Fourth Cycle Research Articles

Creating a digital platform for the agricultural cooperative system through interorganizational collaboration

In the era of Agriculture 4.0, agricultural cooperatives are struggling to understand the challenges and threats the digital platforms of large agribusiness corporations represent for the competitiveness of cooperative systems. An opportunity in this context is for agricultural cooperatives to enter the platform economy and collaboratively develop their digital platform. This study aims to analyze the process of creating a digital platform through the collaboration of agribusiness cooperatives. The action research method, which involved four interconnected cycles, was followed. The first cycle aimed to generate strategic alignment among thirty cooperatives to promote digital innovation. The second cycle referred to conceptualizing and establishing the project's governance structure and developing three minimum viable products. The third cycle involved the construction of the digital platform. The fourth and final cycle focused on instantiating the platform through diffusion and utilization by the cooperatives. A digital platform was developed, considering the potential for building relationships and adopting cooperative concepts. The platform gives participants access to a digital business ecosystem and direct access to the community of users, the infrastructure and the data. This means the cooperatives can manage them without subordination to large multinational companies that may threaten their long-term survival. The study contributes to theory by proposing a systematic method to create digital platforms following a cooperative approach. It also contributes to the managerial practice by revealing the steps and challenges managers may face when implementing digital platforms in the context of cooperatives. The platform attracted over 13,000 active users in three years and represented more than 1,700,000 ha of land for food production in Brazil.

In-situ deposition of Ag and AgFeO2 on Bi2WO6 nanosheet for enhancing visible-light-driven photocatalysis toward degradation of tetracycline

A series of novel ternary Bi2WO6/Ag/AgFeO2 composites were successfully prepared by in-situ deposition AgFeO2 onto Bi2WO6 nanosheets, followed by reduction of Ag+ to Ag0 on the surface of Bi2WO6/AgFeO2 via ultrasound-assisted reduction process. The structural characterizations revealed that Ag0 and AgFeO2 was loaded on the smooth surface of Bi2WO6 nanosheets, forming a tightly contact interface. Meanwhile, Bi2WO6 nanosheets as substrates suppressed the aggregation of AgFeO2 nanoparticles. Bi2WO6/Ag/AgFeO2 composites achieved full-spectrum absorption of visible light due to the formation of p-n heterojunction between the Bi2WO6 and AgFeO2 interface and the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Ag0, as confirmed by UV–vis DRS. Photoelectrochemical results indicated that the formation of both p-n heterojunction and the noble Ag0 improved the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes. Photocatalysis performance of Bi2WO6/Ag/AgFeO2-80 composite showed that a removal rate of 92.4 % for tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) under visible light irradiation within 120 minutes, with a kinetic constant 0.01743 min-1, which was 20 times, 15 times, and 3 times higher than that of AgFeO2, Ag/AgFeO2 and Bi2WO6, respectively, and the composite exhibited excellent stability in the fourth cycle experiment. The radical capture experiments proved that superoxide radicals (⸱O2-) play a major role in the degradation process, and the holes (h+) as the second active species. Based on the above results and in situ XPS, a possible electron transfer pathway was proposed.

Efficient adsorption removal of anionic dyes by waste PET-derived MIL-101(Cr)

Adsorption can be used as a pollutant removal method to solve the increasingly serious problem of synthetic dye pollution and metal organic framework (MOF) is considered as a novel adsorbent for its unique structure. However, the high cost and high toxicity during the synthesis procedure of MOFs like MIL-101(Cr) limited their potential on the large-scale production and application. In this paper, waste PET plastic was depolymerized to prepare terephthalic acid (TPA) as an organic linker to synthesize MIL-101(Cr). Besides, Hydrofluoric acid (HF) was not added during the synthesis to avoid poisonous pollution. MIL-101(Cr) was applied to the adsorption of anionic dyes reactive red 2 (RR2) and reactive blue 19 (RB19). The batch experiments exhibited kinetic data best fitted the pseudo-first-order model (PFO) with the adsorption capacity of 662.87 (RR2) and 863.67 mg g-1 (RB19). The isotherm adsorption data fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm, indicating formation of multilayer coverage over the surface of MIL-101(Cr). The highest regeneration rate of MIL-101(Cr) at the fourth cycle was 91.18 and 91.44 % after RR2 and RB19 adsorption. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technique and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy both indicated the possible adsorption mechanism of MIL-101(Cr) toward RR2 and RB19 could be attributed to electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and the π-π stacking. This work proposed a novel method using waste plastics as raw materials to synthesize eco-friendly pollutant adsorbent, which had an enlightening effect on pollutant treatment.

Bioremoval of tannins and heavy metals using immobilized tannase and biomass of Aspergillus glaucus

BackgroundThe presence of inorganic pollutants and heavy metals in industrial effluents has become a serious threat and environmental issues. Fungi have a remarkable ability to exclude heavy metals from wastewater through biosorption in eco-friendly way. Tannase plays an important role in bioconversion of tannin, a major constituent of tannery effluent, to gallic acid which has great pharmaceutical applications. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to exploit the potential of tannase from Aspergillus glaucus and fungal biomass waste for the bioremediation of heavy metals and tannin.ResultsTannase from A. glaucus was partially purified 4.8-fold by ammonium sulfate precipitation (80%). The enzyme was optimally active at pH 5.0 and 40 °C and stable at this temperature for 1 h. Tannase showed high stability at different physiological conditions, displayed about 50% of its activity at 60 °C and pH range 5.0–6.0. Immobilization of tannase was carried out using methods such. as entrapment in Na-alginate and covalent binding to chitosan. The effects of Na-alginate concentrations on the beads formation and enzyme immobilization revealed that maximum immobilization efficiency (75%) was obtained with 3% Na-alginate. A potential reusability of the immobilized enzyme was showed through keeping 70% of its relative activity up to the fourth cycle. The best bioconversion efficiency of tannic acid to gallic acid by immobilized tannase was at 40 °C with tannic acid concentration up to 50 g/l. Moreover, bioremediation of heavy metal (Cr3+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Fe3+, and Mn2+) from aqueous solution using A. glaucus biomass waste was achieved with uptake percentage of (37.20, 60.30, 55.27, 79.03 and 21.13 respectively). The biomass was successfully used repeatedly for removing Cr3+ after using desorbing agent (0.1 N HCl) for three cycles.ConclusionThese results shed the light on the potential use of tannase from locally isolated A. glaucus in the bioremediation of industrial tanneries contained heavy metals and tannin.

An Active and Regenerable Nanometric High-Entropy Catalyst for Efficient Propane Dehydrogenation.

Propane dehydrogenation (PDH) is crucial for propylene production, but commercially employed Pt-based catalysts face susceptibility to deactivation due to the Pt sintering during reaction and regeneration steps. Here, we report a SiO2 supported nanometric (MnCoCuZnPt) high-entropy PDH catalyst with high activity and stability. The catalyst exhibited a super high propane conversion of 56.6 % with 94 % selectivity of propylene at 600 °C. The propylene productivity reached 68.5 molC3H6 ⋅ gPt -1 ⋅ h-1, nearly three times that of Pt/SiO2 (23.5 molC3H6 ⋅ gPt -1 ⋅ h-1) under a weight hourly space velocity of 60 h-1. In a high-entropy nanoparticle, Pt atoms were atomically dispersed through coordination with other metals and exhibited a positive charge, thereby showcasing remarkable catalytic activity. The high-entropy effect contributes to the catalyst a superior stability with a low deactivation constant of 0.0004 h-1 during 200 hours of reaction under the industrial gas composition at 550 °C. Such high-entropy PDH catalyst is easy regenerated through simple air combustion of deposited coke. After the fourth consecutive regeneration cycle, satisfactory catalytic stability was observed, and the element distribution of spent catalysts almost returned to their initial state, with no detectable Pt sintering. This work provides new insights into designing active, stable, and regenerable novel PDH catalysts.

Well-synthesized carbon dots from flower of Cassia fistula and its hydrothermally grown heterojunction photocatalyst with zinc oxide (CDs@ZnO-H400) for photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin and paracetamol

Pharmaceutical residues in aquatic environments have the potential to induce bacterial resistance, subsequently complicating disease treatment and posing a substantial hazard to public health. This study demonstrates the production of carbon dots from Cassia fistula flowers using a hydrothermal process. The obtained carbon dots were then mixed with zinc oxide to create CDs@ZnO-H400. This heterojunction photocatalyst exhibited notable enhancement in photocatalytic performance due to improved charge separation efficiency at the interface. The CDs@ZnO-H400 catalyst effectively removed two medications, ciprofloxacin and paracetamol. Ciprofloxacin showed maximum photocatalytic efficiency, with 99.8 % degradation, while paracetamol exhibited a degradation efficiency of 75.1 %. The stability of the synthesized photocatalyst was evaluated across four usage cycles using EDX-SEM, FTIR, and XRD techniques. The CDs@ZnO-H400 heterostructure photocatalyst maintained strong photoactivity even after the fourth cycle of usage.

The safety and efficacy of blinatumomab in the treatment of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children

To explore the safety and efficacy of blinatumomab in the treatment of CD19 positive (CD19+) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in children. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of pediatric B-ALL patients who received blinatumomab treatment from Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from August 2021 to October 2023. Based on their disease status, the patients were divided into refractory/relapsed(RR) group, minimal residual disease clearance (MC) group, and chemotherapy intolerance (IC) group. Clinical data of the children were collected to evaluate the adverse drug reactions, therapeutic efficacy and survival of the children. In total, 35 patients were included, with 20 males and 15 females, aged from 0.6 to 16.4 (9.9±4.2) years old. There were 10 cases in the RR group, 20 cases in the MC group and 5 cases in the IC group. A total of 56 cycles of infusion were completed, with one cycle in 24 cases, two cycles in 5 cases, three cycles in 2 cases and four cycles in 4 cases. The median infusion time [M (Q1, Q3)] from the first to the fourth cycle was 14 (14, 28) days, 28 (28, 28) days, 28 (28, 28) days and 28 (26, 28) days, respectively. In terms of adverse reactions, the incidence of grade 1-2 cytokine release syndrome(CRS) was 57.1% (32/56), with grade 1 CRS accounting for 84.4% (27/32). The incidence rate of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome(ICANS) (grade 4) was 1.8% (1/56). In the RR group, 6 cases were treated effectively, and minimal residual disease(MRD) turned negative, before treatment, MRD levels were all less than 20%. Among them, 3 cases had MRD turning positive again 14 to 42 days after discontinuation of Belintoumab. Four cases were treated ineffectively, with MRD >20% before treatment. All MRD positive cases in MC group turned negative and all MRD negative cases in the IC group remained negative after treatment. The median follow-up time of RR group was 5.7 (3.8, 9.4) months, and 1 year median survival rate and event-free survival rate were 40.0%±21.9% and 33.3%±19.2%, respectively. The median follow-up time for MC and IC group patients was 6.7 (5.2, 12.5) months and 7.1 (5.1, 7.6) months, respectively, with an event free survival rate of 100%. The safety and efficacy of using belintoumab in partial RR, MRD clearance, and chemotherapy intolerance are good.

Rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP) therapy decreases lean body mass and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index even until one year after the final treatment in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Sarcopenia is an independent prognostic factor for several solid cancers, including B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). However, previous reports have measured the parameters of loss of skeletal muscle as sarcopenia only once before chemotherapy and have predicted poor outcomes. In this study, changes in body composition were measured in patients who received rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP) therapy for B-NHL using the InBody 720 analyzer throughout the therapy. Twenty-seven patients who achieved complete remission and survived for one year after the last cycle were included in the study. Body composition was evaluated immediately before initiation and fourth cycle, and one month and one year after the last cycle. Throughout the follow-up period, the lean body mass index (LBMI) and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) showed significant transient decreases even one year following the last cycle (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively). Body fat index (BFI) and body fat percentage (BF%) decreased until one month after the last cycle; however, they reached levels higher than the baseline levels, +22.1% and +15.9%, respectively, at 1 year from the last cycle. The loss of skeletal muscle mass did not recover even one year after the last cycle. Interventions in nutritional management are needed to prevent sarcopenia in patients treated with R-CHOP therapy.

Hydrodynamic performance analysis of swimming processes in self-propelled manta rays

To fill the research gap regarding the whole process (steady-state and nonsteady-state phases) of median and/or paired fin (MPF) mode swimming in underwater organisms, a two-degree-of-freedom self-propelled coupling method of motion and hydrodynamics based on user-defined functions of Fluent software was established, and numerical simulations were carried out for the startup, acceleration, and steady-state phases of manta rays. The interaction mechanism among the hydrodynamic characteristics, vortex evolution, and pressure distribution was investigated in the mentioned phases. We concluded that the negative pressure zone generated by the leading edge vortex and the shear layer contributes to thrust generation and changes in swimming velocity dominate the hydrodynamic characteristics by affecting the evolution of the shear layer and the leading edge vortex, with a 17.54% increase in forward average velocity in the fourth cycle compared to the third cycle and a consequent 9.5% increase in average thrust. In the end, the relationship between the formation of trailing edge vortex rings and changes in thrust was revealed. The vortex ring contributes to the increase in thrust, but the formation of the vortex ring comes at the cost of the loss of the leading edge vortex negative pressure zone, which greatly affects thrust, decreasing to 38.3% of its peak. The swimming mechanism revealed in this study provides a reference for the study of MPF-driven biodynamics and a new simulation strategy for the prediction of bionic navigator motions.

Fast decomposition of organic contaminant in wastewater using Zn and Mn bimetallic metal organic frameworks

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibit remarkable versatility across various applications including luminescence sensors, adsorption, gas separation, and catalysis due to their tuneable structure and characteristics, especially in the presence of mono- or bi-metal ions. In this study, a comparative analysis of solvothermally synthesized zinc MOF (MOF-5), manganese MOF (Mn-MOF), and bimetallic zinc-manganese MOF (Zn/Mn-MOF) is conducted. Clear distinctions in the properties of these synthesized materials are observed. XRD spectra suggest that MOF-5 and Zn/Mn-MOF exhibit higher crystallinity compared to Mn-MOF. FESEM images reveal that particles of bimetallic MOFs are well-separated, whereas those of monometallic MOF-5 and Mn-MOF are agglomerated. Zn/Mn-MOF display the lowest band gap, measuring 3.03 eV. To assess their efficacy as photocatalysts, their ability to degrade methylene blue under simulated sunlight is evaluated. Reaction kinetics indicate that degradation follows pseudo-first-order linear kinetics for all synthesized samples. Notably, bimetallic Zn/Mn-MOF outperforms its monometallic counterparts in dye degradation processes, exhibiting a rate constant of 0.0535 min−1 and an exceptional degradation rate of ∼91 % in 120 min. Dark condition experiments suggest minimal dye adsorption by the synthesized MOFs, with values of 8.2 %, 5 %, and 2.5 % after 120 min for MOF-5, Mn-MOF, and Zn/Mn-MOF, respectively. Irradiation of the dye solution with a solar simulator enhances methylene blue decomposition. Furthermore, the recyclability studies for MB dye degradation by the Zn/Mn MOF reveal a decline in photocatalytic efficiency to 71.3 % after the fourth cycle, indicating appreciable stability of the material.

Ibrutinib in Combination with R-GemOx in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma of Nongerminal Center B-cell-like Type: Phase II Clinical Trial of the Spanish GELTAMO Group.

This phase II clinical trial evaluated the combination of ibrutinib with rituximab, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin (R-GemOx) in patients with nongerminal center B-cell-like (non-GCB) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The IBDCL trial (NCT02692248) included patients with histologic diagnosis of non-GCB DLBCL with relapsed or refractory disease and non-candidates for stem-cell transplantation. Patients received an induction treatment consisting of six or eight cycles of R-GemOx at standard doses every 2 weeks, in combination with ibrutinib (560 mg daily), followed by a maintenance treatment with ibrutinib for a maximum of 2 years. The primary objective was to evaluate the overall response rate after four cycles. Sixty-four patients were included, 72% of them refractory to the last regimen. The overall response rate and complete remission rate after the fourth cycle were 53% [95% confidence interval (CI), 41-65] and 34% (95% CI, 24-46), respectively. Twenty-four (37%) patients started maintenance, and 7 (11%) completed the planned 2 years. After a median follow-up of 29.7 months (range: 0.4-48.6), the estimated 2-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 18% (95% CI, 8-28) and 26% (95% CI, 14-37), respectively. The most common grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events were thrombocytopenia (44%), neutropenia (30%), and anemia (14%). Grade ≥3 infectious and cardiovascular treatment-related adverse events were reported in 6 (9%) and 1 (2%) patient, respectively. Ibrutinib in combination with R-GemOx, followed by ibrutinib maintenance, demonstrated encouraging antitumor activity with durable responses and a manageable toxicity in patients with non-GCB DLBCL.

Enhancing Hydrogen Recovery from Saline Aquifers: Quantifying Wettability and Hysteresis Influence and Minimizing Losses with a Cushion Gas

This study aims to numerically assess the impact of wettability and relative permeability hysteresis on hydrogen losses during underground hydrogen storage (UHS) and explore strategies to minimize them by using an appropriate cushion gas. The research utilizes the Carlson model to calculate the saturation of trapped gas and the Killough model to account for water hysteresis. By incorporating the Land coefficient based on laboratory-measured data for a hydrogen/brine system, our findings demonstrate a significant influence of gas hysteresis on the hydrogen recovery factor when H2 is used as a cushion gas. The base model, which neglects the hysteresis effect, indicates a recovery factor of 78% by the fourth cycle, which can be improved. In contrast, the modified model, which considers hysteresis and results in a trapped gas saturation of approximately 17%, shows a hydrogen recovery factor of 45% by the fourth cycle. Additionally, gas hysteresis has a notable impact on water production, with an observed 12.5% increase in volume in the model that incorporates gas hysteresis. Furthermore, optimization of the recovery process was conducted by evaluating different cushion gases such as CO2, N2, and CH4, with the latter proving to be the optimal choice. These findings enhance the accuracy of estimating the H2 recovery factor, which is crucial for assessing the feasibility of storage projects.

Heterogeneous Calcium Oxide Catalytic Filaments for Three-Dimensional Printing: Preparation, Characterization, and Use in Methyl Ester Production.

This study aimed to investigate heterogeneous catalytic filaments of calcium oxide (CaO) for fused deposition modeling three-dimensional (3D) printers. The CaO catalysts were blended with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic to form catalytic filaments. A single-screw filament extruder was used to prepare the filaments, following which their mechanical properties, thermal properties, morphology, catalytic characteristics in biodiesel production, and reusability were evaluated. In accordance with the results, a maximum CaO catalyst content of 15 wt % was recommended to be blended in the ABS pellet. The hardness and compressive strength of these catalytic filaments were shown to be improved. Subsequently, the catalytic filaments with the highest CaO content (15 wt %) were used to produce methyl ester from pretreated sludge palm oil through the transesterification process. To determine the recommended conditions for achieving the highest purity of methyl ester in biodiesel, the process parameters were optimized. A methyl ester purity of 96.58 wt % and a biodiesel yield of 79.7 wt % could be achieved under the recommended conditions of a 9.0:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, 75.0 wt % catalytic filament loading, and 4.0 h reaction time. Furthermore, the reusability of the 15 wt % CaO catalytic filaments was evaluated in a batch process with multiple transesterification cycles. The results indicated that the purity of methyl ester dropped to 95.0 wt % only after the fourth cycle. The method used in this study for preparing and characterizing CaO catalytic filaments can potentially serve as a novel approach for constructing biodiesel reactors using 3D printing technology.

Randomized pilot study assessing the safety and tolerability hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) at completion of interval cytoreductive surgery or chemotherapy the day prior to interval cytoreductive surgery for patients with stage III/IV ovarian cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

TPS5638 Background: A recent randomized phase III trial demonstrated an improvement in recurrence free and overall survival when heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) was given at the time of interval cytoreductive surgery (iCRS) for advanced ovarian cancer. While there is rationale for HIPEC’s mechanism of effect, it remains unclear whether the observed benefit is because the chemotherapy schedule is not interrupted perioperatively (typically at least 6-8 weeks). We hypothesize that administration of the same agent and similar dose the day before surgery, will not increase toxicity and may improve feasibility for closing the gap between treatment cycles, while also limiting length of surgery and time under anesthesia. The primary objective of this study is to assess the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of IV Cisplatin the day prior to iCRS compared to HIPEC to determine if this is an acceptable alternative. Methods: This is a single institution randomized Pilot Study (NCT05415709). Patients with newly diagnosed stage III or IV epithelial (serous, mucinous, or endometrioid) ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer are eligible if they achieve a partial or complete response to 3-4 cycles of neoadjuvant carboplatin/paclitaxel +/- bevacizumab and are deemed to have disease amenable to a complete or optimal iCRS. Patients are scheduled for iCRS within 3-4 weeks following the third or fourth cycle and randomized 1:1 to IV Cisplatin (75 mg/m2) given the day prior to iCRS or HIPEC with Cisplatin (100 mg/m2) given intraoperatively over 90 min at 40°Celsius at the completion of surgical debulking. 15 patient per arm are planned (N=30); currently 7 patients have completed study interventions. No formal power calculation was required for this feasibility and safety study. Frequency and severity of adverse events (AEs) and tolerability of the regimens will be collected and summarized by descriptive statistics for each group. Patients who are able to receive planned treatment will be summarized as percentage for each treatment group. Accrual is anticipated to complete in June 2025. As an exploratory secondary endpoint, we plan to explore changes to the gut microbiome before and after HIPEC and examine correlative patterns with response and toxicity. Clinical trial information: NCT05415709 .

Investigation of microstructure evolution and redox behavior of Ni-GDC cermet by cyclic re-oxidation in CO2

The microstructure and reactivity of Ni-GDC cermet under cyclic oxidation in CO2 conditions were investigated using temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD results revealed that NiO was formed during the re-oxidation process in CO2. SEM and TPR results demonstrated that nanostructured NiO aggregates were formed on the surface of the sample after being re-oxidized at 400 °C for 1200 min, resulting in an α peak with high reduction activity and a conversion of only 16% from Ni to NiO. In contrast, the samples re-oxidized at 600 °C for 600 min and 800 °C for 240 min were completely oxidized, resulting in reconstructed and sintered NiO with larger particle size, and a β peak with lower reactivity and a conversion of 100%. Redox cycling was further conducted on completely oxidized samples, which showed a decrease in β peak temperature from the first to seventh cycle. The migration and redistribution of sintered NiO towards the exterior were confirmed by comparing SEM images after the first and fourth cycles, which favored an increase in the reactive area. Therefore, this study reveals that lower re-oxidation temperatures (≤400 °C) and an appropriate increase in redox cycles are beneficial for forming surficial nanostructures while hindering the formation of large sintered NiO particles.

Green fuel production from waste fried sunflower oil using reusable mesoporous COP-KOH catalyst with a kinetic study

Declining fossil fuel reserves and fluctuating petroleum prices have prompted global research efforts to develop clean, renewable, and sustainable alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. In this study, a reusable and eco-friendly activation catalyst was designed by combining KOH with a polymer. A series of three polymer catalysts were synthesized, and their catalytic activities were compared with those of COP-KOH, COP-K3PO4 and COP-KF. It was found that the prepared COP-KOH catalyst showed the highest activity. The catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, which confirmed the presence of potassium support successfully coordinated on the COP. Additional analyses included N2 and BET, XPS, SEM, mapping, and basicity measurement by ICP analysis. The prepared catalysts a possessed mesoporous structure, high surface area of 4.2961 m2/g−1, pore volume of 2.2439 m2/g−1, and high basicity. Here, the activity and stability of the potassium modified mesoporous polymer COP-KOH catalyst in green fuel synthesis from waste fried sunflower oil was evaluated. The green fuel conversion rate of 96.42 % was achieved under optimal reaction conditions, with a molar ratio of 6:1 methanol to fried sunflower oil, a catalyst concentration of 85 wt%, a reaction temperature of 61 °C, and a reaction time of 4.5 h. A satisfactory yield of 92.1 % was obtained after use for four consecutive cycles without significant deactivation, and after the fourth cycle catalyst was reactivated with KOH. The characteristic differences in the FT-IR results of the fresh catalyst, used catalyst, and re-activated COP-KOH catalyst, indicated the mode of interaction between the catalyst and reactants. The kinetics of the transesterification reaction was also determined, and the activation energy was found to range from 20.9 to 23.4 kJ.mol−1. The properties of the green fuel were found to be in good agreement with the ASTM D6571-02 standard. The catalyst is recyclable, and using inexpensive feedstock makes the overall process more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Biodegradation of bisphenol A by a Pichia pastoris whole-cell biocatalyst with overexpression of laccase from Bacillus pumilus and investigation of its potential degradation pathways

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disrupter with estrogen activity, can infiltrate animal and human bodies through the food chain. Enzymatic degradation of BPA holds promise as an environmentally friendly approach while it is limited due to lower stability and recycling challenges. In this study, laccase from Bacillus pumilus TCCC 11568 was expressed in Pichia pastoris (fLAC). The optimal catalytic conditions for fLAC were at pH 6.0 and 80 °C, with a half-life T1/2 of 120 min at 70 °C. fLAC achieved a 46 % degradation rate of BPA, and possible degradation pathways were proposed based on identified products and reported intermediates of BPA degradation. To improve its stability and degradation capacity, a whole-cell biocatalyst (WCB) was developed by displaying LAC (dLAC) on the surface of P. pastoris GS115. The functionally displayed LAC demonstrated enhanced thermostability and pH stability along with an improved BPA degradation ability, achieving a 91 % degradation rate. Additionally, dLAC maintained a degradation rate of over 50 % after the fourth successive cycles. This work provides a powerful catalyst for degrading BPA, which might decontaminate endocrine disruptor-contaminated water through nine possible pathways.

Salad Yields Under Agrivoltaics: A Field Test

Agrivoltaics is presented as a possible solution to the need for new sources of renewable energies, also responding to the increasing demand for feed/food and energy in a strongly efficient and sustainable manner. To this aim, agrivoltaics proposes to combine agricultural and renewable energy production on the same land using photovoltaic technology. The performance of this new production model strongly depends on the interaction between the two systems, agricultural and photovoltaic. In that sense, one of the most important aspects to consider are the effects of the shadows of the photovoltaic panels on the crop land. Overall, the experiment clearly indicated that a fourth cycle of escarole is possible under the PVs of agrivoltaics. Both fresh weight and size of the salad bowls were significantly increased by the shade provided by the PVs. Escarole appeared to be very tolerant to the shade and commercial yields were boosted, compared to full sun treatments, even under extended shade conditions. Such an effect can be likely explained by an overall amelioration of the water status in shaded plots. Therefore, a further study of the behavior of escarole under agrivoltaic conditions will be desirable.

Paddy straw saccharification using immobilized laccase on magnetized multiwall carbon nanotubes.

The effective recovery of the immobilized enzymes using magnetic carriers has led to growing interest in this technology. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of immobilized laccase on magnetized multiwall carbon nanotubes (m-MWCNTs) in terms of stability and reusability. Laccases were efficiently adsorbed onto magnetized multiwall carbon nanotubes (m-MWCNTs) synthesized using water. The concentration of 7mg laccase/mL was found to be ideal for immobilization. The optimal activity of both free and immobilized laccases was observed at pH 5, while for the latter, the optimal temperature was shifted from 40 to 50°C. Compared to the free laccase, the immobilized laccase exhibited a greater range of stability at more extreme temperatures. At the fourth cycle of reactions, the immobilized laccase exhibited more than 60% relative activity in terms of reusability. Based on the fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) peak at 2921cm-1, saccharification of paddy straw using immobilized laccase verified lignin degradation. The easy recovery of the immobilized laccase on m-MWCNTs lends credence to its potential use in biomass hydrolysis.

4D printing of lattice structures to test their behavior by repetitive shape processing cycles

This study thoroughly investigated the shape memory effects of 4D printed lattice structures influenced by repetitive shape processing cycles and materials variability. The structures were fabricated by an amorphous and semicrystalline type shape memory material (SMP) and subjected to time-temperature-based thermomechanical memory cycles. Shape programming and recovery characteristics for 4D printing were done inside an environmental chamber at a loading rate of 2 mm. min−1. The shape memory effects driven by SMP’s viscoelastic behavior and performance factors were studied by stress-free strain recovery experiments upon the interaction of thermal stimuli. The stress-free strain recovery analysis expressed, that the influence of repetitive cycles was exceptional and significant for both materials. Extensive investigation on shape memory reactive strain components (i.e., programming strain, residual strain, and thermal strain) reflected, with the increasing number of cycles, the shape recovery ratios of the first to fourth cycles increased from 82 → 100% of amorphous and 79 → 95% of semicrystalline SMP and then tend to stable thereafter. Contrarily, the shape fixity ratios of semicrystalline structures have shown a decreased tendency during the consecutive cycles from 100 → 80%. The successful execution of data-oriented shape processing cycles enhanced the potential of SMP-based lattice structures for their monotonous applications as intelligent devices. The time and temperature-dependent shape memory characteristics of repetitive cycles presented in this study are advantageous to model the viscoelastic behavior of such artful structures.