 12.4% to 33.2% for return air outlet L, and these differences gradually decrease with the air exchange rate (ACH) increases. The results show that ACH = 20 is sufficient for cleanliness requirements with return air outlet H when there is one person in the cleanroom, while a higher rate of ACH = 35 is needed when there are two persons. Although lower-side return air outlets have certain potential for reducing particle concentration in the cleanroom, increasing the air exchange rate remains the most effective method to control indoor particle concentration. Compared to the traditional lower-side return air outlet L, the ranges of the non-uniformity coefficients for return air outlet H and L are 0.50 to 0.67 and 0.45 to 0.53, respectively. The average non-uniformity coefficient differs by 11.9%, and there is not a significant difference in uniformity with more than 20 air changes per hour. The use of return air outlets H only requires an additional 11% of air supply volume to achieve the same cleanliness, demonstrating its effectiveness in controlling particle concentration. It is suitable for cleanrooms with higher requirements for workbenches and for cleanrooms with restricted floor usage or requiring flexible layouts. The study also explores the impact of width of return air outlet oriented towards operators as particle emission sources, the results show that the larger-sized outlets facilitate the particle discharge and control the particle distribution inside the room.

The effect of a single cycle of ischemia on bar velocity during bench press exercise

Introduction: The main goal of this study was to investigate the effects of a single cycle of ischemia applied before the bench press exercise on acute bar velocity changes. Materials and Methods: Twelve physically active males participated in the study. The experiment followed a randomized, cross-over design under two testing conditions. The experimental condition involved the application of a single cycle of ischemia (5 minutes; 80% arterial occlusion pressure [AOP]) before the first set of bench press exercise (2 sets at 60% 1RM). The control condition did not use ischemia. The peak and mean bar velocities were measured using a linear position transducer. Results: Two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed no statistically significant differences in the peak or mean bar velocity between the ischemia and control conditions both during the first and the second set of the bench press exercise. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that a single cycle of ischemia applied before the bench press exercise did not influence changes in peak or mean bar velocity.

The time validity of Philip's two‐term infiltration equation: An elusive theoretical quantity?

AbstractThe two‐term infiltration equation is commonly used to determine the sorptivity, , and product, , of the dimensionless multiple and saturated soil hydraulic conductivity from cumulative vertical infiltration measurements (L) at times (T). This reduced form of the quasi‐analytical power series solution of Richardson's equation of Philip enjoys a solid physical underpinning but at the expense of a limited time validity. Using simulated infiltration data, Jaiswal et al. have shown this time validity to equal about 2.5 cm of cumulative infiltration. The goals of this work are twofold. First, we investigate the extent to which cumulative infiltration measurements larger than 2.5 cm bias the estimates of and . Second, we investigate the impact of epistemic errors on the inferred time validities and parameters. Partial infiltration curves up to 2.5 cm of cumulative vertical infiltration improve substantially the agreement between actual and least squares estimates of and . But this only holds if the data generating infiltration process follows Richardson's equation and experimental conditions satisfy assumptions of soil homogeneity and a uniform initial water content. Otherwise, autocorrelated cumulative infiltration residuals will bias the least squares estimates of and . Our findings reiterate and reinvigorate earlier conclusions of Haverkamp et al. and show that epistemic errors deteriorate the physical significance of the coefficients of infiltration functions. As a result, the parameters of infiltration functions cannot simply be used in storm water and vadose zone flow models to forecast runoff and recharge at field and landscape scales unless these predictions are accompanied by realistic uncertainty bounds. We conclude that the time validity of Philip's two‐term equation is an elusive theoretical quantity with arbitrary physical meaning.

Hybrid Organic Polymer/Inorganic Nano-materials for Biomedical Applications: Where we are and Where to go?

Abstract: Hybrid functional materials, composed of inorganic and organic components, are considered versatile platforms whose applications in electronics, optics, mechanics, energy storage, informatics, catalysis, sensors, and medicine field have represented a breakthrough for human well-being. Among hybrid materials, micro/nanostructured hybrid colloidal systems have been widely investigated due to the dramatic enhancement of activity provided by the large surface area exposed at the interfaces with respect to the bulk counterpart. Recently, a growing interest has been in the exploration of novel environmental-friendly and versatile procedures that allow the formulation of hybrid nanostructures through safety procedures and mild experimental conditions. This review aims to provide an introduction to hybrid organic-inorganic materials for biomedical applications in particular nanostructured ones, describing the commonly exploited materials for their fabrication and techniques, advantages, and drawbacks.

Highly nanocrystalline Mg doped ZnFe2O4 powders for rapid and simultaneous adsorption of Lead, Copper, and Cadmium heavy metals ions in synthetic / sea waters

This research aims to investigate the effect of Mg doping on individual and simultaneous adsorption of Pb+2, Cu+2, and Cd+2 heavy metals in aqueous solution and in seawater samples, by Zinc ferrite nanoparticles. The Mg-doped Zinc ferrite nanoparticles are synthesized successfully by the sol-gel route and varying Mg concentrations. TEM, XRD, FTIR, Raman, and XPS characterizations confirm the cubic spinel structure of Zinc ferrite with a semi-spherical shaped nanosized particles (10-15nm) irrespective of Mg doping content. The BET surface area manifests a significant increase within Mg doping (39.3 m2/g) compared with the pure zinc ferrite (28.4 m2/g). Accordingly, Mg-doped Zinc ferrite powders demonstrate considerable adsorption capacities for Pb+2 (143.5mg/g), Cu+2 (117mg/g), and Cd+2 (77mg/g) within 2h under optimized experimental conditions. The prepared nanopowders exhibit high selectivity towards Pb+2 in simultaneous adsorption in aqueous solutions (85mg/g) and real seawater samples. Nonetheless, the selectivity of Pb+2 ions drops dramatically to 25mg/g within real seawater samples due to the strong ionic strength of high-salinity seawater. This study provides insights into the importance of doped spinel ferrite nanoparticles in highly efficient, rapid, and simultaneous adsorption of heavy metals. Besides, it reveals the challenge of performing the adsorption process in real seawater.

Green Synthesis Derived Novel Fe2O3/ZnO Nanocomposite for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange Dye

Introduction: An eco-friendly method was reported for the synthesis of ferric oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) and Fe2O3/ZnO nanocomposite using Mangifera indica plant leaf extract as a natural reducing agent. Methods: The synthesized nanomaterials were successfully characterized by X-ray diffraction, UVvisible spectrophotometer, Photoluminescence spectroscopy and Transmission electron microscopy. The obtained XRD spectrums revealed the crystalline nature of synthesized materials and the average diameters of Fe2O3 nanoparticles, ZnO nanoparticles and Fe2O3/ZnO nanocomposite came out to be 11.33 nm, 14.31 nm and 9.80 nm, respectively. The UV-visible absorbance spectra and photoluminescence spectrums confirmed that the Fe2O3/ZnO nanocomposite was visible light active and had excitation peaks in the visible range. Results: The TEM analysis confirmed the composite and semiconductor nature of the synthesized Fe2O3/ZnO nanocomposite. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of Fe2O3/ZnO nanocomposite reaches about 91.07% degradation of methyl orange dye within a time period of 150 min at an optimized catalyst dose. Adsorption isotherm and kinetic study were also applied to validate the study. Conclusion:: It was found that there was monolayer adsorption of methyl orange dye molecules on the surface of the synthesized catalyst under optimized experimental conditions and also, the adsorption process follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

Preparation of Ampicillin-derived CQDs and its Application in the Detection of Phenols in Medicinal Materials

Background: In this study, ampicillin sodium fluorescent carbon quantum dots were prepared by one-step hydrothermal method with ampicillin sodium as the carbon source and urea as the nitrogen source. Methods: The structure of CQDs were characterized by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The pH, reaction time and ionic strength of phenol detected by N-CQDs were optimized. The optimum experimental conditions were 40 μL ampicillin sodium N-CQDs, 2 mL buffer solution with pH 8.0, and the reaction time was 6 min. Results: Through the detection of fluorescence spectrophotometry, p-nitrophenol had obvious fluorescence quenching phenomenon on ampicillin sodium N-CQDs, and the detection limit was 75 nM. It was used in the standard addition experiment of actual samples, and the recovery rates were more than 85%. Conclusion: Therefore, the N-CQDs could be used as fluorescent probe to analyze the content of p-nitrophenol in the actual environment.

Perspective taking reduces the correspondence bias: A systematically replication of Hooper et al. (2015)

Correspondence bias has been extensively described in the scientific literature, along with its harmful consequences to relationships, decision-making, etc. Interventions aiming to reduce correspondence bias or its negative impact have been also offered. In this regard, the present study systematically replicated Hooper et al. (2015) to observe the effect of a brief perspective-taking training based on Relational Frame Theory (RFT-PT) on correspondence bias. Eighty-one participants were randomized into four groups, two experimental groups that underwent training and two control groups that answered a general knowledge questionnaire. To observe the extent of correspondence bias and the effect of training on this phenomenon, all participants were exposed to an experimental condition involving the Attitude Attribution Paradigm consisting of essays in favor of or against meritocracy. This condition demanded that the participant read an essay about meritocracy, supposedly written by a candidate in a selection process, and attribute to the declarant a position in favor or against meritocracy. Attenuation of correspondence bias was observed in the groups that underwent the RFT-PT compared to the control groups, supporting the hypothesis that the opportunity to vary perspectives may decrease correspondence bias. An analysis of correspondence bias in light of the RFT is suggested.

A new approach to the synthesis of CuMoO4 nanoparticles with mechanistic insight into the sunlight-assisted degradation of textile pollutants and antibacterial activity evaluation

CuMoO4 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by a thermal decomposition followed by a precipitation method. Analytical techniques such as SEM, EDS, TEM, XRD, FTIR, UV-visible, PL, and XPS were employed to characterize the structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of CuMoO4. As per XRD analysis, CuMoO4 with different Cu concentrations were consistent, however, their crystallinities were changed. The band gap of CuMoO4 with various concentrations of Cu (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3M) was estimated to be 1.97eV, 1.86eV, and 1.44eV, respectively. The electrical conductivity of 0.3M CuMoO4 NPs was greater than other nanocomposites. Methylene Blue (MB) mineralization in an aqueous medium after 180minutes of exposure to sunlight was investigated to study the photocatalytic activities of all CuMoO4 composites. As per the PL study, the 0.3M CuMoO4 NPs exhibited better photocatalytic efficiency due to their low electron-hole recombination rate. Experimental parameters like the MB concentration, catalyst dosage, and the solution pH were evaluated to optimize the experimental conditions. The in-situ capture analysis proposed a plausible mechanism for the photocatalytic degradation of MB. The two main active species identified for MB degradation were superoxide radical anions and hydroxyl radicals. The repeated photocatalytic MB degradation verified the high level of reusability of 0.3M CuMoO4. The well-diffusion technique was utilized to examine the antibacterial activity of 0.3M CuMoO4 NPs against gram-positive (Salmonella typhi) and gram-negative (Streptococcus mutans) bacterial strains. Optimized CuMoO4 showed excellent promise for application in the field of photocatalysis, electrocatalytic and antibacterial activity.

Experimental and Computational Study of Microhardness Evolution in the HAZ for Al–Cu–Li Alloys

The Laser Beam Welding (LBW) of aluminum alloys has attracted significant interest from industrial sectors, including the shipbuilding, automotive and aeronautics industries, as it expects to contribute to significant cost reduction associated with the production of high-quality welds. To comprehend the behavior of welded structures in regard to their damage tolerance, the application of fracture mechanics serves as the instrumental tool. However, the methods employed overlook the changes in the microstructure within the Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ), which leads to the degradation of the mechanical properties of the material. The purpose of this study is to simulate microhardness evolution in the HAZ of AA2198-T351 LBW. The material represents the latest generation of Al-Cu-Li alloys, which exhibit improved mechanical properties, enhanced damage tolerance behavior, lower density and better corrosion and fatigue crack growth resistance than conventional Al-Cu alloys. In this work, the microhardness profile of LBW AA2198 was measured, and subsequently, through isothermal heat treatments on samples, the microhardness values of the HAZ were replicated. The conditions of the heat treatments (T, t) were selected in line with the thermal cycles that each area of the HAZ experienced during welding. ThermoCalc and DICTRA were employed in order to identify the strengthening precipitates and their evolution (dissolution and coarsening) during the weld thermal cycle. The microstructure of the heat-treated samples was studied employing LOM and TEM, and the strengthening precipitates and their characteristics (volume fraction and size) were defined and correlated to the calculations and the experimental conditions employed during welding. The main conclusion of this study is that it is feasible to imitate the microstructure evolution within the HAZ through the implementation of isothermal heat treatments. This implies that it is possible to fabricate samples for fatigue crack growth tests, enabling the experimental examination of the damage tolerance behavior in welded structures.