High Humidity Conditions Research Articles

Relationship of season with milk characteristics, yield, and shelf life of cheese in a hot climate

E Objective: the objective of the study was to identify whether there is a relationship between the environmental conditions of high temperature and humidity with the parameters of cheese yield and shelf life of Oaxaca-type cheese, made throughout two different times of the year, delimited by environmental temperature, in the Mexicali Valley, Baja California, Mexico. Design/ Methodology/ Approach: from January to November, ambient temperature and relative humidity, characteristics of the milk used at the time of reception (temperature, acidity, density, somatic cell count and microorganism count), yield, and shelf life of the cheese were recorded. These variables were related to season (summer and winter) and to different Temperature and Humidity Index– THI intervals. An analysis of variance was performed, also, the relationship among sets of variables by Pearson correlation, and the multiple mean difference with the Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05). Results: significant differences were observed in the density, acidity, temperature, somatic cell count and cheese yield of milk due to the effect of the time of year. In addition, an 11% decrease in cheese yield was found as the maximum THI exceeded 77 units. The shelf life showed positive significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) when milk was pasteurized, but it was not affected by the THI. Limitations/ Implications of the study: this study was limited to a single period of analysis; so, it is necessary to monitor, and include additional milk quality variables. Conclusions: heat environmental conditions negatively impact the characteristics of the milk, therefore reducing the yield of Oaxaca-type cheese. The microbiological characteristics are unfavorable during the hot season; the pasteurization of milk is the main factor that increases the shelf life of the cheese.

Mechanistic effects of graphitization and oxygen functional groups on benzene competitive adsorption of porous carbon under high humidity conditions

Porous carbon is an ideal adsorbent for the elimination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) attributed to their price, availability and excellent adsorption capacity. However, there are significant variation in the adsorption capacity and adsorption selectivity of different precursors for VOCs under humid conditions after modification because of the differences in their own structural properties. In this study, graphitized hydrophobic porous carbon with excellent specific surface area was successfully synthesized by selecting bamboo fiber, maize, coconut husk and coal as precursors and potassium hydroxide as an activator. Among them, the dynamic adsorption capacity of benzene in the sample with bamboo fiber as precursor was maintained at 74.7% under the high humidity condition (RH90%) compared with the dry state (RH0%). Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations and weak interaction force analyses showed that enhanced dispersion attraction between graphitized carbon surfaces and benzene molecules in comparison to disordered carbon surfaces. The existence of oxygen functional groups enhanced the interaction between porous carbon and water through hydrogen bonding leading to preferential adsorption of water molecules, which resulting in the decrease of their adsorption performance in wet condition. This research provided theoretical and experimental views of the effects of graphitization and oxygen functional groups on the competitive adsorption capture of benzene and water by porous carbon, which further provided a reliable approach to synthesizing porous carbon with high adsorption capture for benzene removal in high humidity environments.

Photoactive self-cleaning zinc oxychloride coatings

Zinc oxychloride cement (ZOC) is considered a promising quick-drying material for fabricating photoactive coatings composed of three components: zinc oxide (ZnO), zinc chloride (ZnCl2), and water. However, its massive application has not been implemented due to the lack of research about its stability and mechanical performance. Thus, this article aims to provide insights about the self-cleaning photoactivity of ZOC coatings incorporated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles to boost the photocatalytic performance. Two stoichiometries of ZnO:ZnCl:H2O (112 and 415) were studied to investigate the influence of the molar ratio of the components on the physical and chemical properties. According to these results, no significant differences were observed in the physical and chemical properties between the two stoichiometries studied; however, the mechanical properties were affected. The coatings crystallized as simonkolleite Zn5(OH)8Cl2·H2O with a laminar hexagonal morphology, show high surface area, and absorbs light in the UVA region. The self-cleaning activity was evaluated using four model pollutants: Rhodamine B, Methylene blue, Orange G, and Carbon under accelerated weathering conditions. All the coatings were photoactive to decompose the pollutants from their surface and the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles did not significantly enhance the self-cleaning efficiency, but it improves the mechanical performance of the coatings. These results could be associated with the fact that TiO2 works as filler for voids in the coatings without affecting its settings. The stability of the coatings was confirmed after the exposure to accelerated weathering at high humidity conditions, which places them as an attractive, low-cost, and easy to apply self-cleaning material.

Hydrophobic hyper-cross-linked polymer shells encapsulating dispersed nanoscale CuS boosting mercury immobilization

Metal sulfides (MSs) hold significant promise for environmental remediation but are hindered by their low accommodation capacity and poor water resistance. Herein, this work reports a hybrid strategy to address these limitations by assembling highly dispersed CuS nanoparticles within the hyper-cross-linked polymer (HCP). Benefiting from the super-hydrophobicity and well-developed porosity of HCP, alongside the high dispersion and multiple active sites of CuS nanoparticles, the resultant CuS@HCP exhibits exceptional water resistance, enhanced surface area, high mass transfer ability, and substantial Hg0 adsorption capacity. The Hg0 adsorption capacity (Q90) of CuS@HCP3 reaches 1.25 and 1.391 mg/g under N2 and simulated flue gas, respectively. Notably, the normalized Q90 of coated CuS surpasses that of pristine CuS by 25-fold under N2 + 15 % H2O and its durability outstrips most previously reported mineral sulfides even in complex simulated flue gas. Universal research confirms MSs@HCP (M = Zn, Sn, and Fe) equally demonstrate over 15-fold increment in Hg0 retention under high humidity conditions compared to the pristine MSs. Such HCP hybrid strategy universally and effectively optimizes the accommodation capacity and water resistance of MSs, endowing MSs@HCP broad application prospects.

Heat Strain in Different Hot Environments Hiking in Wildland Firefighting Garments.

Wildland firefighters can work at high intensity in hot environments for extended periods of time. The resulting heat strain may be modified by the environmental conditions (i.e., ambient temperature and humidity [RH]) even at equal wet-bulb globe temperatures. This investigation assessed if a hot and dry condition would create greater strain than moderate and high humidity at equivalent wet-bulb globe temperature (28°C). Twelve participants (age 24±2 y) walked at 40-50% maximum aerobic capacity for 90 and 40 min separated by a 20 min rest in dry (40°C, 20% RH), moderate-humidity (34°C, 50% RH), and high-humidity (29°C, 90% RH) conditions wearing fire resistant jacket, pants, gloves, and helmet with the neck and face exposed. Peak core temperature was higher in moderate-humidity (38.9±0.2°C, p=0.01) and high-humidity (38.9±0.6°C, p<0.01) than dry condition (38.5±0.3°C). Average net heat gain was less in dry (33±22 W) compared to moderate-humidity (38±23 W, p<0.01) and high-humidity (39±28 W, p<0.01). Peak heart rate (174±14 bpm, p=0.94), Physiological Strain Index (7.7±1.4 score, p=0.99), perceived exertion (8±2 rating, p=0.97), and Perceptual Strain Index (7.3±1.6 score, p=0.99) were not different in high-humidity compared to the dry condition (167±19 bpm, 6.9±1.3 score, 6±2 rating, 7.3±1.7 score, respectively). Whole-body sweat rate (15±6 mL/min, p=0.58) and thermal sensation (7±1 rating, p=0.37) were not different. Hiking in a humid condition while wearing protective garments creates greater exertional heat strain compared to a dry condition of equivalent wet-bulb globe temperature. Wildland firefighters should consider extra strategies to mitigate hyperthermia when humidity is high.

General Approach to Hydrolysis Resistive Aluminum Nitride and Its High-Performance Thermal Interface Materials.

Aluminum nitride (AlN), noted for its excellent thermal conductivity and exceptional electrical insulation, presents a promising alternative to traditional ceramic particles in thermal interface materials (TIMs). However, its broader adoption in practical applications is limited by performance degradation due to the vulnerability of its crystal structure to ubiquitous moisture. This study introduces a dual solution, utilizing a mechanochemical method to design a dense outer layer of Galinstan liquid metal (LM) that simultaneously enhances AlN's resistance to hydrolysis and improves its thermal performance in TIM applications. The high surface free energy of the LM layer imparts hydrophobic properties to the AlN surface and, combined with outer metal oxides, forms a dual-layer protective barrier that prevents water penetration, significantly enhancing the TIM's long-term stability in high-humidity conditions. Additionally, the LM layer at the interface improves the thixotropic properties of the TIM and enhances interfacial heat transport through the bridging effect of the LM, resulting in improved rheological mobility and thermal conductivity of the composite material. This win-win surface modification strategy opens opportunities for the practical and durable application of AlN in widespread electronic thermal management.

Color/Transparent Bi‐Customizable Solar Antifogging Nanofilms

AbstractAlmost all reported solar anti‐/defogging surfaces are black and opaque. However, aesthetics and transparency are preferred to enhance security, privacy, and visual experience without sacrificing antifogging in some practical scenarios, such as automotive windshields, architectural glass facades, and sports goggles. Herein, a color and transparency bi‐customizable solar antifogging heterostructure nanofilms is reported, which only consists of a Ti–TiOx layer for partial visible light transmission and a narrow bandgap Ti2O3 layer for broadband sunlight absorption. By precisely controlling each monolayer thickness, various vibrant structural colors (covering yellow/green/purple/blue) through interference effects, along with tunable visible light transparency (from 0% to 30%), and broadband solar absorption (up to 90%) are obtained, providing personalized options for various applications. Simultaneously, the nanofilms exhibit remarkable photothermal performance (110.3 °C under 1 kW m−2 irradiation) compared to blank samples, demonstrating sustained and superior defogging (3.5‐fold improvement) and antifogging capabilities, even in extremely cold (–20 °C) or high temperature and high humidity (50 °C, 100%) conditions. Importantly, the nanofilms are just 174 nm thick, and can be easily upgraded and scalable fabricated by sputtering on various rigid, flexible and portable substrates, such as glass, metals, textiles, plastics, enabling a wide range of direct applications.

Temperature and Physicochemical Properties of Abnormal Heating Composite Insulators

Abnormal heating will reduce the insulation performance of composite insulators or even cause insulator fracture, and the abnormal heating phenomenon is more serious under high-humidity conditions. Therefore, in this paper, the voltage withstand test of abnormal heating composite insulators caused by aging and damp sheath, decay-like core rod, and contamination were carried out under different ambient humidity. The heating and discharge of composite insulators were observed by infrared thermal imager and ultraviolet imager, and its temperature characteristics were analyzed from the aspects of heating range, heating shape, and temperature difference. In addition, in order to study the abnormal heating mechanism of composite insulators, the micro-morphology, chemical groups and dielectric properties of the silicon rubber of composite insulators with aging and damp sheath and the decay-like core rod were also measured. It is found that the temperature characteristics of the three types of abnormal heating composite insulators are different, and the temperature difference increases with the increase of humidity. The deterioration of silicone rubber and core rod material is the internal reason for the abnormal heating of composite insulators, and high-humidity conditions will exacerbate the heating phenomenon.

Correlation dimension for temperature and other micrometeorological variables in different ground cover from six biomes of the Amazon basin

Correlation dimension () for embedding dimensions, varying between 3 to 11, were estimated for a 1- or 2-month time series of air temperature and other micrometeorological variables, such as energy fluxes, solar radiation and concentration, in six ecosystems in Amazon and the central region of Brazil. Dc remained within the 1.5 - 3.0 range, for variables locally coupled to ecosystems, and outside the range for variables not locally coupled, such as precipitation and wind velocity. Results indicate that the feature of the variables does not have an important stochastic component. There is a small amount of data available concerning estimates of correlation dimension () of micrometeorological variables. The measurement of for several variables from six Brazilian biomes indicates that this parameter is sensitive to environmental conditions as the rainfall. The obtained results also indicates that the natural processes in the ecosystems remain in a non-chaotic regime. In certain circumstances, as in conditions of high humidity, natural ecosystems may stay inside a limit which is close but lower than chaos. Moreover, an important stochastic component was not observed.

Theoretical Analysis of Landfill Gas Migration in Capillary Barrier Covers Considering Effects of Waste Temperature

The high-temperature and high-humidity conditions arising from the biochemical degradation of landfill waste result in significant temperature gradients within the landfill cover. The effects of waste temperature on landfill gas transport and microbial aerobic methane oxidation are not fully understood. In this study, a fully coupled theoretical model was developed to simulate the interactions of moisture, heat, and gas transport within a capillary barrier cover. A series of parametric studies were carried out to investigate the influence of the combined effects of temperature gradient, initial soil moisture content, and landfill gas generation rate on methane transport, oxidation, and emissions. The simulated results indicated that increasing waste temperature intensified the temperature gradient, leading to higher surface evaporation rates and variations in methane oxidation efficiencies. Additionally, variations in initial soil moisture content and landfill gas generation rates were found to significantly impact gas migration and methane oxidation in the cover. This study demonstrates the critical role of waste temperature in landfill gas migration within landfill cover systems, providing technical methodologies for the optimized design of soil cover systems.

Humidity-Induced Degradation Mapping of Pt3Co ORR Catalyst for PEFC by In-Operando Electrochemistry and Ex Situ SAXS.

Understanding the degradation mechanisms of Pt-alloy catalysts is crucial for enhancing their durability. This study investigates the impact of relative humidity on Pt and Pt3Co catalysts using potential-cycling-based accelerated stress tests. Two conditions are investigated: 100% relative humidity on both sides, and a gradient with 30% at the anode and over 100% at the cathode. Pt3Co demonstrates sensitivity, with 77% performance loss and reductions in electrocatalyst surface area. Results demonstrate a 30% decrease in potential loss for Pt catalysts and a 77% increase for Pt3Co catalysts, indicating significant performance degradation in high humidity conditions, with Pt3Co exhibiting greater sensitivity. Measurements of electrochemically active surface area reinforce these findings. Resistance analysis using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using equivalent circuit modeling reveals a threefold increase in Pt3Co MEAs' cathode charge transfer resistance and mass transport resistance during accelerated stress tests. Local current distribution analysis highlights differences between Pt catalyst and Pt3Co, with the latter displaying dealloying effects. Small-angle X-ray scattering reveals changes in particle and cluster sizes, indicating structural changes. Scanning electron microscopy highlights catalyst and membrane thickness variations, suggesting heterogeneity in Pt3Co. Under humidity gradients, Ostwald ripening plays a significant role in altering the catalyst's Pt3Co structure and subsequently impacting its performance.

Two-dimensional p-n heterojunctions of black phosphorus nanosheet-sensitized α-MoO3 nanoflake for low-temperature chemiresistive NH3 recognition

Of diverse NH3 gas-detection strategies applied in the fields of individual healthcare and industrial production, chemiresistive gas sensors gain the most popularity owing to the superior merits of low cost, convenient signal processing and high sensitivity. However, severe challenges still exist such as elevated operation temperature (>200 °C), limited sensitivity and unsatisfactory selectivity especially under low-concentration and high-humidity conditions. To overcome these hindrances, a sensing layer of black phosphorus nanosheets (BP)-modified α-MoO3 nanoflakes was prepared in this work. After subtle optimization of ingredient composition and operation temperature, the composite sensor S2 could recognize NH3 gas with the concentration spanning from 0.4 to 25 ppm at 40 °C. In particular, a larger mean response (27 % vs. ∼ 2.3 %) with a response/recovery speed of 275/388 s toward 10 ppm NH3 and lower detection of limit (LoD, 0.4 ppm vs. 10 ppm) was achieved with respect to pure BP counterpart. In addition, excellent repeatability, selectivity, long-term stability and humidity-tolerant features were demonstrated for Sensor S2. The improved sensing performance after α-MoO3 incorporation was primarily ascribed to abundant p-n heterojunctions, excellent conductivity of BP and hydrophilic MoO3 that mitigated the water corrosion effect on susceptible BP nanosheets. This work offers an alternative strategy for sensitive and low-temperature NH3 detection, and well cater for the demanding requirements of high sensitivity and low-power consumption in the field of novel gas sensors applicable in the future Internet of Things and exhaled breath-oriented medical diagnosis.

Long-lifespan, biodegradable, self-disinfecting, and gas-sensing electronic mask with a Janus-structured all-natural fiber network for personal healthcare

Conventional disposable surgical masks have become an integral part of our daily lives, however, present a limited filtration efficiency, brief operative lifespan, and inability to degrade naturally, bringing a heavy burden to the environment. Moreover, these masks cannot efficaciously eliminate bacteria, potentially causing secondary and cross infections among users, thereby failing to curb the spread of infectious diseases. Herein, a fire-new, long-lifespan, biodegradable, self-disinfecting, and gas-sensing electronic-mask is nano-engineered with a Janus-structured all-natural fiber network (SA-CPN) constructed from animal-collagen and plant-fibers. SA-CPN demonstrates exceptional filtration performance (99.9%) for PM2.5 and maintains outstanding filtration efficiency after 10 test-cycles or 32 h in high-humidity conditions. SA-CPN exhibits robust antibacterial origins for extended periods, with antibacterial rates of 98.30%, 99.36%, and 98.11% against P aeruginosa, S aureus, and E coli, respectively, and can effectively filter airborne bacterial aerosols. Moreover, SA-CPN achieves real-time detection of ammonia concentrations, effectively identifying ammonia levels in exhaled human breath and external environments, and monitoring the human respiratory rate, potentially identifying underlying health conditions. The directional water vapor transmission capability of SA-CPN improves comfort when wearing. Notably, SA-CPN can fully biodegrade within 5 h under enzyme action. The proposed multifunctional electronic mask, featuring biocompatibility, biodegradability, self-disinfection, and ammonia sensing capabilities, holds significant promise in personal medical protective equipment for health monitoring and disease prevention.

A study of the relationship between human thermal comfort and negative emotions in quarantine environments

The thermal environment is closely related to emotion. The thermal environment affects emotional experiences and can enhance them by adjusting its parameters. This study examines three common negative emotions—boredom, anxiety, and irritability—in a controlled environment. We experimentally investigated how these emotions affect thermal sensation, thermal comfort, and physiological parameters under varying temperature and humidity conditions. Results indicated that emotions significantly influenced thermal sensation (TSV) and thermal comfort (TCV) under moderate to high humidity conditions, demonstrating how temperature and humidity moderate the relationship between emotion and thermal comfort. Changes in physiological parameters further reveal how the interaction between emotion and environmental conditions affects physiological responses. A regression model was created using the response surface method to analyze thermal comfort in relation to temperature and humidity under different emotions, identifying the optimal indoor conditions as 22.8 °C and 46.7 % humidity. These findings help reduce negative emotions, improve thermal comfort, enhance our understanding of human thermal comfort, and provide scientific guidance for managing negative emotions during public health emergencies.

Synergistic C2H2 Binding Sites in Hydrogen-Bonded Supramolecular Framework for One-Step C2H4 Purification from Ternary C2 Mixture.

Purification of C2H4 from the ternary C2 hydrocarbon mixture in one step is of critical significance but still extremely challenging according to its intermediate physical properties between C2H6 and C2H2. Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) stabilized by supramolecular interactions are emerging as a new kind of adsorbents that facilitate green separation. However, it remains a problem to efficiently realize the one-step C2H4 purification from C2H6/C2H4/C2H2 mixture because of the low C2H2/C2H4 selectivity. We herein report a robust microporous HOF (termed as HOF-TDCPB) with dense O atoms and aromatic rings distributed on the pore surface which provide C2H6 and C2H2 preferred environment simultaneously. Dynamic breakthrough experiments indicate that HOF-TDCPB can not only obtain high-purity C2H4 from binary C2 mixture, but also firstly realize one-step C2H4 purification from ternary C2H6/C2H4/C2H2 mixture, with the C2H4 productivity of 3.2 L/kg (>99.999 %) for one breakthrough cycle. Furthermore, HOF-TDCPB displays outstanding stability in air, organic solvents and water, which endow it excellent cycle performance even under high-humidity conditions. Theoretical calculations indicate that multiple O sites on pore channels can create synergistic binding sites for C2H2, thus affording overall stronger multipoint interactions.

Characteristics and Source Apportionment of Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds in Zhengzhou During O3 Campaign Period

An online gas chromatograph （GC5000） was used to monitor the volatile organic compounds （VOCs） in the atmospheric environment of Zhengzhou City during the ozone campaign period from May to September of 2022. The relationship between O3 and its precursors as well as meteorology was analyzed and the pollution characteristics of VOCs during the O3 exceeding and non-exceeding the standard days were compared and explored. Different VOC activity evaluation methods of OFP and L·OH were utilized to compare and analyze the key active components and species and the ratio analysis （RA） and positive matrix factorization （PMF） analysis models were used to study the apportionment contribution of VOCs. The results showed that the O3 pollution in June and September in Zhengzhou was mainly due to the adverse meteorological conditions of high temperature and low humidity, strong radiation, and low wind speed, superimposed by the prominent concentrations of local VOCs and NO2, resulting in frequently high and excessive O3 occurrences. The VOCs concentration in Zhengzhou during the campaign period was an average of （68.3 ± 18.4） μg·m-3, whereas it was 75.7 μg·m-3 during O3 exceeding standard days and 13.4 μg·m-3 during O3 non-exceeding days, respectively. Among the VOC species, the OVOCs was 31.6%, accounting for the highest mass fraction, followed by halogenated hydrocarbon, alkane, and aromatic hydrocarbon, and the major species were ethane, n-butane, dichloromethane, propane, isopentane, toluene, chloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, and acetylene. VOC diurnal variation indicated that the emission of VOC pollution sources in the morning, evening peak, and at night should be paid more attention. The contribution of VOCs to OFP during the campaign period was （130.5 ± 46.4） μg·m-3, and the L·OH was （6.5 ± 2.9） s-1, among which the top 15 species with high activity were primarily acetaldehyde, isoprene, ethylene, m/p-xylene, toluene, hexal, isopentane, propanal, propylene, trans-2-butene, etc. In particular, the contributions of acetaldehyde, isoprene, ethylene, and hexal species were prominent during the O3 exceeding days. Ratio analysis showed that the B/T ratio in Zhengzhou from May to September ranged from 0.05 to 5.3, with an average value of 1.1 ± 0.6, and the regional VOCs was mainly controlled by the aging air mass with possible long-distance transports. The analysis of the PMF model showed that the major pollution sources to VOC concentration in Zhengzhou were motor vehicle exhaust emission sources and industrial solvent and secondary conversion sources, contributing 25.6% and 25.8%, respectively. The contribution rates of solvent coating sources, oil and gas volatile sources, plant emission sources, industrial solvents, and secondary conversion sources during O3 exceeding days were 5.4%, 4.7%, 3.3%, and 0.7% higher than those during O3 non-exceeding days, respectively. The research showed that the management of VOCs and NOx pollution sources should be strengthened to reduce their contribution to the O3 generation when O3 exceeds the standard.

Evolution Characteristics and Typical Pollution Episodes of PM2.5 and O3 Complex Pollution in Bozhou City from 2017 to 2022

In China, atmospheric pollution exhibits a complex pattern, with simultaneous exceedances of fine particulate matter （PM2.5） and ozone （O3） levels becoming evident. To understand the complex pollution characteristics and evolution patterns of PM2.5 and O3 in Bozhou City, various methods such as weather classification, analysis of typical pollution processes, and investigation of precursor sources were employed to explore the pollution and variations of PM2.5 and O3 in Bozhou City from 2017 to 2022 and subsequently analyze their causes and precursor sources. The results indicated that： ① PM2.5-O3 complex pollution in Bozhou City mostly occurred under high-pressure weather conditions, with daytime high temperatures and low humidity promoting the formation of O3 pollution, whereas nighttime high humidity and atmospheric oxidative conditions promoted the generation of secondary components such as nitrates and ammonium salts in PM2.5. ② During the pollution process, PM2.5 in Bozhou City mainly originated from biomass burning, secondary generation, traffic pollution, coal combustion, and dust sources. Volatile organic compounds （VOCs） primarily emerged from plant sources, traffic pollution, oil and gas evaporation, solvent use, fossil fuel combustion, residential emissions, and industrial emissions. Biomass burning and traffic pollution made significant contributions to the pollution process. ③ Analysis of air mass trajectories and regional pollution situations indicated that the overlay of northern and southern air masses, along with local generation, were the main causes of the PM2.5-O3 complex pollution in Bozhou from October 18th to 27th, 2022.

Microencapsulation of Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus plantarum within a Novel Polysaccharide-Based Core-Shell Formulation: Improving Probiotic Viability and Mucoadhesion.

Probiotics health benefits are hampered by long-term storage, gastrointestinal transit, and lack of adequate colonization within the colon. To this end, we have designed a core-shell structure that features an acid resistant core formulation with low water activity composed of alginate, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and gellan gum (AHG) and a mucoadhesive shell made from chemically modified carboxymethyl chitosan with polyethylenimine (PEI-CMC). The structure of the core-shell microparticles was examined using scanning electron microscopy, and rheological measurements confirmed the improved ionic interactions between the core and the shell using the PEI-modified CMC. Simulated release from core-shell microparticles using polystyrene beads showed preferential release under intestinal conditions. PEI-CMC coating yielded improvements in mucoadhesion that was consistent with a positive shift in surface charge of the particles. Ex vivo studies using Bifidobacterium lactis probiotic bacteria demonstrated a 1.1 × 105-fold improvement in bacterial viability with encapsulation under storage conditions of high humidity and temperature (30 °C). When exposed to simulated gastric fluid, encapsulation increased the probiotic viability by 3.0 × 102-fold. In vivo studies utilizing bioluminescent Lactobacillus plantarum in mice revealed that encapsulation extended the duration of the signal within the gut and resulted in higher plate counts in suspensions isolated from the cecum. Conversely, we observed an abrupt loss of signal in the gut of the free probiotic. In conclusion, this core-shell system is suitable for improving probiotic shelf life and maximizing delivery to and retention by the colon.

Effect of relative humidity on the interlayer spacing of phosphate intercalated Mg, Al layered double hydroxide (hydrotalcite‐like) crystals

AbstractThe availability of water and the type of interlayer anions present affect the arrangement and interlayer spacing of layered double hydroxide (LDH). A systematic study of the effect of relative humidity (RH) on the basal spacing of phosphate intercalated, magnesium aluminum LDHs (MgAl–PO4 LDH) was conducted, confirming that MgAl‐PO4 LDH exhibit distinct interlayer spacing corresponding to separate low‐ and high‐hydration states produced when exposed to low and high humidity conditions. The transition from the low‐ to high‐hydration form begins when RH exceeds 33% and is accompanied by the transition from one to two interlayers of water. An improved understanding of the effect of RH on MgAl–PO4 LDHs will enable more accurate atomistic modeling and experimental characterization of MgAl–PO4 LDHs and may lead to improvements in the tunability of MgAl‐PO4 LDHs for commercial applications such as slow‐release fertilizer.

Study of corrosion and failure mechanism of the galvanized steel pipes of meteorological tower serviced in the South China Sea

Corrosion issues of steel in the natural tropical marine atmospheric environment widely exist, and they can easily cause the failure of engineering equipment. However, the related studies are poor. Therefore, a deep analysis of the corrosion behavior and failure mechanism of steel materials in natural environments is urgent and important. In this work, the corrosion and failure mechanisms of galvanized steel pipes of a meteorological tower in the South China Sea were deeply studied. Results demonstrated that galvanized steel pipes at a low height happen a serious uniform and localized corrosion, while the bottom surface of each pipe facing the ground is severely corroded. The damage to the galvanized layer and the subsequent steel corrosion in high temperature and humidity conditions are mainly caused by bacteria and Cl−. Some bacteria with high corrosivity, such as Desulfovibrionales, Seminibacterium, Acinetobacter, Ralstonia, Proteobacteria Streptococcus, and Lactobacillus, are found beneath the rust layer, and they can significantly accelerate steel corrosion. The maximum localized corrosion rate is 0.20 mm/y.