To control the excretion of beta-agonists used to accelerate the growth of muscle mass in animal husbandry, a method of determination of 20 compounds of this series in the cattle urine and blood, and 12 compounds in the cattle hairs samples by high-performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry has been developed. The sample preparation of cattle urine included enzymatic hydrolysis in a phosphate buffer followed by purification using solid-phase extraction with a Copure C8/SCX sorbent. For the blood samples extraction of analytes by acetonitrile and acetic acid, followed by a phase separation and purification using C 18 and aluminum oxide were carried out. Hair samples were subjected to an alkaline hydrolysis, and the analytes were extracted using methyl tert butyl ether. The extract was then transferred to acetonitrile for further dispersive purification. The overall loss during sample preparation ranged from 27 to 85% for blood samples and from 2 to 80% for urine samples, depending on the compound being determined. Chromatographic separation was conducted in a gradient mode using an ACQUITY UPLC HSS C 18 column. Detection was performed in the selected reactions monitoring mode with registration of at least two product ions for each compound. The detection ranges of beta-agonists in urine were 0.25 – 20.0 μg/kg; 0.1 – 10.0 μg/kg in blood; 0.5 – 20.0 μg/kg in hairs depending on the analyte. For urine and blood analysis, the relative expanded uncertainty values ranged from 9 to 25%, while for hair analysis, they ranged from 9 to 30%.

Due to the poor comprehensive performance of traditional rubber powder-modified asphalt (RA) and issues like easy segregation in rubber powder/Styrene–Butadiene–Styrene (SBS) composite-modified asphalt, the application of RA in high-grade highways is limited. This study combined SEBS (Styrene–Ethylene–Butylene–Styrene) and SBS to form SEBS/SBS (SE-S) and investigated the effect of the SE-S system on asphalt performance. The activated desulfurized rubber powder (ARP) was prepared via mechanical thermal oxidation and used to produce ARP/SE-S composite-modified asphalt (ASSA) combined with SE-S. The performance and modification mechanism of ASSA were evaluated through conventional, rheological, and microstructural tests. The results showed that SEBS improved storage stability more effectively than SBS. With SEBS:SBS = 0.4:0.6 and a SE-S content of 2–4%, the modified asphalt exhibited better overall performance. The synergy of ARP and SE-S enhances both low-temperature crack resistance and high-temperature deformation resistance, endowing ASSA with excellent viscoelastic rheological properties. The modification mechanism of ASSA was primarily physical and the changes in chemical bonds were mainly caused by decrosslinking of the rubber powder during ARP preparation. SE-S and ARP fully swelled and crosslinked in the asphalt, exhibiting excellent compatibility and endowing the ASSA with superior stability and performance.

This study aimed to improve methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) degradation and power production in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) by employing an iron nanoparticle-coated graphite carbon electrode (Fe-GCE), co-metabolites (sodium acetate (SAC) and glucose (GLS)), and surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)). Fe-GCE enhanced the roughness and hydrophilicity of the electrodes, thereby promoting their electrochemical activity. This study compared the use of polyvinyl alcohol/glutaraldehyde (PVA/GA) and Nafion 117 membranes and the impact of carbon sources and surfactants on the performance of MFCs. The optimal conditions achieved 97.9% MTBE removal (10mg/L) within 96h by employing SAC and SDS in Nafion 117-MFC with a voltage of 335 mV in synthetic wastewater. Fe-GCE exhibited minimal antibacterial action and iron leaching (< 0.3mg/L in 30 days), suggesting its stability during wastewater treatment. Bacterial community profiling revealed that Bacillus, Alcaligenes, Trichococcus, and Magnetospirillum were the main MTBE degraders. Statistical analysis validated substantial improvement in MTBE removal and voltage yield with the use of additives, and that PVA/GA-MFC had performance similar to Nafion 117-MFC, providing a cost-effective alternative with potential commercial success. This study provides insights into the potential use of MFCs for treating recalcitrant pollutants while producing green energy, paving the way for eco-friendly waste management strategies.

The mechanical-magneto multicaloric effect offers an effective strategy to enhance the solid-state refrigeration performance of materials. However, most materials exhibiting this effect are alloy-based, requiring strong external fields, exhibiting limited deformation tolerance, and being prone to fatigue, which restricts the application of mechanical-magneto multicaloric effect. In this work, the styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS)/Gd/SEBS structure has been proposed and confirmed that the composites exhibit not only elastocaloric and magnetocaloric effects, but also a mechanical-magneto multicaloric effect, as demonstrated by a home-made measurement device. The experimental results are consistent with the finite element simulation results. It is found that SEBS/Gd/SEBS exhibits a large multicaloric response with rapid thermal conduction near room temperature, the temperature change of the mechanical-magneto multicaloric effect is 48% greater than that of the pure elastocaloric response and 173% higher than that of the pure magnetocaloric response, while the thermal conduction time is reduced to 22% of that in the elastocaloric effect of SEBS, suggesting that the mechanical-magneto multicaloric effect under mechanical–magnetic simultaneous excitation can effectively enhance the caloric response of materials. Additionally, we propose a refrigeration cycle model based on the mechanical-magneto multicaloric effect, providing guidance for the application of multicaloric effect refrigeration.

BackgroundManaging and treating diabetes mellitus is one of the scientific community’s biggest challenges. This study aimed to determine phytochemicals, antioxidants, and antidiabetic properties of different solvent extracts of fruit plants as a source of natural products.MethodsThe total flavonoid content (TFC) and total phenolic content (TPC) were determined using standard methods. Antioxidant activities were determined using in vitro ferric reducing power (FRAP), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), DPPH radical scavenging, and ABTS radical scavenging assay methods. The antidiabetic activities of the fruit extract were assessed using in vitro anti-amylase,anti-glucosidase , and anti-glycation assays.ResultsAmong different fractions of crude (CR), hexane (HX), ethyl acetate (EA), and aqueous (AQ), the highest TPC and TFC values were found in the HX fraction and EA fraction of Garcinia xanthochymus, respectively. The highest FRAP, ORAC, DPPH, and ABTS activities were found in the CR extract of G. xanthochymus, EA of G. xanthochymus, EA of Flacourtia indica, and HX fraction of G. xanthochymus, respectively. The highest anti-amylase inhibition was found in EA of G. xanthochymus, EA fraction of Careya arborea, and HX fraction of Syzygium zeylanicum compared to the standard drug Acarbose. The highest anti-glucosidase enzyme activities were found in the EA fraction of Elaeocarpus angustifolia, followed by the EA fraction of Cynometra cauliflora, the EA fraction of S. zeylanicum, the CR extract of F. indica, the AQ fraction of C. cauliflora, the EA fraction of C. arborea, the EA fraction of G. xanthochymus, the CR extract of C. cauliflora, and the CR extract of E. angustifolia compared to Acarbose. Antiglycation activities were higher in the HX fraction of S. zeylanicum, the EA fraction of G. xanthochymus, and C. arborea than in Rutin. None of the extracts showed inhibition for human salivary α-amylase enzyme.ConclusionThe ethyl acetate (EA) fractions of G. xanthochymus and C. arborea, along with the hexane (HX) fraction of S. zeylanicum, exhibited strong in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. These results indicate their potential as promising therapeutic candidates for the management of diabetes mellitus. However, further in vivo investigations are warranted to elucidate their mechanisms of action and assess their clinical applicability.

Pulmonary effects of inhalation exposure to propylene glycol ethers on blood gas diffusion - a human and in vitro study.

Neurotoxicity of propylene glycol butyl ether: Multiomic evidence from human brainspheres.

Resveratrol attenuates ethylene glycol butyl ether-impaired zebrafish fertility via antioxidant mechanism.

The pleiotropy of minocycline (MINO), including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimigratory, anti-matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), and neuroprotective effects, has been extensively reported. A novel nonantibiotic MINO derivative, 10-butyl ether minocycline (BEM), was synthesized to retain the pleiotropy of MINO while minimizing side effects such as antibiotic resistance and gut dysbiosis. Previously, we showed that BEM reduced alcohol consumption in dependent murine and porcine models of alcohol use disorder. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of BEM to determine its potential as a therapeutic agent for neuroimmune and inflammatory conditions such as alcohol use disorder. Here, we report that BEM showed a nearly complete loss of antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Candida albicans. BEM showed a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability as measured by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, similarly to MINO. BEM also suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced microglial activation as shown by reduced Iba1 expression in immunohistochemistry and western blot analyses. Inhibition of MMP-9 by BEM (IC50 = 42.2 μM) was improved compared to MINO (IC50 = 60.3 μM), whereas MMP-8 inhibition was moderate (IC50: BEM = 69.4 μM; MINO = 45.4 μM). BEM was found to be effective in inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor-induced endothelial cell migration and L-glutamine-induced reactive oxygen species levels. Limited inhibition of 15-lipoxygenase activity was observed (IC50: BEM = 92.6 μM; MINO = 65.6 μM). BEM was not toxic to mitochondria, even at high concentrations (200 μM). By eliminating antimicrobial properties while preserving therapeutic pleiotropy, BEM presents an advancement in the development of a promising candidate with multimodal mechanisms to treat neuroimmune-inflammatory pathologies. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We report mechanisms of action for butyl ether minocycline, a minocycline analog under evaluation for the treatment of alcohol use disorder, which may also show efficacy for other complex disease processes that involve inflammatory or neuroimmune components. We show that butyl ether minocycline had a nearly complete loss of antimicrobial action, yet retained the pleiotropy of minocycline, likely making it a better multimodal therapeutic for long-term treatment of complex diseases with neuroimmune-related components.

To address the dual challenges of fragile structures prone to damage and packaging systems susceptible to leakage in thermal management of electronic devices for traditional phase change materials, this study proposes an organic‐porous synergistic packaging strategy. A porous TiO2 skeleton is in situ constructed via a one‐pot one‐step method to synchronously encapsulate paraffin wax and thermoplastic elastomer styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS). The innovation lies in utilizing solvent evaporation‐induced phase separation and sol–gel reaction to enable the porous TiO2 (specific surface area 316.307 m2 g–1) and SEBS to form a rigid‐flexible synergistic structure, achieving low leakage rate and stability in 2000 thermal cycles. In battery thermal management, the battery temperature is controlled within a safe range at 1–3C rates, extending the safe operation duration of the battery by more than 10 times. It provides a referable option for efficient thermal management of wearable electronic devices and flexible devices.

Transmission-type radiative cooling textiles represent a vital strategy for personal thermal management. However, traditional preparation methods based on heat-induced phase separation face significant challenges regarding cost, environmental impact, and optical performance. Herein, a novel preparation method is devloped by blending mid-IR transparent solid styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS) with solid polyethylene (PE), enabling the creation of pores through dissolving SEBS. Consequently, large-scale production of transmission-type radiative cooling films at the meter scale are achieved, exhibiting 95% solar reflectivity and 80% mid-IR transmittance. Moreover, this method reduces costs by 68% and diminishes CO2 emissions by 92%. Under sunny and cloudy conditions (solar irradiance ≈730 and 280Wm- 2, respectively), the film-covered simulated skin demonstrates sub-ambient cooling effects of ≈4 and 3°C. Given its exceptional passive cooling capabilities, low-cost, and scalability, this film holds great potential for industrial and personal applications.

Efficient separation and quantitative sleep evaluation of phospholipids and glycerides of Antarctic krill.

Pressure makes diamonds: Enhanced permeation resistance to petroleum hydrocarbons of a novel in-situ mixed wall material.

Abstract This study develops a salt‐tolerant, green surfactant (VES)‐based fracturing fluid that uses formation brine for unconventional reservoirs. Two erucic acid‐derived VESs (EDPG and VES‐BC) were evaluated under varying salinity conditions. Results showed excellent salt tolerance and viscoelasticity, with EDPG achieving viscosities of 236.17 mPa·s (in Xujiahe formation water) and 271.22 mPa·s (in Ordos Basin water), while VES‐BC reached 296.56 mPa·s (in Ordos Basin water). Thermal stability tests confirmed that EDPG retained 30.17 mPa·s at 120°C, and VES‐BC maintained 29.66 mPa·s at 140°C. The proppant settling velocity in VES fluids (3.9×10⁻³ mm/s at 30°C) was significantly lower than that in guar gum fluids. Breaking tests identified ethylene glycol butyl ether as the optimal breaker, achieving a 0.6 h breaking time, a 1.9 mPa·s viscosity, and a residue content of less than 6.5 mg/L. Core damage was less than 10%, far below guar gum's 23.5%. Additionally, the broken fluids enhanced oil recovery, with BCF‐B1 achieving a 31.2% static imbibition replacement rate and a 14.6% incremental recovery in huff‐puff tests. This eco‐friendly fluid reduces freshwater use, offers low formation damage, and supports sustainable unconventional reservoir development.

Current staple crops such as rice, wheat, and maize dominate food systems but lack climate resilience, necessitating a shift toward nutrient-rich, sustainable alternatives. Chenopodium quinoa, (C. quinoa) has gained global recognition for its adaptability and nutritional value. However, while quinoa grains have been extensively studied, young green quinoa (YGQ) leaves remain underexplored despite their potential to enhance both agricultural sustainability and human health. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory properties of YGQ leaves extracts from eight quinoa accessions cultivated during the summer. Using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse macrophage cells (RAW264.7), we assessed the inhibition of key pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and Interleukin (IL)-6. Four types of extracts—Ethanol:Water (70:30) (ETDW), Ethanol (ET), Ethyl Acetate (EA), and Hexane (HE) were prepared, revealing significant and specific IL-6 inhibition, with ETDW exhibiting the highest suppressive effect (73–100%). LC–MS/MS analysis identified flavonoids as the likely bioactive compounds responsible for this activity. Importantly, toxicity assays confirmed the extracts’ safety. These findings position YGQ leaves as a valuable natural source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in functional foods, which offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition by targeting the prevention of noncommunicable diseases and chronic inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, integrating YGQ leaves into food systems could support sustainable agriculture, as quinoa is a climate-resilient crop, providing dual benefits for public health and food security.

ABSTRACTThe dispersion of silica and its interfacial interaction with styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) can be strongly improved using silane coupling agents. In this study, the reactive silica (r‐SiO2) particles were synthesized via hydrolysis and condensation reactions between siloxanes and hydroxyl groups. Subsequently, the r‐SiO2/emulsion styrene‐butadiene rubber (ESBR) nanocomposites were prepared. The effect of various reaction conditions on the grafted content of silane was investigated, and how different r‐SiO2 amounts influence the structure, morphology, and performance of r‐SiO2/ESBR nanocomposites was discussed. The optimum reaction conditions were determined using 3‐(methylacryloxyl)propyltrimethoxy silane (KH‐570) as a modifier, and ethylene glycol butyl ether acetate (EBA) as the solvent. Under these conditions, when the amount of r‐SiO2 was 30 phr, the bound rubber content of SBR‐r‐SiO2 reached 78.0%. The tensile strength and the tear strength were 11.09 and 97.90 MPa, which increased by 2.64 and 6.53 times compared to the raw rubber. Moreover, the vulcanized rubber nanocomposites exhibited significantly improved dynamic mechanical properties. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis further revealed that the compatibility between SiO2 and rubber was greatly enhanced after modification.

ABSTRACT In this work, the fracture behavior of carbon fibers (CFs) with 2 and 10‐mm original lengths in polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)/styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS) blends was investigated. Experimental results found that the residual length of 2 mm of CFs in PPS/SEBS/CF composites was longer at 0.14, 0.17, and 0.22 mm for 15, 20, and 25 wt% of CFs' contents, respectively, while 10 mm of CFs was shorter as 0.11, 0.12, and 0.13 mm for that. The numerical simulation results showed that straight‐rod CFs underwent a bending–folding–breaking–fracture sequential behavior during the mixing process, and the proportion of 2 mm of CFs subjected to total squeezing forces below 10 −4 N was around 65%, which was much higher than 6 and 10 mm of original CFs. By constructing CFs' bonding bonds and calculating their retention rate, it was further verified that 2 mm of original CFs was less likely to undergo further bending–folding behavior after experiencing extensive flow field in the initial stages, also making them more stable and retaining a longer residual length in composites. Furthermore, the dimple morphology around CFs and “zig‐zag” fractured surface were observed in the composites prepared by 2 mm of original CFs, also confirming that the formation of a more robust network structure consisting of longer residual CFs and deformed SEBS. This made PPS/SEBS/CF composites show an excellent overall performance with 64.4 J/m of impact strength, 126.7 MPa of tensile strength, 0.01 S/m of electrical conductivity, and 0.65 W/m·K of thermal conductivity.

Density, Speed of Sound, Viscosity, Excess Properties and Intermolecular Interaction of Methyl <i>tert</i>-Butyl Ether (1) + Isopropanol (2) at 0.1 MPa and (293.15–313.15) K

Rubber is widely used in daily lives, such as in automobile tires, conveyor belts, sealing rings, and gaskets. The performance of rubber determines its service life. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to improve the performance of rubber. Theoretical studies have found that the inherent properties of nanofillers themselves, the interfacial bonding force between fillers and the matrix, and the uniform dispersibility of nanofillers in the polymer matrix are the most significant factors for enhancing the performance of rubber nanocomposites. This study systematically investigated the synergistic enhancement effect of silicon carbide (SiC) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the mechanical and thermal properties of ethylene–butene–terpolymer (EBT) composites. By optimizing the addition amount of fillers and improving the interfacial bonding between fillers and the matrix, the influence of filler content on the properties of composites was studied. The results demonstrate that the addition of SiC and MWCNTs significantly improved the storage modulus, tensile strength, hardness, and thermal stability of the composites. In terms of mechanical properties, the tensile strength of the composites increased from 6.68 MPa of pure EBT to 8.46 MPa, and the 100% modulus increased from 2.14 MPa to 3.81 MPa. Moreover, hardness was significantly enhanced under the reinforcement of SiC/CNT fillers. In terms of thermal stability, the composites exhibited excellent resistance to deformation at high temperatures. Through the analysis of the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites, the synergistic enhancement mechanism between SiC and MWCNTs was revealed. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the design and engineering applications of high-performance ethylene–butylene rubber composites.

All‐solid‐state batteries (ASSBs) offer enhanced safety and energy density compared to conventional lithium‐ion batteries by replacing flammable liquid electrolytes with solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs). Among SSEs, sulfide‐based electrolytes exhibit high ionic conductivity and mechanical deformability, making them promising candidates for next‐generation energy storage. However, their practical implementation is hindered by interfacial instability, mechanical brittleness, and challenges in fabricating ultrathin electrolyte membranes (&lt;30 μm) with robust mechanical integrity. This study systematically examines the influence of polymeric binders—polyisobutylene, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber, and styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS)—on the structural, mechanical, and electrochemical performance of thin sulfide SSE membranes. Key findings reveal that SEBS enables the fabrication of ultrathin, uniform membranes, while binder elasticity significantly affects structural stability during cycling. Operando stack pressure measurements indicate that binder properties directly influence adhesion force for LPSCl particles, influencing their stabilizing cycling period. These results underscore the critical role of polymer binders beyond mechanical reinforcement, positioning them as essential design variables in sulfide SSE engineering. By linking binder chemistry to processability and electrochemical performance, this study provides insights into optimizing sulfide SSEs, advancing their commercial viability in ASSBs.