Fine Fibers Research Articles

Fiber anatomy and histological characteristics of the innervation of the triangular fibrocartilage complex.

To evaluate the precise origin of sensory nerves through gross anatomical study of the TFCC, synthesized alongside imaging and histological techniques. Six cadaveric forearm specimens were obtained to map the course and branches of the ulnar nerve through macrodissection. Immunohistochemical staining targeting PGP 9.5 and type IV collagen was performed on frozen TFCC sections to visualize nerve fibers microscopically. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and arthrography findings were also reviewed. At the macroscopic level, the articular branches supplying the TFCC originated predominantly from the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve. Microscopic analysis revealed positive PGP 9.5 expression and discernible neural marker expression, signifying fine nerve fiber ingrowth within the TFCC. Imaging modalities aided the diagnosis of TFCC lesions. The dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve, medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm, and volar sensory branch of the ulnar nerve emerged as the principal nerves innervating the TFCC. This study provides anatomical evidence that the TFCC receives innervation from branches of the ulnar nerve and contains sensory nerve fibers. These findings enhance understanding of potential neuropathic pain mechanisms in TFCC injuries and offer insights to guide surgical interventions. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the clinical implications.

Key Advances in Solution Blow Spinning of Polylactic-Acid-Based Materials: A Prospective Study on Uses and Future Applications

Solution blow spinning (SBS) is a versatile and cost-effective technique for producing nanofibrous materials. It is based on the principles of other spinning methods as electrospinning (ES), which creates very thin and fine fibers with controlled morphologies. Polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer derived from renewable resources, is widely used in biomedical fields, environmental protection, and packaging. This review provides a theoretical background for PLA, focusing on its properties that are associated with structural characteristics, such as crystallinity and thermal behavior. It also discusses various methods for producing fibrous materials, with particular emphasis on ES and SBS and on describing in more detail the main properties of the SBS method, along with its processing conditions and potential applications. Additionally, this review examines the properties of nanofibrous materials, particularly PLA-based nanofibers, and the new applications for which it is thought that they may be more useful, such as drug delivery systems, wound healing, tissue engineering, and food packaging. Ultimately, this review highlights the potential of the SBS method and PLA-based nanofibers in various new applications and suggests future research directions to address existing challenges and further enhance the SBS method and the quality of fibrous materials.

Preparation and study of attapulgite reinforced PVA fiber with cross‐linking of boric acid

AbstractPolyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers were manufactured by gel spinning with reinforcing of attapulgite (ATT) and cross‐linking of boric acid (PVA/B/ATT fibers), in order to improve the mechanical properties. Furthermore, the final fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), powder x‐ray diffraction (XRD) and tensile strength tester. In addition, when ATT amount was no more than 2.0 wt%, FTIR analyses suggested that the degrees of cooperation combining of ATT and boric acid with PVA macromolecules were enhanced. SEM images indicated that PVA/B/ATT fibers had smooth surfaces. DSC, TGA and XRD results illustrated that the melting temperatures and maximum thermal decomposition temperatures first increased and then dropped as the content of ATT increased. Moreover, mechanical properties results indicated that the optimal ATT amount was 2.0 wt%, and the tensile strength of PVA/B/ATT‐2 fiber reached the highest of 14.2 ± 0.3 cN/dtex. It was largely because that the cooperation combining of boric acid and ATT with PVA molecules improved the mechanical properties of PVA/B/ATT fibers.

Downregulation of the GhROD1 Gene Improves Cotton Fiber Fineness by Decreasing Acyl Pool Saturation, Stimulating Small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSPs), and Reducing H2O2 Production.

Cotton fiber is one of the most important natural fiber sources in the world, and lipid metabolism plays a critical role in its development. However, the specific role of lipid molecules in fiber development and the impact of fatty acid alterations on fiber quality remain largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that the downregulation of GhROD1, a gene encoding phosphatidylcholine diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase (PDCT), results in an improvement of fiber fineness. We found that GhROD1 downregulation significantly increases the proportion of linoleic acid (18:2) in cotton fibers, which subsequently upregulates genes encoding small heat shock proteins (sHSPs). This, in turn, reduces H2O2 production, thus delaying secondary wall deposition and leading to finer fibers. Our findings reveal how alterations in linoleic acid influence cellulose synthesis and suggest a potential strategy to improve cotton fiber quality by regulating lipid metabolism pathways.

Epitaxial Growth of a Three-Dimensional Hollow and Chestnut Shell Photothermal p-n Junction Photoanode.

The p-n junction, a widely studied semiconductor material structure, offers only limited improvements in photoelectrochemical (PEC) efficiency. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) p-n junction h-Ta3N5@CoN featuring a stable chestnut shell hollow sphere structure and photothermal effect was synthesized by using an epitaxial growth strategy. The fine fibers within the sphere induce Rayleigh scattering, which scatters unabsorbed light, thereby enabling secondary absorption and enhancing light utilization. The quantum confinement effects generated by CoN fine fibers, which are sized in a few nanometers, inhibit the recombination of electron-hole pairs. Moreover, the lattice matching between Ta3N5 and CoN allows for smoother movement of carriers and nonradiative relaxation phonons along the lattice, thereby enhancing the transport of both carriers and heat. The obtained h-Ta3N5@CoN/FTO p-n junction photoanode, under near-infrared (NIR) auxiliary irradiation, demonstrates a photocurrent of 8.71 mA cm-2 at 1.23 VRHE. Moreover, the h-Ta3N5@CoN+NIR/FTO photoanode can sustain operation for 168 h, which, to my knowledge, surpasses the operational durations of all other Ta3N5-based photoanodes. This study synthesizes three-dimensional hollow chestnut shell photothermal p-n heterojunctions through an epitaxial growth strategy, endowing the material with a more efficient carrier separation and photothermal transfer efficiency.

DURABILITY CHARACTERISTIC OF COCONUT FIBER AGGREGATE CONCRETE BOND IN LIGHTWEIGHT FOAM CONCRETE

The research paper probes into coconut fibre used as lightweight aggregate in concrete for thermal conditioning, specifically on durability. The durability properties of coconut fibre and coconut fibre lightweight aggregate concrete were examined on the thermal conditioning. The use of coconut fibre aggregate in construction was tested and verified. It ascertained the moisture content and water absorption capacity found to be 4.20% and 24% respectively. These values can be compared to the conventional aggregate used in normal times. The density of coconut fibre was found to be in the range of 550 -650 kg/m3. They are within the specified limits of lightweight aggregate standards. The study conducted a related hydration test on coconut fibre fines with cement. The coconut fibre-cement ratio has been optimized to satisfy the criteria of structural lightweight concrete for insulation and thermal conditioning to ensure durability. The experiments for long-term investigation continued for 365 days on the compressive strength of coconut fibre aggregate concrete for three different curing conditions.

Rapid quality control for recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) streams: Multi-sensor integration for advanced contaminant detection

Recycling coarse aggregates from construction and demolition waste is essential for sustainable construction practices. However, the quality of recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) often fluctuates significantly, in contrast to the more stable quality of natural aggregates. Contaminants in RCA notably compromise its quality and usability. Therefore, automating the quality control of RCA is necessary for the recycling industry. This study introduces an industry-focused, innovative, and rapid quality control system that combines Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) with 3D scanning technologies to enhance the detection of contaminants in RCA streams. The system involves a synchronized application of LIBS for spectral analysis and 3D scanning for the physical characterization of different materials. Results reveal that the dependability of single-shot LIBS analysis has been enhanced, thus elevating the precision of contaminant detection. This improvement is achieved by accounting for the laser shot's angle of incidence and focal length adjustments. The introduced technology holds potential for application in the real-time examination of substantial volumes of RCA, facilitating a rapid and reliable quality control method. This rapid assessment technique delivers online data about the concentration of contaminants in RCA, including recycled fine aggregates, cement paste, bricks, foam, glass, gypsum, mineral fibers, plastics, and wood. This data is both essential and sufficient for choosing a cost-effective mortar recipe and guaranteeing the performance of the final concrete product in terms of strength and durability in construction projects. The system can monitor the quality of RCA flows at throughputs of 50 tons per hour per conveyor, characterizing approximately 4000 particles in every ton of RCA, in this way signaling the most critical contaminants at levels of less than 50 parts per million. With these characteristics, the system could also become relevant for other applications, such as characterizing mining waste or solid biofuels for power plants.

Experimental Study on Fiber Extraction after Saturated Steam Softening of Pleioblastus amarus

At present, bamboo fiber is mainly prepared by rolling and carding after employing the alkali boiling softening method, which is not friendly to the environment. In order to obtain a green and environmentally friendly pretreatment method for preparing bamboo fiber, this paper starts with the current bamboo softening technology and explores the impact of various experimental factors on fiber extraction of Pleioblastus amarus (bitter bamboo) after application of the saturated steam softening method through studying the relationship between saturated steam temperature, holding time, moisture content of bamboo strips, fiber yield, fiber fineness, and the mechanical properties of Pleioblastus amarus fiber. Single-factor experiments revealed that optimal softening fiber extraction effects were achieved within a steam temperature range of 150–180 °C, a holding time of 10–30 min, and a moisture content of 12%–22%. Based on these findings, an orthogonal experiment was designed using a factorial-level table. Through the analysis of range, variance, and orthogonal experiment results, combined with the fibrillation effect and the practical application of fibers, the optimal process parameters of the saturated steam softening method for fiber extraction were determined: saturated steam temperature 170 °C, holding time 20 min, and moisture content 12%. In contrast to the method of conventional mechanical fiber extraction after alkali boiling softening treatment, bamboo fibers processed utilizing the optimized conditions of the saturated steam softening technique showcase a substantial 63% elevation in fiber yield, a notable 18% reduction in fiber fineness, a commendable 28% enhancement in fiber tensile strength, an equivalent tensile modulus, and a marked 53% decrease in elongation at break. The softening process can provide a green and environmentally friendly treatment method for bamboo fiber extraction and greatly promote the scope of application of Pleioblastus amarus.

Proteomic Analysis of Crimped and Straight Wool in Chinese Tan Sheep.

Crimped wool in Tan sheep gradually transitions to straight wool after 35 days (the er-mao stage), which reduces its commercial value. To investigate the changes in wool proteins during this stage, we performed comparative proteomic analysis of the straight and crimped wool using tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantification. The mean fur curvature (MFC) of crimped wool was significantly greater than that of straight wool (p < 0.001). We identified 1218 proteins between the two types of wool, including 50 keratins (Ks) and 10 keratin-associated proteins (KAPs). There were 213 differentially expressed proteins, including 13 Ks and 4 KAPs. Crimped wool showed relatively high abundances of KAP24-1, K84, K32, K82, and intermediate filament rod domain-containing protein (IRDC), whereas straight wool had relatively high abundances of K6A, K27, K80, KAP16-1, KAP27-1, and trichohyalin (TCHH). The expression levels of KAP16-1, KAP24-1, and KAP27-1 were related to the ratio of paracortex, which may be associated with wool crimp formation. Additionally, high expressions of TCHH, K27, and K6A in the inner root sheath (IRS) were linked to fiber fineness in straight wool. These findings provide insight into the overall expression and distribution patterns of Ks and KAPs, offering opportunities to improve wool quality and enhance its economic potential in the textile industry.

Optimization of Polyvinylidene Fluoride/Polyvinyl Alcohol Electrospun using Taguchi Method for Tissue Engineering Application

Composite nanofibers for tissue engineering applications were prepared with polyvinylidene fluoride and polyvinyl alcohol via a horizontal electrospinning process. The effect of the processing parameters (polymer concentration, voltage, feed rate and tip-to-collector distance) on the fibre diameter was studied using L9 orthogonal arrays of the Taguchi Method, S/N ratio, and ANOVA to produce uniform and finest fibre. The optimum parameters were at 90 wt% PVDF ratios for polymer concentration, applied voltage at 10 kV, feed rate at 0.5 mL/h and tip-to-collector distance at 15 cm. The PVDF/PVA electrospun compromises 171.60 nm nanofiber diameter with homogenous morphology and no bead formed. MTT and live/dead kit assay analysis toward human (HSF) cells confirmed the potential of the PVDF/PVA electrospun to be used as an alternative tissue template to allow new cell or tissue formation in the future.

Use of Low‐Energy Ultrasonication to Enhance the Purity and Morphology of Cellulose Nanofibers Prepared from Areca Nut Shells

AbstractThe isolation of cellulose nanofibers from areca nut shell has been successfully carried out using a simple alkaline treatment, acid hydrolysis, and followed by a morphological modification using low‐energy sonication method. The alkaline treatment consists of dewaxing and bleaching process to remove lignin, while acid hydrolysis process was carried out to remove hemicellulose. Mechanical fibrillation was carried out via ultrasonication and low‐power homogenization with 100 W cleaner and 3 W homogenizer to obtain fine fibers. Following the scanning electron microscope (SEM) result, the ultrasonicated treatment sample showed better lignin and hemicellulose removal processes and increased dispersity, as well as reduce diameter of cellulose fibers from 710.4 to 451.6 nm. The particle size analyzer (PSA) showed that the colloidal cellulose after sonication provide a frequent diameter of 56 nm. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy result showed that sonication is an effective removal process of noncellulosic components. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the crystallinity of nanocellulose decrease following the sonication process. Hence, low‐energy ultrasonication is a viable approach to enhance the morphology and mechanical strength of cellulose nanofiber.

Influence of Genetic and Non-Genetic Factors on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Mongolian Cashmere Fiber Properties

Cashmere is widely acclaimed as one of the most luxurious textile fibers. Mongolia, a major player in cashmere production and processing, is key to this industry. Despite the rich history of cashmere, there is limited research on cashmere fiber properties, which are essential in producing high-quality garments. This study aims to improve our understanding of cashmere fibers’ physical and mechanical properties and to assess how genetic and non-genetic factors affect these characteristics. We analyzed key fiber characteristics, including scale morphology, and the physical and mechanical properties (such as fineness, length parameters, stress, and strain) in 11 samples from Mongolian goats of varying areas, breeds, ages, and genders. Through detailed statistical analysis, our experimental results revealed that both genetic and non-genetic factors significantly affect fiber fineness and the specific energy of rupture. Additionally, we observed that the influence of these factors can inform better classification systems for raw cashmere and enhance the determination of the fiber’s spinability limit.

Green and safe preparation of antibacterial sutures composed of PLA ultrafine fibers

AbstractThe electrospun yarn for sutures has gained worldwide attention due to its fine fibers that resemble the extracellular matrix and its abundant functional sites. However, the use of a large number of toxic solvents poses safety risks and environmental pollution during production, making it challenging to directly apply electrospun yarn in the biomedical field. In this study, an environmentally friendly and safe method without toxic solvents was proposed for preparing antibacterial PLA ultrafine fiber sutures. This method involves melt electrospinning, hot‐stretching, low‐temperature plasma treatment, and chitosan grafting. The PLA ultrafine fiber sutures exhibit a high tensile strength which is 2.04 N before knotting and 1.57 N after knotting. The suture diameter is 118.7 μm and average fiber diameter is 1.72 μm. Chitosan grafted on the fiber surface provides excellent antibacterial properties for the sutures, with antibacterial rates against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus reaching 99.89% and 99.11%, respectively. The cell survival rate is 97.33%, while hemolysis rate is only 2.35%, demonstrating excellent biocompatibility of PLA ultrafine fiber sutures. This study presents a green and safe method for preparing clinically applicable absorbable antibacterial surgical sutures with high mechanical properties.Highlights A green and safe method for preparing PLA‐CS ultrafine fiber sutures. PLA‐CS suture with a tensile strength of 2.04 N and a fiber diameter of 1.72 μm. PLA‐CS suture with good antibacterial property and biocompatibility.

Application of the Optical Fiber Diameter Analyzer for Assessing Cotton Fiber Ribbon Width

ABSTRACT Existing methods for measuring fineness are time-consuming, tedious, and impractical to evaluate many samples. For this reason, the Textile Industry has sought a rapid, accurate, and reliable instrument to determine fiber fineness. Recently, the Optical Fiber Diameter Analyzer (OFDA) was introduced for rapid and precise evaluation of the diameter of different types of fibers. In this study, the OFDA was evaluated for measuring the ribbon width of cotton fiber snippets. One hundred and four carded cotton samples covering a wide range of fiber properties were selected and tested with nine replications per sample. The repeatability of the OFDA diameter measurement was confirmed. Comparisons with the data (cross-sections, AFIS, and Cottonscope) obtained from previous studies on the 104 samples were used to assess the effectiveness of the proposed method. The relationship between ribbon widths measured by Cottonscope and OFDA was found to be weak. Yet, there is a strong correlation between OFDA ribbon width and AFIS standard fineness. We hypothesize that the poor relationship between the Cottonscope and the OFDA is related to the medium in which the measurements are performed. The results are stable and provide measurements closely related to AFIS standard fineness, a trusted measurement within the Textile Industry.

An eco-friendly droplet-wet spinning technology for producing high-quality hemp/cotton blend yarn

In recent years, hemp textiles have gained attention as a sustainable alternative to cotton. However, the uneven fineness and length of hemp fibers, along with their stiffness, adversely affect spinnability and exacerbate yarn evenness and hairiness, particularly due to short fibers. This study introduces a modified sustainable droplet-wet spinning technology aimed at enhancing hemp yarn quality, with a primary focus on reducing yarn hairiness. Implemented on a ring spinning machine, the technology utilizes a syringe connected to an adjustable-speed pump, delivering water onto the front top roller. This innovative approach enhances hemp yarn in two ways: firstly, the cohesive force of water promotes the consolidation of short fibers on both sides of the fiber bundle towards the center, thereby condensing the spinning triangle. Consequently, the fibers on both sides of the fiber bundle are more readily drawn into the spinning triangle and twisted to form yarn; secondly, wet hemp fibers possess a lower modulus, rendering them softer and more deformable, facilitating their embedding into the yarn, thereby enhancing yarn tenacity and reducing yarn hairiness. The study systematically investigates the relationship between droplet-wet spinning parameters (water droplet rate, hemp fiber content of the roving, and yarn twist multiplier) and hemp yarn quality. Experimental results reveals that optimal droplet-wet spinning lead to a 22% increase in yarn tenacity and about 50% reduction in hairiness. A higher hemp fiber content in the roving contributes to better performance of droplet-wet spinning technology in enhancing yarn quality. Moreover, droplet-wet spinning enables the production of high-quality hemp yarn at lower twist multipliers, thereby reducing electricity consumption during yarn production. Subsequently, the performance of knitted fabrics made from conventional ring-spun yarn and droplet-wet spun yarn was compared and analyzed. The results indicate that fabric made from droplet-wet spun yarn exhibits an approximately 8% increase in bursting strength and a one-level improvement in pilling resistance. This research highlights the potential of droplet-wet spinning technology to enhance hemp yarn quality and promote sustainable textile production.

Deseeded sunflower fractions and their anatomy and cell morphology

Deseeded sunflower is a heterogeneous lignocellulosic biomass that has not been well utilized due to the incomplete understanding of its biological structure. In this study, deseeded sunflower was fractioned into the stalk rind, stalk pith, receptacle, bract, bractlet, leaf blade, and petiole, and their anatomy, cell morphology, and fiber dimension were studied using light microscope, environmental scanning electron microscope, and fiber quality analyzer. The results showed that the major fractions were the stalk rind and receptacle (49.4 wt% and 28.1 wt%, respectively) and each of the other fractions was less than 10 wt% of the total biomass. The pith was only composed of parenchyma tissue, and the other fractions were composed of epidermal, parenchyma, and vascular tissues. The arrangement and number of vascular tissues were different among fractions. The fiber length in the stalk rind was 0.823 mm, the width was 21.3 μm, and the aspect ratio was 38.6. The content of fiber fines in other fractions was higher than 50%, and these fractions should be developed for other uses. Fractionation was judged to be an effective way to achieve high value utilization of deseeded sunflower.

A finite element analysis method for random fiber-aggregate 3D mesoscale concrete based on the crack bridging law

Mesoscale modeling is an emerging analytical method that can be used to study fiber-reinforced concrete. However, fine fibers with micrometer diameters are distributed in millions in a standard specimen, so it is impossible to establish a mesoscale model and further analyze it, which severely limits the investigation of the reinforcement mechanism of fine fibers on concrete. This paper efficiently established a highly applicable mesoscale analytical model for random fiber-polyhedral aggregate concrete in Abaqus software based on a comprehensive examination of the crack bridging law and the supplementation of the fiber spacing theory, combined with the improvement of the algorithms of aggregate generation, fiber arrangement, and the judgment of the fiber-aggregate contact by the secondary development method of Python, as well as the matrix-dual arrangement method. Additionally, basalt fiber concrete and mortar specimens were prepared and tested, and the parameters of the model were calibrated to verify the model's authenticity. The result shows that the method proposed in this paper can accurately and efficiently perform mesoscale concrete analysis with fine fibers. In the peak load stage, the fiber has the strongest alleviation effect (Δ = 0.033) on the matrix damage, 10 times that of the crack initiation stage (Δ = 0.003). With the development of damage, fiber stress increases gradually from the crack initiation stage (0.68 σfu), and the growth rate (41.53 %) is the largest at the peak load stage (σfu), which reveals the complex dynamic bridging effect of fiber on the matrix. This investigation proposes a novel and broad applicability methodology for the finite element analysis of fiber-reinforced aggregate mesoscale concrete.

INFESTATION OF DIFFERENT INSECT PESTS ON NOVEL COTTON CULTIVARS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON COTTON FIBER QUALITY PARAMETERS

Pakistan is the 5th largest producer of cotton in the world. Exports of cotton and textile products have a share of around 60 percent in overall exports of the country. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the different fiber quality parameters in relation to different insect pest populations. The introduction of this new types of cultivars may satisfy the needs of farmers for better quality and quantity, laborers who harvest crops, and other investors, including those in the cotton sector. A field research was carried out at the Cotton Research Station, Faisalabad, Pakistan, during the year 2023 cotton cultivars (VH-447, FH-1133, BH-228, SLH-94, MNH-S GOLD, BH-227, FH-1214, MNH-1095, VH-442, MNH-1090, RH-BAGHO BAHAR, MNH-1050, and MNH-TP) were evaluated for resistance to sucking pests such as whitefly (Bemisia tabaci); jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula); and thrips (Thrips tabaci) as well as bollworms such as pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella); spotted bollworm (Earias insulana; E. vitelli); and American bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera). There were notable variations across the genotypes in terms of the population of sucking and bollworm insect pest infestation, which lowers cotton production and negatively affects fiber quality. FH-1133 showed the lowest average populations of thrips (1.00/leaf), jassid (0.27/leaf), and whiteflies (2.00/leaf), indicating the highest resistance. The average population (9.84%) of pink bollworm larvae in residual boll. The virus percentage on different cotton genotypes recorded after 30, 60, 90, and 120 days was 0.00, 9.00, 14.00, and 19.00%, respectively. The cultivar FH-1133 was observed to be good for all other genotypes of cotton due to its yield (2372.50 kg/acre), and it had the following lint quality attributes: GOT (46.50%), staple length (28.50 mm), fiber fineness (4.70 µg/inch), and fiber strength (33.20 g/tex).

The effect of electro blow spinning parameters on the characteristics of polylactic acid nanofibers: Towards green development of high-performance biodegradable membrane

Electro-blow spinning represents a novel and emerging hybridised technology for producing high-quality, large-scale nanofibers. The applied pressure, accompanied by an electric field, functions as a drafting force to generate ultrafine, homogeneous nanofibers. Herein, we utilised a sustainable solvent to produce polylactic acid nanofibers via the electro-blow spinning technique. A parametric study investigating the effect of polymer concentration, pressure, and voltage on the characteristics of the produced nanofibers was thoroughly conducted. The produced nanofibers were tested using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile test. The findings revealed that air pressure plays a crucial role in the electro-blow spinning process, while introducing electric field enhances the spinnability and stretchability of nanofibers. Increasing the applied pressure and voltage led to finer fibres with improved crystallinity and mechanical strength. However, excessive pressure or voltage can cause jet instability, resulting in defects such as fused or broken fibres. Our study suggests that the most recommended parameters for uniform and high-quality nanofibers are 10 wt%, 5 bar, and 20 kV. Moreover, the polylactic acid nanofibers were further evaluated for air filtration performance using a customised filtration setup to determine their suitability as a facemask material. The results indicated a notably high filtration efficiency, reaching up to 98 %, with a corresponding pressure drop between 137 and 163 Pa. These preliminary findings strongly suggest that produced nanofibers are highly promising candidates for medical textile applications, particularly in the development of facemasks.

Study on the prebiotic effects of insoluble crude and fine fibers of wheat bran after simulated digestion in vitro

This study aims to evaluate the probiotic effects of insoluble crude and fine fibers of wheat bran on the intestine after simulated in vitro digestion. It was found that the particle size distribution of modified fine wheat bran (MWB) was significantly smaller than that of natural crude wheat bran (NWB). MWB had a looser texture and more porous structure. The dry matter digestibility and organic matter digestibility of MWB were 58.60 % and 59.05 %, which were significantly higher than that of NWB (53.64 % and 54.13 %). More SDF and free polyphenol were released from the MWB. At 12 h of fermentation, the SDF content of the MWB was 3.76 g/100 g, significantly higher than NWB (3.40 g/100 g), and the free polyphenol was 9.43 mg/g, significantly higher than NWB (9.01 mg/g). The content of short-chain fatty acids including formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyrate acid and valerate acid in the samples were significantly higher in MWB than in NWB. Analysis of the microbial flora structure and diversity of the fermentation samples revealed that the relative abundance of Lactobacillus was higher in the MWB group, and was closer to the oligofructose group (FOS) in terms of functional predictions.