Effect Of Pretreatment Research Articles

The Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Pretreatment on Ovarian Reserve in Women Undergoing Hysterectomy with Bilateral Salpingectomy: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

The effect of diminished ovarian reserves after undergoing hysterectomies with bilateral salpingectomies is one of the health concerns among reproductive-age women with benign gynecologic diseases. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an antioxidant, is crucial in mitochondrial energy production, improving oocyte quality and quantity. This study compares the benefit of a 14-day preoperative (CoQ10) versus placebo on ovarian reserve by measuring anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) in women undergoing hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy. A double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Forty-four women with benign gynecologic diseases were randomised to receive either oral CoQ10 300 mg per day or placebo for 14 days before undergoing hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy. Serum AMH levels were collected for analysis before taking CoQ10 and 6 weeks postoperatively in each group. The baseline demographic, clinical characteristics, and baseline AMH levels were comparable between the groups (1.47(0.45,2.49) vs.1.29 (0.47,2.11), p=0.763). The serum AMH levels after the surgery were significantly decreased from pre-operative levels (median 0.99 (0.37,1.63) vs 1.34 (0.57,2.30)), p= 0.001. However, there was no significant difference in the AMH change between the CoQ10 group and the placebo group (AMH per cent change -28.2% (64.09, -4.81) vs -20.07% (-61.51, -2.92)), p= 0.99, respectively. Age, gynecologic disease, operative time, and blood loss were not significantly associated with the AMH change. There were no significant side effects or adverse operative outcomes among coQ10 users. In conclusion, Hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy led to a significantly decreased AMH level. However, pretreatment with CoQ10 for two weeks was ineffective in protecting an ovarian reserve.

Effects of high-pressure and CaCl2 pretreatments on the salt taste-enhancing activity of hydrolysate derived from spent hen meat.

High-sodium intake has been proven to bring serious risks to public health. A potential sodium substitute of salt taste-enhancing hydrolysate (STEH) of protein has been focused on recently. The salt taste-enhancing activity (STEA) of STEH still needs to be improved. High-pressure and calcium chloride (CaCl2) pretreatments were reported to affect proteolysis and promote the release of bioactive peptides. Hence, we investigated effects of high-pressure and CaCl2 pretreatments on hydrolysis and STEA of STEH derived from spent hen. The pretreatments significantly influenced STEA of spent hen meat hydrolysate (SHH), especially 200 MPa pressure and 80 mmol L-1 CaCl2 pretreatments increased 27.1% salt taste intensity of SHH compared to that of blank (without pretreatments) according to sensory evaluation, the SHH umami also increased after pretreatments. In SHH, the proportion of peptides < 1000 Da increased up to 79.37% after the pretreatments compared to 73.68% of the blank. The degree of hydrolysis (DH) increased to 19.45% for moderate high-pressure (200 MPa) from 18.02% for blank, and the DH decreased after higher high-pressure and CaCl2 pretreatments, especially for CaCl2 in 80 mmol L-1. The change in particle size distribution of SHH has similar trends to DH. High-pressure and CaCl2 pretreatments increased STEA of SHH by affecting hydrolysis process. The STEA increase may be related to increased small-peptide proportion in SHH. Meanwhile, moderate high-pressure may promote protein unfolding and further increase DH according to particle size distribution of SHH. The combination of proteolysis and pretreatments of high-pressure and CaCl2 is a promising method to produce STEH. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of Laser Pre-Treatment on Peanut Seeds on Resveratrol Con-tent and Fatty Acid Profile in Field-Harvested Seeds

Objective: To evaluate the effects of laser radiation on peanut seeds as a pretreatment on the resveratrol content and fatty acid profile in the harvested seeds. Design/methodology/approach: The experiment was established under field conditions located in the municipality of Nicolás Bravo, Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas. The seeds were irradiated with a red laser with a wavelength of 636 nm and an intensity of 120 mW. The exposure time of the seeds to the laser was 15 min and non-irradiated seeds were used as a control. Results: Laser radiation on seeds increased the resveratrol content in the harvested peanut seeds compared to control seeds, and changes were also observed in some fatty acids in peanut oil such as butyric acid, stearic acid and cis 11,14,17 eicosatrienoic acid. Findings/conclusions: laser irradiation applied to seeds is a low-cost biotechnological alternative that allows generating positive changes in the quality of grains from seeds harvested under field conditions.

Correction: Effect of mechanical pre-treatment on the recovery potential of rare-earth elements and gold from discarded hard disc drives

Correction: Effect of mechanical pre-treatment on the recovery potential of rare-earth elements and gold from discarded hard disc drives

The Effect of H2O2 Pretreatment on TiO2-Supported Ruthenium Catalysts for the Gas Phase Catalytic Combustion of Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2)

In the study presented herein, a series of TiO2-supported Ru catalysts were prepared through over-impregnation with different amounts of H2O2 and applied to the catalytic combustion of dichloromethane (DCM). The experimental results show that the optimal (1 H2O2)-Ru@TiO2 catalyst sample yields 90% DCM conversion at 301 °C, which is 40 °C lower than the temperature required by the (0 H2O2)-Ru@TiO2 catalyst. This good activity is related to its high number of acid sites (especially Brønsted acid sites), an appropriate amount of uniformly dispersed RuO2 particles, and strong interaction between RuO2 and the TiO2 support. In addition, excessive H2O2 leads to the growth and phase segregation of RuO2, which weakens the interaction between RuO2 and the TiO2 support and decreases catalytic activity. Moreover, H2O2 addition also contributes to the stability of catalysts, which possibly results from the re-dispersion of RuO2 on the TiO2 support during the reaction.

Hyperbaric inactivation at 150–250 MPa of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores at room temperature and effect of innovative technologies pre-treatments

This study evaluated hyperbaric inactivation (HI) at 150, 200 and 250 MPa, up to 24 h (at ambient temperatures,18–23 °C) to inactivate Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris (ACB) spores in apple juice. The effects of pre-treatments on spores by thermal pasteurization (90 °C, 30 s), high pressure processing (600 MPa, 3 min, HPP), pulsed electric field (30 kV, 80 μs, 1400 Hz, PEF), and ultrasound (67 W, 20 kHz, 5 min, US) prior to HI was evaluated. The results were fitted to non-linear inactivation kinetic models, including Biphasic, Log-logistic, and Weibull. Without a previous pre-treatment, ACB spores were reduced ≈4.56 log units by HI after 24 h, regardless of the pressure level (initial load around 6 log CFU/mL). The pre-treatments did not affect ACB spores during HI (≈4–5 log units' inactivation after 24 h under pressure), except for PEF that resulted in a lower inactivation (≈3.5 log units after 24 h under pressure). Phase contrast microscopy revealed that the spores were unable to form a vegetative cell during HI. HI at 5 °C resulted in a lower inactivation level, with 3.86, 2.54 and 1.77 log units of inactivation, respectively, at 150, 200 and 250 MPa after 96 h. Industrial relevanceThe results of this work point to the possibility of using HI, before or after conventional thermal pasteurization and other nonthermal technologies (HPP, PEF, and US) to process apple juice, to inactivate ACB spores at room temperature and also under refrigeration. This methodology should be further studied in the context of ACB spores' high thermal stability and its industrial relevance.

Effect of ultrasonic pretreatment with synergistic microbial fermentation on tenderness and flavor of air-dried duck under low nitrite process

The tenderness and flavor of meat products are critical factors influencing consumers' purchasing decisions. This study investigated the effects of ultrasonic pretreatment with synergistic microbial strain fermentation on tenderness and flavor of air-dried duck under low nitrite process. The results demonstrated that ultrasonic pretreatment combined with microbial strain fermentation improved water retention and tenderness of duck meat by disrupting the muscle microstructure, increasing muscle fiber spacing, and facilitating water migration and distribution. This primarily concerns the cavitation and mechanical effects of ultrasound and the role of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in muscle protein hydrolysis. A total of 34 and 55 volatile flavor compounds were detected by HS-SPME-GC–MS and GC-IMS, respectively. The results indicated that acetaldehyde (stimulating, fruity, green apple), ethyl acetate (sweet, fruity, pineapple), and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (sweet, creamy) were responsible for the improved flavor during this process, which was primarily related to the increased activity of neutral lipase (0.38 U/g protein), acidic lipase (0.48 U/g protein), and phospholipase (0.09 U/g protein). This study provides valuable insights into the synergistic effects of ultrasonic pretreatment and microbial co-fermentation, offering a theoretical basis for optimizing air-dried duck production and enhancing flavor quality.

The Gut Microbiota and Major Depressive Disorder: Current Understanding and Novel Therapeutic Strategies.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common neuropsychiatric challenge that primarily targets young females. MDD as a global disorder has a multifactorial etiology related to the environment and genetic background. A balanced gut microbiota is one of the most important environmental factors involved in human physiological health. The interaction of gut microbiota components and metabolic products with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system and immune mediators can reverse depression phenotypes in vulnerable individuals. Therefore, abnormalities in the quantitative and qualitative structure of the gut microbiota may lead to the progression of MDD. In this review, we have presented an overview of the bidirectional relationship between gut microbiota and MDD, and the effect of pre-treatments and microbiomebased approaches, such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and a new generation of microbial alternatives, on the improvement of unstable clinical conditions caused by MDD.

Multi-scale evaluation of surfactant effects on asphalt desorption behavior from oil sand surfaces

This study created a hydrophobic oil sand model to investigate the impact of surfactants on the desorption behavior of asphalt from solid surface. Cationic surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) were used to soak the model to observe the effect of surfactants on asphalt desorption. The effect of surfactant pretreatment on the wettability of the substrate was evaluated by measuring the contact angle of ultrapure water on the substrate and observing the morphological changes of the solid surface by atomic force microscopy. The results show that the contact angle of the model treated with SDBS decreases to 10° after 3 days, which significantly improves the wettability of the substrate surface and promotes the desorption of asphalt. However, CTAB has no obvious effect on asphalt desorption. The standard deviation of the gray value of the sand surface image is significantly reduced to 38.693 after the SDBS treatment, which can be seen by binarizing the image. This suggests that the asphalt and solution are evenly distributed and that there is hardly any discernible boundary. Nevertheless, neither of the two surfactants can improve the water-based extraction efficiency of oil sands after soaking treatment. The asphalt yield is less than 5% after 30 days of pretreatment with CTAB solution, while only 45% asphalt yield is obtained after 30 days of pretreatment with SDBS solution. Despite these variations, the quality of asphalt foam remains relatively the same. This may be related to the failure of surfactants to improve the surface wettability of hydrophobic sand. Therefore, the surface wettability of the sand is considered to be a key factor affecting the asphalt desorption and final yield. This study can provide a scientific basis for oil sand recovery to a certain extent.

Bioaugmentation and Biostimulation-Enhanced Bioremediation of Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soil Evaluation of the Effect of Soil Washing Pre-Treatment and Bacterial Communities

Bioaugmentation and Biostimulation-Enhanced Bioremediation of Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soil Evaluation of the Effect of Soil Washing Pre-Treatment and Bacterial Communities

Effects of microwave pretreatment on the physicochemical properties of enzyme-infused carrots

We investigated the possibility of textural modifications in older individuals with dysphagia by administering microwave treatment to enzyme-infused carrots. Microwave pretreatment conditions, including processing time and power levels (120, 400, 640, and 800 W), were examined for their impact on texture softening efficiency, microstructure, β-carotene content, and color. Regression analysis confirmed that processing time substantially influenced carrot hardness, with higher the softening rate increasing as microwave power levels rose from 120 to 800 W. The log-linear model demonstrated a strong correlation coefficients (R2 = 0.9732–0.9407) across different power levels, confirming its reliability in achieving the target texture. The derived times, based on a log-linear model, successfully reached a target hardness of 5.0 × 104 N/m2 (KS level 2), with times of 371 s at 120 W, 198 s at 400 W, 72 s at 640 W, and 61 s at 800 W. The samples pretreated for the derived times corresponding to 120, 400, 640, and 800 W exhibited varying porosity levels, influencing the quality of enzyme-infused carrots. With increasing microwave power, the microwave-pretreated carrots showed improved color (more yellow and red) and preservation of β-carotene, potentially linked to shorter processing times. These results suggest that microwave pretreatment followed by enzyme infusion is an efficient approach to softening carrot texture without compromising its quality, and the log-linear model offers a predictive framework for modifying food textures in dysphagia management.

Manuscript for: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering New insights into the influence of ultrafiltration pretreatment on reverse osmosis membrane fouling during urban sewage reclamation: Interaction between extracellular polymeric substances and inorganic foulants

Ultrafiltration (UF) has been frequently employed as pretreatment to mitigate reverse osmosis (RO) membrane fouling. The organic and inorganic substances outflowing from UF pretreatment collectively determine the subsequent RO membrane fouling behavior. However, most of the previous studies were focused on single organic compounds as well as CaSO4 scaling, yet complex organic matter such as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and various inorganic scaling (i.e. CaCO3, Ca3(PO4)2) coexisted during urban sewage reclamation. In this study, the impact of UF pretreatment on RO membrane fouling behavior, especially the interaction between EPS and CaCO3/Ca3(PO4)2 scaling, were systematically investigated. Results showed that the presence of UF significantly reduced the normalized flux decline (9.3% vs. 14.3%) and enhanced cleaning recovery efficiency (84.6% vs. 51.6%) of RO membrane, but increased scattered crystals (CaCO3 and Ca3(PO4)2) formation on RO membrane surface. Further investigation showed that the binding energy of the Ca2p1/2 and Ca2p3/2 peaks on fouled RO membrane exhibited a shift towards lower energy, which indicated a weak complexation between EPS and Ca2+, thereby increasing inorganic scaling and confirming the two-sides role of EPS retained by UF in RO membrane fouling. Moreover, static experiments indicated that EPS inhibited CaCO3 scaling rather than Ca3(PO4)2 scaling with the inhibition rates of 7.3% and 0.7%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first to reveal the different effect of EPS on CaCO3 and Ca3(PO4)2 scaling. The results may provide a new insight into the effect of UF pretreatment on RO membrane fouling during urban sewage reclamation process.

Biomethane Production Through Performance Enhancement of Anaerobic Digestion and Sludge Dewatering Processes in a Wastewater Treatment Plant

Sewage sludge management poses a persistent challenge due to increasing volumes and stringent environmental regulations. Current municipal wastewater treatment technologies are energy intensive, produce large quantities of residuals and fail to recover the potential resources available in wastewater. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is widely recognized for its cost-effective stabilization, high organic matter removal, and biogas production potential. However, the hydrolysis phase remains a bottleneck in AD, limiting methane yield. Furthermore, its application for low strength municipal wastewater is limited. To address such challenges, the effects of combined microwave-ultrasonic and combined microwaveoxidative pre-treatment of thickened excess activated sludge and mixed sludge on the performance enhancement of conventional mesophilic digester and on two-stage digesters are presented in this study. Microwave-ultrasonic pretreatment was optimized for enhanced cell disruption, while microwave oxidation pretreatment incorporated hydrogen peroxide to generate reactive oxygen species for accelerated organic solubilization. Experimental setups included single- and two-stage anaerobic digesters operated under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. Results demonstrated that combined microwave-ultrasonic pretreatment improved cumulative methane production by 18% and total solids reduction by 31%, compared to microwave-only pretreatment. Microwave oxidation pretreatment with 1% H₂O₂ achieved 40% volatile solids solubilization, significantly enhancing methane yield and sludge dewaterability. The two-stage AD process further improved performance, achieving 76.4 mL/g TCOD methane yield and 58% methane content in biogas, outperforming single-stage systems. Findings indicate that hybrid pretreatments synergistically enhance hydrolys

Angong Niuhuang Pill pretreatment alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting excessive autophagy through the SIRT1-H4K16ac axis

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is an important pathological process in stroke treatment. Angong Niuhuang Pill (ANP), originating from Wenbing Tiaobian, has been shown to have neuroprotective effects, but its mechanism in alleviating CIRI remains unclear. Aim of the studyThis study aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which ANP alleviates CIRI using acetylomics and proteomics. Materials and methodsThe CIRI model was established using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Neurological deficit scoring, TTC staining, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measurement, and TUNEL staining were used to assess the neuroprotective effects of ANP pretreatment on CIRI. Acetylomics and proteomics analyses were performed to identify the potential mechanisms by which ANP reduces CIRI. Finally, the role of SIRT1-H4K16ac-mediated autophagy in the neuroprotective effects of ANP was validated by using a SIRT1 inhibitor, EX527. ResultsANP pretreatment markedly lowered neurological deficit scores and cerebral infarct volumes, increased rCBF, and reduced apoptosis. Acetylomics and proteomics results suggested that ANP regulated autophagy at the transcriptional level by modulating H4K16ac. Immunofluorescence and western blot analyses confirmed that ANP promoted the accumulation of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). Specifically, ANP pretreatment reduced H4K16ac levels, decreased LC3B-II/I ratios, upregulated SQSTM1/p62, and suppressed the expression of ATG5 and ATG7. The ability of EX527 to counteract these effects underscored the importance of the SIRT1-H4K16ac pathway in mediating the protective action of ANP against CIRI. ConclusionsANP provides neuroprotection by modulating the SIRT1-H4K16ac pathway, thereby preventing the excessive autophagy triggered by CIRI.

The effect of different pretreatments and cleaning methods prior to adhesive cementation of lithium disilicate restorations. In vitro study

AimThis study aimed to evaluate the bond strength of adhesively cemented lithium disilicate restorations to dentin by applying different pretreatments and cleaning methods. Material and MethodsTwenty-five human posterior teeth were mounted in an acrylic mold, flattened to expose mid-coronal dentin, and divided into five groups based on different pretreatments and cleaning methods prior to adhesive cementation. After cementation, the teeth were sectioned to obtain 1 mm2 specimens, yielding 15 specimens in each group that were subjected to aging and thermocycling process, followed by a microtensile bond test and failure mode assessment. ResultsThe highest bond strength values were in the control group and in the group that was treated with fluoride and where the temporary cement was removed using pumice, whereas the lowest values were in groups that were cleaned by excavator irrespective of whether they were treated with fluoride or not. However, all groups showed mainly cohesive failure without any statistically significant differences. ConclusionsTo eliminate any possible negative impact of eugenol on adhesion to dentin, surface cleaning by rotational brush and pumice is recommended prior to cementing lithium disilicate restorations.

Alkaline-washed phosphogypsum-based cemented paste backfill prepared using steel slag and blast furnace slag: mechanical properties, fluoride immobilization, and hydration mechanism

Phosphogypsum (PG)-based cemented paste backfill (PCPB) is an effective way to deal with the problem of PG storage, but the low strength, high cost, and serious fluoride pollution of PCPB limit the popularization of this technology. Alkaline washing has been proven to be an effective means to decrease fluoride from PG. Steel slag (SS) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) are common materials possessing pozzolanic activity. SS and GGBFS can be employed as cement substitutes under alkaline conditions. This paper proposes the combined heuristic effect of NaOH pretreatment, SS, and GGBFS to improve the strength of alkaline-washed PCPB (APCPB) and the ability of fluoride immobilization. The study results show that alkali washing stimulates the secondary hydration activity of solid waste materials and promotes the formation of hydration products such as AFt and C-S-H so that the UCS value of APCPB increases greatly in the later stages of hydration increases by 309.8% (7.06MPa), and the leaching concentration of fluoride decreases by 21.5% (0.85mg/L). Through microscopic characterization experiments on the APCPB, it was discovered that in the alkaline hydration system, the transformation of C-S-H and AFt into C-A-S-H, F-C-S-H, and F-AFm, coupled with the physical encapsulation of hydration products, are the main factors immobilizing fluoride. This work provides a much-needed supplement to the in-situ cement-free repair technology of PG in mines to develop more lower-carbon and environmentally friendly mixture formulations.

Molecular insight into algae-derived dissolved organic matters via Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry: Effects of pretreatment methods and electrospray ionization modes

The release of algae-derived dissolved organic matter (ADOM) significantly increased in serious eutrophication waters, posing great threats to drinking water safety. Thus, the molecular composition decipherment is urgently in need. However, due to unsatisfactory pretreatment and ionization effects, the application of Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) on ADOM was limited. Therefore, the effects of pretreatment methods (cartridge type and loading) during solid-phase extraction (SPE) and electrospray ionization (ESI) modes with FT-ICR-MS on the molecular composition of ADOM were evaluated. The results showed compared with silica-based octadecyl (C18) cartridge, styrene-divinylbenzene polymer (PPL) cartridge exhibited higher recovery efficiency and retained more saturated and oxygenated compounds, such as carbohydrate-like and tannin-like. Furthermore, the recovery efficiency decreased with increasing loading, and hydrophilic and high-oxygenated carbohydrate-like and tannin-like were continuously replaced by hydrophobic and low-oxygenated aliphatic and aromatic compounds. Moreover, compared to negative ESI mode, the addition of positive ESI mode increased the molecular chemodiversity, especially more lipid-like and protein-like compounds. Thus, we proposed < 1:500 DOC/PPL mass ratio during SPE and dual ESI modes coupled with FT-ICR-MS could identify ADOM molecules more comprehensively. This work contributes to more comprehensive understanding of the molecular composition of ADOM and provides more references for pretreatment and characterization strategies of severely eutrophic waters.

Endophytic bacterial community dynamics in sweet cherry in vitro shoot culture and their role in shoot adaptation after cryopreservation

BackgroundIn vitro cultivation and cryopreservation techniques are essential tools for genetic diversity conservation and pathogen-free plant propagation of horticultural crops. The optimisation of cryopreservation protocols typically focuses on minimising the negative effects of pretreatment with cryoprotectors (CPs), cryogenic freezing (CF) treatment, and recovery procedures on explants. However, the impact of in vitro and CF techniques on plant-associated microbiota remains poorly understood, and their potential to improve plant adaptation after cryopreservation is underexplored. The aim of the present study was to investigate in vitro shoot culture and cryopreservation-induced changes in the endophytic bacterial diversity of two sweet cherry cultivars and to assess the potential of an inoculum of bacterial isolates to improve the growth of shoot culture after CF.ResultsCultivars ‘Sunburst’ and ‘Mindaugė’ showed different responses to cold hardening preconditioning as well as different survival and regrowth rates after cryopreservation. Metataxonomic analysis revealed variation in the abundance and taxonomic composition of bacteria assigned to 35 families in samples of field-grown tree leaves, dormant buds, and in vitro shoot culture before and after CF treatment. Bacillaceae and Enterobacteriaceae bacteria were predominant in the leaf samples of both cultivars. For ‘Sunburst’, Pseudomonadaceae and Sphingomonadaceae bacteria were dominant in dormant buds and in vitro shoots, respectively, while Burkholderiaceae was largely predominant in the shoots following CF treatment. Conversely, ‘Mindaugė’ tissues exhibited more consistent colonisation by Bacillaceae and Enterobacteriaceae across the experimental groups, except for in vitro shoots where Mycobacteriaceae prevailed. A pure bacterial isolate inoculum was applied to the ‘Mindaugė’ shoot culture to counter the CF treatment-induced suppression of shoot growth (~ 40%). Cocultivation with Brevibacterium sp. S1-2, Bacillus cereus S1-3, or B. toyonensis Nt18 increased the shoot leaf area from 48 to 75%.ConclusionsThis study revealed that endophytic bacterial diversity is significantly reduced under in vitro conditions, often leading to a genotype-specific increase in the abundance and dominance of bacteria attributed to a single bacterial family. Moreover, shoot cocultivation with endophytic bacterial isolates has potential for improving the recovery of in vitro shoots after cryopreservation.

Optimizing Hempcrete Properties Through Thermal Treatment of Hemp Hurds for Enhanced Sustainability in Green Building

This study examines the effects of the thermal pre-treatment of hemp hurds on the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of hempcrete, evaluating its potential as a sustainable building material. Hemp hurds were pre-treated at various temperatures (120–280 °C) and characterized by proximate analysis, CHNS elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The resulting hempcrete samples were analyzed for density, water absorption, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity. Three different hempcrete formulations, with varying lime:hemp proportions, were analyzed. The findings indicate that higher pre-treatment temperatures lead to reduced density and water absorption across all formulations. Formulations containing a higher hemp hurd content had lower densities but higher water absorption values. Compressive strength increased consistently with the pre-treatment temperature, suggesting that higher temperatures enhance matrix bonding and structural rigidity, and with the lime content. However, thermal conductivity also rose with pre-treatment, with only the composition containing the highest hemp hurd content maintaining the optimal insulation threshold (0.1 W/mK). This suggests a trade-off between compressive strength and insulation performance, influenced by the balance of hemp hurd and lime content. These findings underscore the potential of thermal pre-treatment to tailor hempcrete properties, promoting its application as a durable, moisture-resistant material for sustainable building, though the optimization of hurd–lime ratios remains essential.

Effect of sodium hypochlorite and EDTA pretreatment on the resin infiltration efficacy and acid resistance of enamel white spot lesions: an in vitro study

BackgroundThis in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as pretreatments on the resin infiltration efficacy and acid resistance of enamel white spot lesions (WSLs).MethodsEnamel blocks prepared from the buccal surfaces of sound human premolars were placed in a demineralisation solution for 3 days to establish artificial enamel WSLs. All the blocks with WSLs were randomly divided into four groups (n = 40 per group): RI (Control): resin infiltration only. N/RI: 5.25% NaOCl pretreatment + resin infiltration; E/RI: 17% EDTA pretreatment + resin infiltration; NE/RI: combined pretreatment of 5.25% NaOCl with 17% EDTA + resin infiltration; Enamel pore exposure was measured by using SEM observation and Image J software in each group after pretreatment prior to resin infiltration (n = 8 per group). Resin penetration depth and enamel surface microhardness were assessed after resin infiltration (n = 8 per group for each test) by a confocal laser scanning microscope and a Vickers’ microhardness test respectively. The remaining specimens were subjected 7 days of pH cycling after which surface enamel roughness and microhardness were assessed by an atomic force microscope and a microhardness test respectively.ResultsCompared to the control group, the enamel surface pore exposure (p = 0.007), resin penetration depth (p = 0.011) and enamel surface microhardness (p < 0.001) were all significantly increased after the pretreatment of 5.25% NaOCl alone or combined with 17% EDTA by one-way ANOVA. After pH cycling, no significant differences were found in enamel surface roughness or microhardness among the four groups (p = 0.55) by two-way ANOVA.ConclusionsEnamel surface pretreatment of 5.25% NaOCl or combined with 17% EDTA improved the efficacy of the resin infiltration of WSLs, but might be useless in enhancing the acid resistance of resin-infiltrated WSLs.