Multifunctional Products Research Articles

Chitosan Oligomer as a Raw Material for Obtaining Polyurethane Foams.

Decreasing oil extraction stimulates attempts to use biologically available sources to produce polyols, which are the basic components for obtaining polyurethane foams. Plants are inexhaustible source of oils, sugars, starches, and cellulose. Similar substrates to obtain polyols are chitosans. Commercially available modified chitosans are soluble in water, which gives them the possibility to react with hydroxyalkylating agents. We used a water-soluble chitosan previously to obtain polyols suitable for producing rigid polyurethane foams. Here, we described hydroxyalkylation of a low-molecular-weight chitosan (oligomeric chitosan) with glycidol and ethylene carbonate to obtain polyols. The polyols were isolated and studied in detail by IR, 1H-NMR, and MALDI-ToF methods. Their properties, such as density, viscosity, surface tension, and hydroxyl numbers, were determined. The progress of the hydroxyalkylation reaction of water-soluble chitosan and chitosan oligomer with glycidol was compared in order to characterize the reactivity and mechanism of the process. We found that the hydroxyalkylation of chitosan with glycidol in glycerol resulted in the formation of a multifunctional product suitable for further conversion to polyurethane foams with favorable properties. The straightforward hydroxyalkylation of chitosan with glycidol was accompanied by the oligomerization of glycidol. The hydroxyalkylation of chitosan with glycidol in the presence of ethylene carbonate was accompanied by minor hydroxyalkylation of chitosan with ethylene carbonate. The chosen polyols were used to obtain rigid polyurethane foams which were characterized by physical parameters such as apparent density, water uptake, dimension stability, heat conductance, compressive strength, and heat resistance at 150 and 175 °C. The properties of polyurethane foams obtained from chitosan-oligomer and water-soluble-chitosan sources were compared. Polyurethane foams obtained from polyols synthesized in the presence of glycerol had advantageous properties such as low thermal conductivity, enhanced thermal resistance, dimensional stability, low water uptake, and high compressive strength, growing remarkably upon thermal exposure.

ARCHITECTURAL SHAPING IN JEWELLERY DESIGN

The article discusses new approaches to the development of jewellery design in the process of de- signing them using computer modelling based on architectural forms. The goal is to develop a relief surface of jewellery elements based on architectural structures and jewellery design based on them. As a result of the study, a project of a multifunctional product “Palace Bridge” is proposed based on architectural forms of the city of St. Petersburg. The possibility of obtaining wire blanks with the required rigidity and thickness, which has both decorative and technological properties, has been clarified. The result of the transformation of architectural forms into products that attracts the attention of consumers is conceptually substantiated.

Flexible thermoregulatory microcapsule/polyurethane-MXene composite films with multiple thermal management functionalities and excellent EMI shielding performance

The development of miniaturized, flexible, and portable electronic devices has led to an increasing demand for multifunctional flexible films that can provide temperature regulation, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and thermal management. In this study, a novel hierarchical multifunctional flexible composite film is presented. The first step involves the synthesis of phase change microcapsule (PCMC) latex through in-situ polymerization. Next, PCMC and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) latex were mixed and dried using a binary colloidal approach to produce a flexible composite phase change film (WPU/PCMC) with complete anti-leakage and satisfying melting enthalpy (147.86 J g–1). To enhance the EMI performance and mechanical strength, a thin layer of antioxidant MXene@poly tannin acid (PTA) was directly sprayed onto the surface of WPU/PCMC, resulting in the WPU/PCMC/MXene@PTA film (WPM). Consequently, the WPM displays exceptional thermal management performance for multiple drives and outstanding EMI performance (56.86 dB), making it an ideal candidate for future multifunctional products.

Royal jelly mediates fibrotic signaling, collagen cross-linking and cell proliferation in cardiac fibroblasts

Royal jelly (RJ) is a multifunctional bee product with a unique composition and wide-ranging biological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities. Still, little is known about the possible myocardial protective properties of RJ. Considering that sonication could enhance RJ bioactivity, this study aimed to assess the effects of non-sonicated (NS) and sonicated (S) RJ on fibrotic signaling, cell proliferation, and collagen production in cardiac fibroblasts. S-RJ was produced by ultrasonication at 20 kHz. Ventricular fibroblasts isolated from neonatal rats were cultured and treated with different concentrations of NS-RJ or S-RJ (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 µg/well). S-RJ significantly depressed the expression levels of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) mRNA across all the concentrations tested and was inversely associated with the expression of this profibrotic marker. S-RJ and NS-RJ displayed distinct dose-dependent effects on mRNA expression of several other profibrotic, proliferation, and apoptotic markers. Unlike NS-RJ, S-RJ elicited strong negative dose-dependent relationships with the expression of profibrotic markers (TG2, COL1A1, COL3A1, FN1, CTGF, MMP-2, α-SMA, TGF-β1, CX43, periostin), as well as proliferation (CCND1) and apoptotic (BAX, BAX/BCL-2) markers, indicating that RJ dose-response effects were significantly modified by sonification. NS-RJ and S-RJ increased the content of soluble collagen, while decreasing collagen cross-linking. Collectively, these findings show that S-RJ has a greater range of action than NS-RJ for downregulating the expression of biomarkers associated with cardiac fibrosis. Reduced biomarker expression and collagen cross-linkages upon cardiac fibroblast treatment with specific concentrations of S-RJ or NS-RJ suggests putative roles and mechanisms by which RJ may confer some protection against cardiac fibrosis.

Exploration of Phytochemical and Sun Protection Efficacy of Anthocephalus chinensis Leaves Extracts

Overexposure to UV light can cause negative physical conditions for example sear, blot, skin maturing, and cancer of the skin. Using photoprotective or multifunctional products on a daily basis can help to mitigate these harmful health effects. Worries regarding skin protection, communal ramifications, and ethical trading possess increased industry attention in adding natural components into commercial products. Many investigations are presently working on extracts of herbs, however Anthocephalus chinensis is still understudied and underutilized. The study attempts to explore Anthocephalus chinensis phytochemical composition and sun-protective abilities. The leaves of Anthocephalus chinensis were extracted with petroleum ether, water, and ethanol employing the cold-maceration approach. An initial phytochemical search of the leaves extracts of Anthocephalus chinensis has been carried out. The UV spectroscopic method has been employed to assess the sun-protective capacity of the various Anthocephalus chinensis extracts. The outcomes of the phytochemical search discovered the existence of alkaloids and glycosides in all the Anthocephalus chinensis leaves extracts, whereas flavonoids were found only in water and ethanol extract. The sun protective abilities of the various extracts was detected to be 2.27±0.022, 1.57±0.003, and 0.70±0.006 for the ethanol, water, and petroleum ether extracts, respectively. Current work conclusions suggest that extracts of Anthocephalus chinensis leaves might be used to produce photoprotective preparations.

Multifunctional Nutraceutical Composition Based on Fermented Spirulina, Apple Cider Vinegar, Jerusalem Artichoke, and Bovine Colostrum.

The main purpose of this experiment was to develop a multifunctional nutraceutical composition based on ingredients of different origins (Spirulina powder (SP), bovine colostrum (BC), Jerusalem artichoke powder (JAP), and apple cider vinegar (ACV)) which possess different health benefits through their different mechanisms of action. In order to improve the functional properties of Spirulina and bovine colostrum, fermentation with the Pediococcus acidilactici No. 29 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LUHS244 strains, respectively, was carried out. These LAB strains were chosen due to their good antimicrobial properties. The following parameters were analysed: for Spirulina (non-treated and fermented)-pH, colour coordinates, fatty acid profile, and contents of L-glutamic and GABA acids; for bovine colostrum (non-treated and fermented)-pH, colour coordinates, dry matter, and microbiological parameters (total LAB, total bacteria, total enterobacteria, Escherichia coli, and mould/yeast counts); for the produced nutraceuticals-hardness, colour coordinates, and overall acceptability. It was established that fermentation reduced the pH of the SP and BC and affected their colour coordinates. Fermented SP contained a greater concentration of gamma-aminobutyric and L-glutamic acids (by 5.2 times and 31.4% more, respectively), compared to the non-treated SP and BC. In addition, the presence of gamma-linolenic and omega-3 fatty acids was observed in fermented SP. Fermentation of BC reduces Escherichia coli, total bacteria, total enterobacteria, and total mould/yeast counts in samples. The obtained three-layer nutraceutical (I layer-fermented SP; II-fermented BC and JAP; III-ACV) demonstrated a high overall acceptability. Finally, our finding suggest that the selected nutraceutical combination has immense potential in the production of a multifunctional product with improved functionality and a high acceptability.

Development and characterization of silane crosslinked cellulose/graphene oxide conductive hydrophobic membrane

The development of environmentally friendly, multifunctional conductive membranes is an ideal candidate for future new electronic components. Some cellulose-based electronic sensors have been studied, such as pressure sensors, hydrothermal sensors, flexible sensors, optoelectronic devices, and electrochemical energy storage, etc. However, there are very few studies on cellulose-based conductive materials in Joule heating. In this study, we adopted a simple and environmentally friendly silane crosslinking method to crosslink cellulose and graphene oxide (GO) together. The cellulose/GO hybrid membrane were characterized by FTIR, Raman, SEM, AFM, TGA, surface wettability, self-cleaning, surface resistance, Joule heating and other tests. Results showed that the covalent bond between cellulose and GO was formed by vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS), and GO was successfully cross-linked on the surface of the cellulose membrane. The cellulose/GO hybrid membrane has good thermal stability, strong hydrophobicity and self-cleaning properties. When the GO concentration was 3 w/w%, the Young's modulus of the film reached the maximum (47.38% higher than that of the original sample). In addition, it also exhibited extremely low surface resistivity (720.69 Ω), controllable Joule heating capability, extremely fast thermal response (heating process and cooling process within 5 s) and good electrothermal stability. It showed great potential in multi-functional electronic products such as electric heating electronic devices, electric heating sensors, and smart clothing in the future.

Value Chain Analysis of Rice Industry by Products in a Circular Economy Context: A Review

The quantity of organic waste generated by agricultural sectors is continually increasing due to population growth and rising food demand. Rice is the primary consumable food in Asia. However, many stakeholders follow a linear economic model such as the “take–make–waste” concept. This linear model leads to a substantial environmental burden and the destruction of valuable resources without gaining their actual value. Because these by-products can be converted into energy generating and storage materials, and into bio-based products by cascading transformation processes within the circular economy concept, waste should be considered a central material. This review examines the composition of rice straw, bran, and husks, and the procedures involved in manufacturing value-added goods, from these wastes. Moreover, starting with an extensive literature analysis on the rice value chains, this work systematizes and displays a variety of strategies for using these by-products. The future development of agricultural waste management is desirable to capitalize on the multi-functional product by circulating all the by-products in the economy. According to the analysis of relevant research, rice straw has considerable potential as a renewable energy source. However, there is a significant research gap in using rice bran as an energy storage material. Additionally, modified rice husk has increased its promise as an adsorbent in the bio-based water treatment industry. Furthermore, the case study of Sri Lanka revealed that developing countries have a huge potential to value these by-products in various sectors of the economy. Finally, this paper provides suggestions for researchers and policymakers to improve the current agriculture waste management system with the best option and integrated approach for economic sustainability and eco- and environmental solution, considering some case studies to develop sustainable waste management processes.

Use of potassium polyaspartate on white wines: Interaction with proteins and aroma compounds

The precipitation of tartaric salts represents one of the main visual sensory faults of white wines. It can be prevented by cold stabilization or adding some adjuvants, such as potassium polyaspartate (KPA). KPA is a biopolymer that can limit the precipitation of tartaric salts linking the potassium cation, however, it could interact also with other compounds affecting wine quality. The present work aims to study the effect of potassium polyaspartate on proteins and aroma compounds of two white wines, at different storage temperatures (4 °C and 16 °C). The KPA addition showed positive effects on the quality of wines, with a significant decrease of unstable proteins (up to 92%), also related to better wine protein stability indices. A Logistic function well described the effect of KPA and storage temperature on protein concentration (R2 > 0.93; NRMSD: 1.54–3.82%). Moreover, the KPA addition allowed the preservation of the aroma concentration and no adversely effects were pointed out. Alternatively to common enological adjuvants, KPA could be considered a multifunctional product against tartaric and protein instability of white wines, avoiding adverse effects on their aroma profile.

Preparation and application of biochar from co-pyrolysis of different feedstocks for immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soil

Co-pyrolysis is a potentially effective method for both biomass waste management and multi-functional biochar-based product design. It involves the thermochemical decomposition of biomass waste under anoxic conditions, which can reduce the cost of disposal and produce biochar with beneficial properties. Herein, this study aimed to investigate the properties and environmental applications of biochar from single- and mixed- feedstocks of wheat straw, rice husk, pig manure, and oyster shell at 450 ℃, respectively. A pot experiment with Chinese cabbage was carried out to compare the effects of biochars with limestone on soil Cd and Pb immobilization at two harvest periods. The results indicated that co-pyrolysis of various biomasses exhibited synthetic effects on promoting the calorific value of syngas and enhancing the quality of produced biochar. The pot experiment revealed a significant promotion on soil pH, soil organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and soluble Ca, which consequently reduced Cd and Pb availability. In contrast with limestone treatment, soil amendment with single biomass-derived and co-pyrolysis-derived (COPB) biochars had a significant positive impact on soil fertility and microbial biomass. Application of COPB at a 0.5% dosage consistently and most effectively enhanced the shoot biomass, increased leaf Vitamin C content but reduced leaf content of nitrate and heavy metals in both harvests. Using COPB for soil remediation would be financially visible due to the enhancement of crop yield. Therefore, this study proposes a strategy for targeted enhancement of the functions of biochar derived from co-pyrolysis of selected biomass waste for soil remediation and agricultural production.

Recent Advances in Properties and Applications of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Smart Cement-Based Composites.

Under the strategies of low-carbon and environmental protection, promoting green technology innovation to achieve carbon neutrality in the construction field has become a universal goal. As the building material with the highest consumption, concrete has gradually begun to transform into a multi-functional and intelligent product. Therefore, the research on carbon fiber-reinforced cement-based composites (CFRCs) is of relative interest. It mainly uses carbon fibers (CFs) with high elasticity, strength, and conductivity to disperse evenly into the concrete as a functional filler, to achieve the intelligent integration of concrete structures and function innovatively. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of CFRC is not only related to the content of CFs and environmental factors but also largely depends on the uniform dispersion and the interfacial bonding strength of CFs in cement paste. This work systematically presents a review of the current research status of the enhancement and modification mechanism of CFRC and the evaluation methods of CF dispersion. Moreover, it further discusses the improvement effects of different strengthening mechanisms on the mechanical properties, durability, and smart properties (thermoelectric effect, electrothermal effect, strain-sensitive effect) of CFRC, as well as the application feasibility of CFRC in structural real-time health monitoring, thermal energy harvesting, intelligent deformation adjustment, and other fields. Furthermore, this paper summarizes the problems and challenges faced in the efficient and large-scale applications of CFRCs in civil engineering structures, and accordingly promotes some proposals for future research.

Nanofiber PVA/ZnO Sebagai Material Antimikroba Pada Wound Dressings

Nanofibers are ideal for forming multifunctional medical products, one of which is wound dressings. Nanofibers wound dressings made from polyvynyl alcohol (PVA) and zinc oxide (ZnO) using the electrospinning method with varying voltages of 15 kv, 16 kv, 18 kv, and 20 kv, to determine the effect of stress on morphology, absorption and antibacterial activity. The resulting nanofibers have a smooth surface and an almost uniform fiber diameter. SEM analysis showed that the diameter of PVA 10% with a magnification of 50000X was 252 nm and PVA/ZnO 20 kv with a magnification of 30000X was obtained 231 nm, the EDX spectrum contained elements of C, O, and Zn respectively 37.40%, 62.14%, and 0.46%. The results of the FTIR analysis showed that the functional groups seen in the PVA/ZnO samples were O-H, CH2, C-H, C-O, and Zn-O. UV-Vis transmission showed that PVA had a high UV transmission of 12% but all PVA/ZnO nanofibers showed a UV transmission of almost 0%. Antimicrobial activity showed that the number of bacterial colonies in PVA/ZnO samples was less than the control. The average nanofibers diameter increases when ZnO nanoparticles are added, but when tension is increased, the average diameter of the nanofibers decreases. The morphology of the nanofibers is very uniform and there are no ZnO nanoparticle crystals, so PVA/ZnO nanofibers can be chosen as an ideal biomaterial for wound dressings.

Concurrent dominant pathways of multifunctional products formed from nocturnal isoprene oxidation

Determination of dominant chemical pathways toward the formation of nocturnal secondary organic aerosols (SOA) remains ambiguous by which nitrogen oxides (NOx) always affect oxidation of volatile alkenes. Here, comprehensive chamber simulations on dark isoprene ozonolysis were conducted under different nitrogen dioxides (NO2) mixing ratios to exam multiple functionalized isoprene oxidation products. Aside from that the oxidation processes were concurrently driven by nitrogen radical (NO3) and small hydroxyl radicals (OH), ozone (O3) cycloaddition at isoprene was launched initially regardless of NO2 to rapidly form first-generation oxidation products, i.e., carbonyls and Criegee intermediates (CI) referred to carbonyl oxides. They could further undergo complicated self- and cross-reactions to produce alkylperoxy radicals (RO2). Corresponding to yields of the C5H10O3 tracer, weak OH pathway at night was credited to ozonolysis of isoprene but suppressed by unique NO3 chemistry. Following the ozonolysis of isoprene, NO3 played a crucial supplementary role in nighttime SOA formation. The ensuing production of gas-phase nitrooxy carbonyls (the first-generation nitrates) became dominant in the production of a sizeable pool of organic nitrates (RO2NO2). By contrast, isoprene dihydroxy dinitrates (C5H10N2O8) were outstanding with the elevated NO2, related to typical second-generation nitrates. As such, the yielding number concentrations of dark SOA were promoted to approximately 1.8 × 104 cm−3 but presented a nonlinear relation with excess high-NO2 condition. This study provides valuable insights into importance of multifunctional organic compounds from alkene oxidation to constitute nighttime SOA.

A Ti‐Doped Chemical Vapor Deposition Diamond Device as Artificial Synapse for Neuromorphic Applications

AbstractThe great demand of multifunctional portable electronic products in daily life and the need of a large integration of memories with logic devices and sensors, have increased the interest in the identification of suitable materials for neuromorphic computing applications. Major innovations in this direction have been achieved by exploring materials belonging to different fields of applications and taking advantage of already consolidated deposition methods. Despite the great interest in the field and the large use in complementary applications such as sensing electrodes, neural and cellular interfaces, the use of diamond‐like materials in neuromorphic applications is still limited to a few examples. Herein, the development of a synaptic element based on high‐quality polycrystalline diamond layers containing Ti inclusions showing a marked and reproducible resistance switching behavior is reported. Realized by means of a hybrid chemical vapor deposition‐powder flowing technique, this titanium doped diamond shows a 3D polycrystalline organization that is characterized by globular grains of a few microns. The coupling of Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction analyses confirms the good quality of diamond phase and convincingly points out the inclusion of the titanium species within the diamond lattice.

Modeling daytime and nighttime secondary organic aerosol formation via multiphase reactions of biogenic hydrocarbons

Abstract. The daytime oxidation of biogenic hydrocarbons is attributed to both OH radicals and O3, while nighttime chemistry is dominated by the reaction with O3 and NO3 radicals. Here, daytime and nighttime patterns of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) originating from biogenic hydrocarbons were predicted under varying environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, sunlight intensity, NOx levels, and seed conditions) by using the UNIfied Partitioning Aerosol phase Reaction (UNIPAR) model, which comprises multiphase gas–particle partitioning and in-particle chemistry. The products originating from the atmospheric oxidation of three different hydrocarbons (isoprene, α-pinene, and β-caryophyllene) were predicted by using extended semi-explicit mechanisms for four major oxidants (OH, O3, NO3, and O(3P)) during day and night. The resulting oxygenated products were then classified into volatility–reactivity-based lumping species. The stoichiometric coefficients associated with lumping species were dynamically constructed under varying NOx levels, and they were applied to the UNIPAR SOA model. The predictability of the model was demonstrated by simulating chamber-generated SOA data under varying environments. For daytime SOA formation, both isoprene and α-pinene were dominated by the OH-radical-initiated oxidation showing a gradual increase in SOA yields with decreasing NOx levels. The nighttime isoprene SOA formation was processed mainly by the NO3-driven oxidation, yielding higher SOA mass than daytime at higher NOx level (isoprene / NOx < 5 ppb C ppb−1). At a given amount of ozone, the oxidation to produce the nighttime α-pinene SOA gradually transited from the NO3-initiated reaction to ozonolysis as NOx levels decreased. Nighttime α-pinene SOA yields were also significantly higher than daytime SOA yields, although the nighttime α-pinene SOA yields gradually decreased with decreasing NOx levels. β-Caryophyllene, which rapidly produced SOA with high yields, showed a relatively small variation in SOA yields from changes in environmental conditions (i.e., NOx levels, seed conditions, and sunlight intensity), and its SOA formation was mainly attributed to ozonolysis day and night. The daytime SOA formation was generally more sensitive to the aqueous reactions than the nighttime SOA because the daytime chemistry produced more highly oxidized multifunctional products. The simulation of α-pinene SOA in the presence of gasoline fuel, which can compete with α-pinene for the reaction with OH radicals in typical urban air, suggested more growth of α-pinene SOA by the enhanced ozonolysis path. We concluded that the oxidation of the biogenic hydrocarbon with O3 or NO3 radicals is a source of the production of a sizable amount of nocturnal SOA, despite the low emission at night.

Technical and engineering considerations for designing therapeutics and delivery systems.

The newly-emerged pathological conditions and increased rates of drug resistance necessitate application of the state-of-the-art technologies for accelerated discovery of the therapeutic candidates and obtaining comprehensive knowledge about their targets, action mechanisms, and interactions within the body including those between the receptors and drugs. Using the physics- and chemistry-based modern techniques for theranostic purposes, preparing smart carriers, local delivery of genes or drugs, and enhancing pharmaceutical bioavailability could be of great value against the hard-to-treat diseases and growing drug resistance. Besides the artificial intelligence- and quantum-based techniques, crystal engineering capable of designing new molecules with appropriate characteristics, improving the stability and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, and efficient carrier development could play a crucial role in manufacturing efficient pharmaceuticals and reducing the adverse events. In this context, identifying the structures and behaviors of crystals and predicting their characteristics are of great value. Electron diffraction by accelerated analysis of the chemicals and sensitivity to charge alterations, electromechanical tools for controlled delivery of therapeutics, mechatronics via fabrication of multi-functional smart products including the organ-on-chip devices for healthcare applications, and optomechatronics by overcoming the limitations of conventional biomedical techniques could address the unmet biomedical requirements and facilitate development of more effective theranostics with improved outcomes.

Preparation and Functional Evaluation of Compound Bletilla striata Essence

The purpose of this study was to prepare a multi-functional skin care product and apply more plant resources to the skin care industry. The crude polysaccharides from Bletilla striata, Panax ginseng, and Tremella fuciformis were extracted under different conditions based on the characteristics of the plants. The formula ratio of the compound Bletilla striata essence was optimized through an orthogonal experiment. The moisturizing, whitening, and antioxidant properties of the compound essence were evaluated by the weighing method, tyrosinase activity test, and DPPH free radical scavenging test, respectively. Finally, the improvement degree of skin condition was detected using a skin water and oil test instrument. The results showed that the polysaccharide contents of Bletilla striata, Panax ginseng, and Tremella fuciformis were 18.00±0.5, 41.70±0.7, and 20.25±0.6%, respectively. The optimal formula for the essence was: Bletilla striata extract 12 mg, Panax ginseng extract 8 mg, Tremella fuciformis extract 8 g, sodium hyaluronate 20 mg, and ultra-pure water 50 mL. The moisture retention rate of the essence was 80.00±3.0%, the tyrosinase inhibition rate was 69.04±2.2%, and the DPPH radical scavenging rate was 71.03±2.5%. The skin water and oil test results showed that the compound essence can increase skin moisture and reduce skin oil. The product can reduce the content of pores, stains, wrinkles, roughness, acne and pigmentation, and has the potential to become a functional, natural and safe skin care product.

Study of a protein-containing and keto-dietary product based on local raw materials

An urgent task of our era is the development of such compositions of innovative multifunctional products that take into account the effect of mutual enrichment of products of animal and vegetable origin, physiological substances, the ability of dietary fiber to remove harmful substances from the body and the ability of prebiotics to maintain microecological balance in the gastrointestinal tract.

СОРБЦИЯ КАДМИЯ И СВИНЦА ВЕЩЕСТВАМИ, ПЕРСПЕКТИВНЫМИ ДЛЯ СОЗДАНИЯ КОМПОЗИЦИОННЫХ ПРЕПАРАТОВ НА ОСНОВЕ ГЕКСАЦИАНОФЕРРАТОВ

The development of new drugs and feed additives to reduce the accumulation of anthropogenic and natural toxicants (heavy metals, radionuclides, mycotoxins, pesticides, etc.) in the body of farm animals and livestock products remains an urgent task. One of the ways to solve it is to create multifunctional products containing ferrocyanides (hexacyanoferrates) of transition metals as active substances. In medicine and veterinary medicine, enterosorbents based on compounds of this class are used as independent pharmacological agents, and in the form of composite preparations, which are obtained by fixing ferrocyanides on carrier substances of different origin and chemical composition. To study the possibility of using certain substances as carriers in the creation of new composite preparations and to assess their effect on the detoxification properties of ferrocyanides, the sorption efficiency of a number of mineral and organic substances with respect to Cd and Pb was studied. It was found that the background content of Cd and Pb in the tested substances does not exceed the maximum permissible levels of these toxicants in feed, feed additives and veterinary preparations. Under in vitro conditions, the biomass of the fungus Inonotus obliquus (chaga), the preparations ferrocin, bifezh and KhZh-90, zeolite tuff shivyrtuin, smectite dioctahedral, white soot and chitosan succinate have the greatest efficiency of Cd and Pb sorption (with respect to Cd – 50.4-89.0%, Pb – 58.3-95.1%). The combined presence of Cd and Pb reduces the sorption capacity of most of the tested substances by 1.6-63.6%.

Impact resistance of BIPV systems: New testing procedure for performance assessment of multifunctional products

AbstractBuilding integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is progressively achieving an advanced level of technical maturity and considerable market penetration. In the last kilometre for considerable market implementation, major challenges are today mostly related to improving cost‐effectiveness and product reliability. BIPV multifunctional products are still framed in complex and sometimes unclear qualification processes, in the grey area between electrotechnical and construction sectors, impacting commercialization and users' confidence. The EN 50583 part 1 and part 2 standards today represent the main regulatory framework in Europe for BIPV. However, acts in force for product certification, in the construction and electrical sectors, in most national and local contexts are not yet harmonized for BIPV and imply wide margins of interpretation. The product's qualification in the EU is therefore based on electrical standards for photovoltaics modules or, on the other hand, on standards for construction products. To overcome some of these barriers and challenges, the authors propose a newly developed procedure for testing the impact resistance of BIPV products, introducing a performance‐based approach with the goal of combining building and electrical‐related limit states and responding to the need for a harmonized assessment to ensure the product's safety in use. The methodology and preliminary findings resulting from the application of real test cases, taking also into account the effect of temperature, are presented and analysed. As a result, it is envisaged that the implementation will help operators and prospective normative upgrades, ensuring more outstanding product quality for BIPV's market and driving towards a drop in life cycle costs.