Prolonged Life Research Articles

Performance analysis and effect of various material fin-perforations in a plate-finned heat exchanger

Finding increasingly efficient heat exchangers requires a critical task: the development of fin profiles for prolonged life of equipment. The present study uses numerical analysis for better plate-finned heat exchangers hydraulic and thermal performance. Fin patterns are used in the analysis to evaluate a four-tube in-line heat exchanger. The proposed approach involves use of simulation and numerical methods to solve the heat transfer problem on different materials and wind velocity data as boundary conditions for improved heat transfer. The Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) model will be used to correct the average turbulent air flow over finned tubes in three dimensions using the ANSYS-Fluent software. The evaluation plan compares the current findings with published Nusselt number empirical correlations for the justification. Finally, the presentation of a parametric study on the impact of fin perforation size and shape on different materials and the behaviour of fluid dynamics and heat transfer. Larger fin perforation sizes (circular, rectangle, rhombus, and ellipse shapes) are found to enhance the heat exchangers' overall PEC and thermal efficiency for sustainability of the thermal equipment. The comparison was made between non-perforated and perforated fin types. Ultimately, it was determined that the best option for plate fin heat exchangers is the circular type perforated fin. When compared to without perforated fins, the circular type perforated fin has a higher heat transfer coefficient. A circular perforated fin has high performance, and the rhombus type perforated fin has lower performance.

Valorization of fish from the Adriatic Sea: nutritional properties and shelf life prolongation of Aphia minuta through essential oils.

This study aimed to exploit the nutritional and microbiological qualities of Aphia minuta, which are still largely unknown; they are collected from Golfo di Manfredonia (Adriatic Sea). Chemical composition, fatty acids, and amino acid profiles were evaluated during winter, spring, and summer (two samples each season). The protein content was highest in spring, while no significant differences were found for fat and ash contents across all sampling periods. Fatty acid profile analyses revealed that monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were affected by the sampling season. Notably, the value of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids increased in spring and summer compared to the winter season. The highest content of essential amino acids was measured during the spring and summer seasons (P < 0.01), with leucine and lysine being the most dominant. Regardless of the fishing season, from a nutritional point of view, this species is an excellent source of bioactive compounds. This study also focused on the microbiological quality and shelf life of Aphia minuta. Initially, the bioactivity of three different essential oils (thymol, lemon, and citrus extract) was tested on Pseudomonas fluorescens, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. These essential oils were then combined with various packaging materials (conventional, maize starch, and polylactate) and packaging atmosphere (air, vacuum, and a modified atmosphere with reduced oxygen content). The results indicated that combining citrus extract with vacuum packaging significantly reduced the psychrotrophic viable count to undetectable levels after 7 days. This study suggests some important considerations for exploiting and expanding the market of the Aphia minuta.

Heat efficiency improvement and color evaluation of red chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens) drying with air dehumidification using silica gel

Fresh red chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens) can be dried to a moisture content below 15% for prolonged storage life for a wider range of applications such as in the medicinal, food, and chemical industries. Currently, red chili pepper drying is conducted with direct solar heat that is very dependent on weather conditions. Meanwhile, common convective drying with fossil fuel is inefficient in heat usage and operated at high-temperature air which could potentially lower the product quality. Convective drying with air dehumidification works at low-medium temperatures that are conducive for red chili pepper drying. This research aimed to determine the effect of dehumidification with silica gel on heat efficiency and its impact on the red chili pepper’s quality of color. Drying was conducted at temperatures in the range of 40-70℃ with silica gel as an air dehumidifier. The moisture content and colour of red chili pepper were observed. Results showed that red chili drying with silica gel at a temperature below 60°C can improve the heat efficiency as well as the red chili color retention.

An Overview of Influence of Hybridization in Automobiles on its Performance and Environment

The rapid advancements in transportation technology have led to the development of Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and smart hybrid electric vehicles (S-HEVs) as potential solutions for reducing fuel consumption, emissions, and dependency on fossil fuels. These vehicles combine conventional internal combustion engine propulsion systems with electric propulsion systems, offering various driving modes and the ability to adjust operation points for increased efficiency. Additionally, HEVs and S-HEVs contribute to the creation of alternative power sources for household applications, provide ancillary services to the grid, and integrate intermittent resources for vehicle charging. The reliability of Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries is a crucial aspect, involving failure recognition, testing methods, and life prediction techniques to ensure prolonged battery life. As countries worldwide strive to transition from gasoline vehicles to EVs, practical limitations such as "range anxiety" due to inadequate charging infrastructure and high costs of long-ranged EVs arise. One potential solution to address range anxiety is the use of range extenders, optimizing driving range, costs, and vehicle performance. These advancements in eco-friendly, safer, and cost-effective transportation contribute significantly to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable development globally.

Effects of Oyster Shell Powder on the Microbial and Physicochemical Quality of Afitin, a Traditional Fermented Condiment

Aims: Afitin is a perishable condiment due to its high water content. Various preservatives are used to extend its shelf life, and among them, salt (NaCl) has generated controversy due to potential health risks associated to exposure to elevated concentrations of salt. The present study aims at assessing the effect of oyster shell powder on the quality changes of Afitin during storage at 30°C.&#x0D; Methodology: Oyster shell powder was added to the condiment just before the natural fermentation at concentrations of 0.5%, 1% and 2%. At the end of the 24 h natural fermentation, the product was stored at 30°C. Afitin samples which did not receive the oyster shell powder served as controls. Samples were taken for microbiological, pH, water activity, and sensory analyses just before the fermentation, at the end of the fermentation, and at days 2 and 4 during storage.&#x0D; Results: Oyster shell powder had a significant effect on the growth of microorganisms, on pH and water activity during the storage of Afitin. The average Total Viable Count (TVC) in the control samples was 8.9 Log CFU/g, whereas in the Afitin with 2% oyster shell powder, this load was 6.9 Log CFU/g after 2 days of storage. At the same time, the enterobacteria load in the control Afitin was 7.7 Log CFU/g, whereas in the Afitin with 2% oyster shell powder, it was below the detection limit. There was also a significant difference between the samples inoculated with 1% oyster shell powder and the control. From the sensory analysis, the control Afitin was rejected by the panellists after 48 h of storage, whereas the Afitin with 1% or 2% oyster shell powder was not rejected until the end of storage (4th day), indicating a notable prolongation of the product's shelf life by at least 100%.&#x0D; Conclusion: The results show that oyster shell powder can potentially be used to improve the preservation of Afitin.

Comparative cost analysis of traditional and industrialised deep retrofit scenarios for a residential building

In this paper, the economic competitiveness for deep retrofit actions between the industrialised off-site and the traditional on-site approaches are discussed by using a comparative Life Cycle Costing (LCC) analysis. This assessment was based on a deep analysis of all renovation-related cost and timing processes, from design to operation and maintenance phases. The study was based on three retrofit scenarios for an existing building in Italy undergoing a deep renovation. The Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) was developed starting from real costs and a list of bills collected by the design team and the industrialised technologies developers. Afterwards, the LCC modelling was performed for all scenarios. The results show that the two deep retrofit approaches (traditional and industrialised) are comparable in terms of investment costs, even if a gap of around -7% and +16% still exists. This highlights a potential for technological optimisation. Moreover, the operation and maintenance phase has shown to be key to transforming the expected higher quality of the industrialised components into a prolonged life expectance, hence highly impacting the whole cumulated Net Present Value. Finally, the analysis of the End of Life (EoL) phase in case of possible reusing of some dismantled components in the industrialised scenario resulted in contributing in a relevant way to increase the final value of such an approach.

Transient Short Circuit-Based Degradation of Lithium and Sodium Anode-Free Batteries

The demand for an extended range of electric vehicles has created a renaissance of interest in replacing the common lithium-ion with a higher energy-density metal anode (e.g., Li or Na). However, alkali metal cells suffer from capacity fading and potential safety issues. The uneven metal electrodeposition often results in dendrite formation and potentially hazardous situations such as cell short-circuiting and thermal runaway.Though lithium plating has been studied widely, a better understanding of the short-circuiting mechanisms and metal battery failure is required. Moreover, a considerable performance gap exists between symmetric metal cells and realistic metal batteries."Soft shorts" are small localised electrical connections between two electrodes that allow the co-existence of direct electron transfer and interfacial reaction. Although soft shorts were identified as a major safety issue in the early nineties, their detection and prevention were not widely studied. Therefore, a fundamental understanding of passivated metals' plating and a reliable testing method for soft short circuits is critical for realising metal batteries, such as Li-Air, Li-S, and anode-free batteries.Here we compared short circuit formation mechanisms and degradation in symmetric cells and anode-free lithium and sodium batteries using coupled galvanostatic impedance spectroscopy (GEIS) and in-situ nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) for the first time.The coupling of in-situ NMR and EIS allows the observation of metal batteries' electrochemical and chemical dynamics and degradation in real time without affecting the cells' operation.We demonstrated that lithium and sodium short circuit formation mechanisms fundamentally differ and strongly depend on electrolyte composition and SEI stability. This new understanding of the metal plating mechanism is crucial to develop the next generation of rechargeable batteries with high energy density, prolonged cycling life and improved sustainability.

Chimie Douce Derived K-Based P2-Type Transition Metal(s) Layered Oxides for Secondary K-Ion Batteries

Owing to great societal and technological benefits, there has been a remarkable growth in the industrial demand for enhanced energy storage for many target applications including electric vehicles, aerospace applications, and portable electronics. Secondary K-ion batteries (KIBs) are among the potentially inexpensive candidates for energy storage systems beyond state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Electrochemical cells based on mobile carrier K+ can provide efficient energy storage because of comparative ionic diffusion in bulk and swift charge transfer at the interface due to weak Lewis’s acidity.1,2 Despite various advantages over LIBs and NIBs, the roadblock of practical KIB implementation lies in identifying suitable cathodes that reversibly (de)intercalate K+ at optimum voltage, swift rate, and with prolonged cycle life.Despite constant efforts to develop new cathodes for K+ -ion batteries, several challenges such as low concentrations of K-ions due to strong electrostatic repulsions between the K+ - K+ ions and difficulty in preparation from direct synthesis routes3 limit its practical application. In this scenario, we have adopted the chimie douce (soft chemistry) method to design the novel layered transition metal oxide cathode from the parent P2 type Na-based system. In addition, we have probed the ion exchange mechanism using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Rietveld analysis confirmed the structure having a P2-type stacking sequence with hexagonal symmetry and P6/3mmc space group. Further, we have successfully examined the chemical ion-exchanged novel layered P2- K2/3Co1/3Mn2/3O2 as a cathode for KIB at ambient and high temperatures. It delivered a good capacity (~70 mAh/g) with an average redox potential of 3.0 V along with good cycling stability and coulombic efficiency (CE) in temperature ranging from 25-50 ºC. Ex-situ X-ray diffraction analysis and potentio/galvanostatic titration techniques were used to analyse the K+ insertion mechanism. This study can assist in developing new insertion K+ host materials for viable and reliable practical applications.

Revealing Phase Transition in Ni-Rich Cathodes Via Nondestructive Entropymetry Method

With the expanding requirements of recent energy regulations and economic interest in high-performance batteries, the need to improve battery energy density and safety has gained prominence. High-energy-density lithium batteries, employed in next-generation energy storage devices, rely on nickel-rich cathode materials. Since these have extremely high charge/discharge capacity, high operating voltage, prolonged cycle life, and low cost, nickel-rich cathode materials such as Ni-rich NCM (LiNix>0.8CoyMnzO2) and Ni-rich NCA (LiNix>0.8CoyAlzO2) are of particular interest to researchers. Several in situ characterization methodologies are currently used to understand lithium-ion battery electrode response and deterioration better. Nevertheless, in many contexts, these measurement methodologies must be combined with specially designed cells and electrode materials with distinct forms, which is sometimes inconvenient. As an alternative, thermothermo-voltametric dynamic characterization may be utilized to describe the thermal internal characteristics of various electrode materials, such as the structural changes and electrode reactions that occur during charging and discharging. In this paper, a non-destructive entropy measurement method demonstrates that phase change occur for NCM (LiNi0.83Co0.12Mn0.05O2) and NCA (LiNi0.88Co0.09Al0.03O2) at 40-30% of SOC and 90-80% of SOC, respectively. This is confirmed by ex-situ X-ray diffraction measurements for these highly popular cathodes.

TriboNano shield – Scalable manufacturing anti-smog multi-level structured nanofiber air filter with co-enhanced purification performance towards self-powered window screen

Nanofiber air filter has garnered tremendous attention due to large specific surface area, large porosity, highly interconnected aperture channels, etc. However, its unitary interlayer structural construction encounters limitation of filtration performance with a low yield. Here, we architect a triboelectric-induced multi-level interlaminar composite structure-based nanofiber window screen (T-MLNS), manufactured continuously utilizing free surface electrospinning. Subjoined with triboelectric charges (active type), T-MLNS possesses co-enhanced adsorption capacity of aerosols. Additionally, MLNS is constructed with finer fibrous layers for precise filtration and coarser fibrous layers in the middle facilitating airflow passing, under physical filtration mechanisms (passive type). Significantly, three-dimensional theoretical models are innovatively employed with numerical simulation findings that multi-level structures present superb filtration performance than uni-structure ones. In the synergistic effect of the active and passive typed mechanisms, T-MLNS is prolonged service life for precise capture of ultrafine aerosols (Diameter: 0.26 µm) with enhanced filtration efficiency up to 99.9%. The integrated multi-zone structure design creates a pattern-shape fiber mesh, resulting in prominent air permeability (∼100 mm s−1), optical light transmission (> 60%), and robust mechanical properties. This combination of active and passive filtering self-powered window screens offers a unique concept for revolutionising interior air quality in industrialization.

Sulfurization of Electrode Material: A Promising Window for Supercapacitor Technology

AbstractSupercapacitors have emerged as a promising energy storage technology with attributes like high power and tuneable energy density along with splined cyclic potential. Their performance is heavily driven by the employed electrode materials that still crave high charge storage and rate capabilities as well as virile conductivity. Among numerous applied strategies to patch the corresponding quandary, sulfurization has garnered significant attention as an effective method for improving the electrochemical depiction of electrode materials. This review article presents a comprehensive analysis of the sulfurization process applied to the electrode with the aim of providing profound overview of the latest developments, the impact of sulfur incorporation on electrode properties, and the resulting performance enhancement in supercapacitors. It explores the influence of sulfidation on the morphological, structural, and compositional aspects of electrode materials, highlighting the modification of surface area, pore size distribution, crystal structure, and the formation of active sites. The discussions on the improved specific capacitance, enhanced rate capability, prolonged cycle life, and upgraded energy density achieved are accumulated. Additionally, the review explores the challenges and limitations associated with sulfurization and strategies to mitigate trials for future directions of research and developments.

Response of gerbera under soil and soil-less production systems

Response of gerbera var. Arka Nesara was studied under different soil-less production systems with the aim to improve quality, productivity and water use efficiency, in completely randomized design with eight treatments viz., deep flow technique (DFT), nutrient film technique (NFT), aggregate wick system (AWS) with pots on NFT bench, AWS with pots on ground, AWS with grow bags on ground, AWS on soil bed, aeroponics and conventional soil-based drip system, which were replicated five times. Results revealed that AWS with pots on ground recorded maximum plant height (31.66 cm), leaf length (21.31 cm), leaf breadth (9.96 cm) and stalk diameter near neck (4.75 mm), minimum stem deviation (1.27 cm) and stem deflection (2.2o), prolonged vase life (9.2 days), greater water use efficiency (92 mL/plant/day) and water saving (83.46%). Hence, cultivation of gerbera var. Arka Nesara under aggregate wick system with pots on ground could be the superior alternative for traditional soil cultivation.

Development of porous asphalt mixture based on the synthesis of PTEMG and MDI polyurethane asphalt

Polyurethane-modified asphalt (PA) stands out as an environmentally sustainable road material, renowned for its exceptional performance that significantly extends road surface lifespans while reducing maintenance costs. This study focuses on the preparation of PA using a single-component blending method that incorporates polyether polyol PTEMG (Poly-(tetra methylene ether glycol)) and isocyanate MDI (4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate) as primary raw materials. Various analytical techniques, including Fluorescence Microscopy, Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Viscosity Testing, Tensile Testing, and Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR), were employed to investigate PA's microstructure, modification mechanism, thermal properties, viscosity characteristics, curing properties, and low-temperature stability. A porous polyurethane-modified asphalt mixture, targeting a void content of 20%, was designed and compared to a high-viscosity modified asphalt mixture with the same void content in terms of performance. The results indicate a combination of chemical and physical processes in PA modification. Through TG and DSC experiments, it was ascertained that polyurethane-modified asphalt commences decomposition at 252 °C, exhibiting an exothermic peak within the temperature range of − 19.98–2.73 °C. The introduction of polyurethane substantially enhances the thermal performance and cryogenic stability of the asphalt binder. Viscosity tests and tensile experiments indicate that the curing reaction of polyurethane-modified asphalt is protracted and irreversible. Consequently, it is recommended to prepare polyurethane-modified asphalt mixtures employing a compaction temperature of 175 °C and a maximum resting time of 100 min. Additionally, specimens should rest at room temperature for at least 3 days. Comparatively, the porous asphalt incorporating polyurethane exhibits notable advantages over the high-viscosity modified asphalt mixture. It demonstrates superior high-temperature stability, excellent resistance to low-temperature cracking, reduced sensitivity to strains, prolonged fatigue life, and improved flexibility. However, its fatigue resistance and resistance to dynamic loads are slightly inferior. This study offers valuable insights into the use of polyurethane in porous asphalt mixtures, making it a promising option for sustainable road construction.

Comparative metabolomic study of fungal foliar endophytes and their long-lived host Astrocaryum sciophilum: a model for exploring the chemodiversity of host-microbe interactions.

In contrast to the dynamics observed in plant/pathogen interactions, endophytic fungi have the capacity to establish enduring associations within their hosts, leading to the development of a mutually beneficial relationship that relies on specialized chemical interactions. Research indicates that the presence of endophytic fungi has the ability to significantly modify the chemical makeup of the host organism. Our hypothesis proposes the existence of a reciprocal exchange of chemical signals between plants and fungi, facilitated by specialized chemical processes that could potentially manifest within the tissues of the host. This research aimed to precisely quantify the portion of the cumulative fungal endophytic community's metabolome detectable within host leaves, and tentatively evaluate its relevance to the host-endophyte interplay. The understory palm Astrocaryum sciophilum (Miq.) Pulle was used as a interesting host plant because of its notable resilience and prolonged life cycle, in a tropical ecosystem. Using advanced metabolome characterization, including UHPLC-HRMS/MS and molecular networking, the study explored enriched metabolomes of both host leaves and 15 endophytic fungi. The intention was to capture a metabolomic "snapshot" of both host and endophytic community, to achieve a thorough and detailed analysis. This approach yielded an extended MS-based molecular network, integrating diverse metadata for identifying host- and endophyte-derived metabolites. The exploration of such data (>24000 features in positive ionization mode) enabled effective metabolome comparison, yielding insights into cultivable endophyte chemodiversity and occurrence of common metabolites between the holobiont and its fungal communities. Surprisingly, a minor subset of features overlapped between host leaf and fungal samples despite significant plant metabolome enrichment. This indicated that fungal metabolic signatures produced in vitro remain sparingly detectable in the leaf. Several classes of primary metabolites were possibly shared. Specific fungal metabolites and/or compounds of their chemical classes were only occasionally discernible in the leaf, highlighting endophytes partial contribution to the overall holobiont metabolome. To our knowledge, the metabolomic study of a plant host and its microbiome has rarely been performed in such a comprehensive manner. The general analytical strategy proposed in this paper seems well-adapted for any study in the field of microbial- or microbiome-related MS and can be applied to most host-microbe interactions.

A novel 3D printed compliant ball-end grinding tool with crystal structure: Feasibility and performance analysis

During grinding complex components with difficult-to-machine materials, compliance grinding tools often experience shortened life and weakened performance due to intense temperature rise. This paper presents a novel solution strategy of preparing crystal-structured compliance tools using multi jet fusion (MJF), and five structures were selected to evaluates its feasibility and grinding performance. The macro and micro elastic deformation of the tools were analyzed by combining finite element and experiment. The results show that the crystal structure provides similar macroscopic stiffness of the tools and introduces microscopic compliance anisotropy. The crystal structure resulted in a reduction of the grit pull-out ratio by more than 82.60 %, while also alleviating the adhesion of flexible substrates adhesion and the prevention of abrasive layer fall-off, leading to prolonged tool life. Furthermore, compliant grinding tools with a crystal structure achieved comparable material removal capacity, lower surface roughness, and higher energy efficiency. In addition, they used only 29.06 % to 36.22 % of the material consumed in manufacturing. Notably, the material removal rate (MMR) of the star-structure tool can reached 94.72 % of the solid-structure tool. The diamond-structure tool exhibited the lowest ground Ra, accompanied by a reduction in grinding temperature of 19.4 °C.

AI-Powered Solutions to Support Informal Caregivers in Their Decision-Making: A Systematic Review of the Literature &lt;sup&gt;&lt;a class="tippyShow" data-tippy-arrow="true" data-tippy-content="This article is an extended version of the conference paper: Milella F, Russo DD, Bandini S, How artificial intelligence can support informal caregivers in their caring duties to elderly? a systematic review of the literature. In: AIXAS2023 Italian Workshop on Artificial Intelligence

Due to aging demographics, prolonged life expectancy, and chronic diseases, European societies' increasing need for care services has led to a shift towards informal care supplied by family members, friends, or neighbors. However, the progressive decrease in the caregiver-to-patient ratio will result in a significant augmentation in incorporating intelligent aid within general care. This study aimed to build upon the authors' previous systematic literature review on technologies for informal caregivers. Specifically, it focused on analyzing AI-based solutions to understand the advantages and challenges of using AI in decision-making support for informal caregivers in elderly care. Three databases (Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Libraries) were searched. The search yielded 1002 articles, with 24 that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Within the scope of this study, we will exclusively concentrate on a subset of 11 papers on AI technologies. The study reveals that AI-based solutions have great potential for real-time analysis advancement, explainable AI enhancement, and meta-information semantic refinement. While digital assistants can personalize information for caregivers, security and privacy are key concerns. The rise of more integrated and complicated solutions reveals that these technologies suit aging monitoring and informal care coordination in emergencies or deviations from usual activities. Informal caregiver decision assistance can be improved in this scenario.

Prolonged vase life by salicylic acid treatment and prediction of vase life using petal color senescence of cut lisianthus

This study investigated the effects of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.3, or 0.5 mM), treatment timing (vegetative or reproductive period), and cultivation methods (soil or hydroponic cultivation) on the vase life of four lisianthus cultivars after flower cutting. A 0.5 mM concentration of the SA application during the reproductive period resulted in the longest average vase life of 15.3 d for the Blue Picote cultivar after flower cutting. A colorimeter and a chlorophyll meter were used to observe and quantify petal color changes after cutting, and the color changes during the senescence stages are visualized using a three-dimensional color space. The three-dimensional visualization demonstrated the color senescence for each measurement period. Based on these data, we used automated machine learning algorithms to predict the vase longevity, and the predictive model showed a good accuracy. This model is expected to be widely used in the floricultural industry.

Intelligent Nanoplatform Integrating Macrophage and Cancer Cell Membrane for Synergistic Chemodynamic/Immunotherapy/Photothermal Therapy of Breast Cancer.

Cell membrane-coated nanoplatforms for drug delivery have garnered significant attention due to their inherent cellular properties, such as immune evasion and homing abilities, making them a subject of widespread interest. The coating of mixed membranes from different cell types onto the surface of nanoparticles offers a way to harness natural cell functions, enhancing biocompatibility and improving therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we merged membranes from murine-derived 4T1 breast cancer cells with RAW264.7 (RAW) membranes, creating a hybrid biomimetic coating referred to as TRM. Subsequently, we fabricated hybrid TRM-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles loaded with indocyanine green (ICG) and imiquimod (R837) for combination therapy in breast cancer. Comprehensive characterization of the RIFe@TRM nanoplatform revealed the inherent properties of both cell types. Compared to bare Fe3O4 nanoparticles, RIFe@TRM nanoparticles exhibited remarkable cell-specific self-recognition for 4T1 cells in vitro, leading to significantly prolonged circulation life span and enhanced in vivo targeting capabilities. Furthermore, the biomimetic RIFe@TRM nanoplatform induced tumor necrosis through the Fenton reaction and photothermal effects, while R837 facilitated enhanced uptake of tumor-associated antigens, further activating CD8+ cytotoxic T cells to strengthen antitumor immunotherapy. Hence, RIFe@TRM nanoplatform demonstrated outstanding synergy in chemodynamic/immunotherapy/photothermal therapies, displaying significant inhibition of breast tumor growth. In summary, this study presents a promising biomimetic nanoplatform for effective treatment of breast cancer.

Thermo‐mechanical and antioxidant properties of eugenol‐loaded carrageenan‐cellulose nanofiber films for sustainable packaging applications

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the thermomechanical and antioxidant properties of an active film composed of carrageenan and cellulose nanofibers incorporating (0.1%v/v–0.5%v/v) eugenol (Eu), intended for active packaging applications. The mechanical, physical, morphology, and thermal properties of the active film were extensively characterized, and the antioxidant activity was monitored over a 34‐day‐storage period. Broido's model was employed to assess the thermomechanical properties and activation energy of the films towards the Eu structure in carrageenan and cellulose nanofiber film. The findings revealed that the addition of Eu had a negative impact on the activation energy of the film's decomposition while positively affecting the release of antioxidants during storage. The film containing 0.4% Eu demonstrated optimal physical and mechanical characteristics, including a tensile strength of 38.08 ± 2.06 MPa and elongation at break of 21.95% ± 9.02%. Furthermore, the SGC‐0.4% (SGC stand for Semi refined carragenan + Glycerol + Cellulose nanofiber) Eu film exhibited a higher activation energy (365.82 kJ/mol), suggesting enhanced stability and durability compared with other films. The film with 0.4% Eu content showed the highest release rate of polyphenols (614.9290 mg gallic acid/L sample) up to 28 days of storage. Additionally, it exhibited a 58% efficiency of radical scavenging activity. Overall, these results highlight the potential of the SGC‐0.4% Eu film as a biodegradable packaging solution that offers prolonged food shelf life.

Living Longer or Better-Patient's Choice in Cardiac Surgery Is Gender-Dependent-A Multicenter Study.

In view of the increasing age of cardiac surgery patients, questions arise about the expected postoperative quality of life and the hoped-for prolonged life expectancy. Little is known so far about how these, respectively, are weighted by the patients concerned. This study aims to obtain information on the patients' preferences. Between 2015 and 2017, data were analyzed from 1349 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery at seven heart centers in Germany. Baseline data regarding the patient's situation as well as a questionnaire regarding quality of life versus lifespan were taken preoperatively. Patients were divided by age into four groups: below 60, 60-70, 70-80, and above 80 years. As a result, when asked to decide between quality of life and length of life, about 60% of the male patients opted for quality of life, independent of their age. On the other hand, female patients' preference for quality of life increased significantly with age, from 51% in the group below sixty to 76% in the group above eighty years. This finding suggests that female patients adapt their preferences with age, whereas male patients do not. This should impact further the treatment decisions of elderly patients in cardiac surgery within a shared decision-making process.