Retention Capacity Research Articles

Effect of electron beam irradiation treatment on microstructure, physicochemical properties, and bioactive content of areca nut.

Electron beam irradiation treatment is a novel technology that uses low-dose ionizing radiation for the treatment of crops or food to enhance their quality. This study investigated the effects of electron beam irradiation on the microstructure, physicochemical properties, and bioactive compounds of areca nuts. As the irradiation dose increased, the cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content in the areca nuts decreased significantly, whereas the polysaccharide and pectin content increased gradually. The hardness, chewiness, and adhesiveness of areca nuts reached their lowest values when the irradiation dose was within the range of 6-9 kGy, indicating that irradiation effectively reduced the hardness of the areca nut fibers. The decrease in crystallinity led to the formation of loose structures in the fibers upon irradiation, thereby improving their water retention, expansion, and oil-holding capacity, which are beneficial for the subsequent processing of areca nut-based chewable products. The water- and oil-holding capacities of the areca nuts peaked when the irradiation dose was within the 6-9 kGy range. Electron irradiation also affected the content of active substances in the areca nuts, particularly alkaloids, flavonoids, and polyphenols, showing an overall trend of initial increase followed by subsequent decrease. Electron irradiation was not only effective in softening the fibers but it also impacted the overall quality of the areca nuts significantly. The results provide valuable reference data for improving the quality of areca nuts through electron beam irradiation technology. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Microplastic pollution unveiled: the consequences of small unregulated dumping in villages, spanning from soil to water.

Microplastic contamination in soil ecosystems is a major environmental concern in the world. The current study aims to explore the extent of microplastic pollution in unregulated village dumpsites in India, focusing on the movement of these pollutants from soil to aquatic environments. Soil samples from eight distinct sites (A to H) in six villages were analyzed for various properties, including pH, bulk density, porosity, water retention capacity, hydraulic conductivity, and particle size distribution. The attenuated total reflection-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) method was used to identify prevalent plastic types. The research classifies microplastics by their shape and color, identifying a wide range of particles such as sheets, fibers, foams, fragments, and films. The study also examines the presence and concentration of microplastics in both soil and sediment samples. It was found that PE and PP microplastics are significantly present across different size fractions. Sample A contains a variety of items in the 1-5mm size range, mainly PE, while the 0.3-1mm fraction is largely PP. Samples B to H are mostly composed of PE microplastics in different forms. Sample F is unique with a mix of PE, EPS, and a higher amount of red and blue foam particles in the 0.3-1mm fraction. Microplastics were quantified using stereomicroscopy, revealing concentrations between 80 and 840 numbers per kilogram in soil and 20 to 60 numbers per kilogram in sediments. The findings emphasize the widespread nature of microplastic pollution across ecosystems and the importance of developing effective strategies for monitoring and mitigating their impact on environmental health and human well-being.

Amelioration of extremely acidic environment of soy protein amyloid fibrils to enhance gelation performance by dialysis strategy: Effects of pH and ions

The application of soy protein amyloid fibrils (SAFs) to food industrialization field has received focused attention because of their advantages such as ordered supramolecular structure and anti-proteolytic properties. However, the comparatively weak gelation properties of SAFs make it difficult to form self-supporting hydrogels, limiting its potential for future applications. Additionally, the extremely acidic environment (pH 2) of SAFs hinders their practical application in the food pH range (4-7). To address this issue, a dialysis strategy was utilized to enhance the gel structure of SAFs in this paper. The SAFs were dialyzed by deionized water and zinc ions solutions with four different pHs (2, 4, 7, and 9), and the impact of various dialysates on rheological properties, water distribution, and microstructure was investigated. The results demonstrated the method significantly improved gelation properties and modified the extremely acidic environment of SAFs. Various samples were continuously deacidified during dialysis in solutions of different pHs (4, 7, and 9), transforming from pH 2 to a higher pH value. Visual images exhibited that self-supporting hydrogels can be formed by SAFs just at a low concentration of 3% (wt). SAFs-Zn2+-9 hydrogel exhibited the highest storage modulus with a 500-fold compared to SAFs-2. Notably, the SAFs-H2O hydrogels were fabricated without any exogenous substances, in which the storage modulus of SAFs-H2O-9 increased by over 300 times. AFM images demonstrated that the shift from long rigid fibrils to short flexible fibrils induced tightly entanglement among fibrils, which improved gelation performance. Moreover, the transform in pH and the incorporation of ions caused the hydrogels to show dense network structure and strong water retention capacity. The ingenious insights were provided for improving the gelation performance of SAFs and modifying the polar acidic environment in the study, fully exploiting the potential of SAFs as edible ingredients for food applications.

Modeling PFAS Subsurface Transport in the Presence of Groundwater Table Fluctuations: The Impact on Source‐Zone Leaching and Exploration of Model Simplifications

AbstractAir–water interfacial adsorption represents a major source of retention for many per‐ and poly‐fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Therefore, transient hydrological fluxes that dynamically change the amount of air–water interfaces are expected to strongly influence PFAS retention in their source zones in the vadose zone. We employ mathematical modeling to study how seasonal groundwater table (GWT) fluctuations affect PFAS source‐zone leaching. The results suggest that, by periodically collapsing air–water interfaces, seasonal GWT fluctuations can lead to strong temporal variations in groundwater concentration and significantly enhance PFAS leaching in the vadose zone. The enhanced leaching is more pronounced for longer‐chain PFAS, coarser‐textured porous media, drier climates, and greater amplitudes of fluctuations. GWT fluctuations and lateral migration above the GWT introduce a downgradient persistent secondary source zone for longer‐chain PFAS. However, the enhanced leaching and the secondary source zone are greatly reduced when subsurface heterogeneity is present. In highly heterogeneous source zones, GWT fluctuations may even lead to overall slower leaching due to lateral flow (in the GWT fluctuation zone and above the GWT) moving PFAS into local regions with greater retention capacities. Model simplification analyses suggest that the enhanced source‐zone leaching due to GWT fluctuations may be approximated using a static but shallower GWT. Additionally, while vertical 1D models underestimate source‐zone leaching due to not representing lateral migration, they can be revised to account for lateral migration and provide lower‐ and upper‐bound estimates of PFAS source‐zone leaching under GWT fluctuations. Overall, our study suggests that representing GWT fluctuations is critical for quantifying source‐zone leaching of PFAS, especially the more interfacially active longer‐chain compounds.

Quantitation of Rainfall Retention Capacity for Small Reservoirs Considering Spatial Soil Moisture

To realize the estimation of rainfall retention capacity for small reservoirs considering spatial soil moisture, a rainfall retention capacity model and its parameter schemes have been developed in this study. An iterative trial solution method considering potential rainfall and soil moisture for the model constructed was proposed for efficient computation. The rainfall retention capacity of 32 pilot small reservoirs located in ungauged basins of Hunan province was calculated starting from 21 August 2023. In addition, a continuous calculation was carried out from 1 August to 30 September 2023 using the proposed method for Heping reservoir. The results show that the Pearson’s correlation coefficients between rainfall retention capacity and available reservoir capacity and soil moisture, are 0.36 and −0.64, respectively. Using Heping reservoir as an example, this study effectively characterized the dynamic change in its rainfall retention capacity, which ranged from 123.6 mm to 68 mm in August 2023. The analysis indicates the rainfall retention capacity of the pilot small reservoirs calculated is reasonably related to the soil moisture, supporting risk visualization for small reservoirs within rain-affected regions. Furthermore, the impact of the antecedent precipitation on rainfall retention capacity can also be dynamically quantified in real time, which provides reference for the continuous management of small reservoirs.

Improved mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of halloysite nanotubes and nanocellulose incorporated PVA-PEO films: For food packaging applications

This work presents a novel polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanocomposite with halloysite nanotube (HNT)-nanocellulose (NC) hybrid filler to tailor the mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. PVA-PEO/ HNT-NC nanocomposites are characterized using various analytical techniques such as FTIR, XRD, TGA, DSC, and SEM. The study evaluated the impact of hybrid filler on water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), moisture retention capacity (MRC), peroxide value (POV), and mechanical properties. The simultaneous application of 3 wt% HNT and 5 wt% NC resulted in a 20 % increase in tensile strength and approximately two-fold increase in Young's modulus, with a maximum degradation temperature increase of 22° C and 16° C in the second and third stages, respectively. Compared to the pure blend, the nanocomposite exhibited a 67 % (26.7 ± 0.6 mEq/kg) improvement in oxygen barrier performance, while maintaining a low WVTR and good MRC, demonstrating their suitability for packaging applications.

Effect of NaCl replacement by other salt mixtures on myofibrillar proteins: Underlining protein structure, gel formation, and chewing properties.

The protein structure, gel changes, and chewing properties of low-sodium myofibrillar protein (MP) prepared by compound chloride salts (KCl/MgCl2, KCl/CaCl2, and KCl/MgCl2/CaCl2) and different substitution degrees (10%, 25%, and 40%) at same ionic strength (0.6M) were investigated. The results revealed that the low-sodium MP gels containing CaCl2 manifested more liquid loss and less moisture content accompanied by obvious morphological shrinkage, while KCl/MgCl2 contributed to the gel juiciness. At high substitution degree of 40%, KCl/CaCl2 substitution rendered the gel with dense structure and highest strength, but worse water retention capacity. Using other compound chloride salts influenced the chewing efficiency, and CaCl2 substitution made the gel relatively hard to chew. The inhomogeneous structure accompanied by cluster blocks in KCl/CaCl2-substituted MP gel accelerated the overall fracture rate. During heating process, more proteins in CaCl2-substituted MP did not participate in gel formation, intervening the final gel properties. The chloride salt mixtures containing MgCl2, rather than CaCl2, avoided or alleviated the liquid loss and shrinkage of low-sodium MP gel within the substitution degree of 10%-40%, and substitution degree not exceeding 25% was more reasonable for the controlled qualities.

Electronic Modulation and Symmetry‐Breaking Engineering of Single‐Atom Catalysts Driving Long‐Cycling Li‐S Battery

Developing efficient and durable single‐atom catalysts is vitally important for the sulfur redox reaction (SROR) in Li‐S battery, while it remains enormous challenging. Herein, undercoordinated Ni‐N3 moieties anchored on N,S‐codoped porous carbon (Ni‐NSC) is obtained to enhance the SROR. The experiments and theoretical calculations indicate that the symmetry‐breaking charge transfer in Ni single‐atom catalyst originates from tuning effect of sulfur atoms mediated Ni‐N3 moieties, which can both facilitate the chemical adsorption by formation of N‐Ni⋯Sn2‐, and achieve a rapid redox conversion of polysulfides because of the enhanced electron transfer. As results, the Ni‐NSC based Li‐S battery delivers a very high initial reversible capacity (1025 mAh g‐1 at 1 C), as well as outstanding cycling‐stability for 2400 cycles at 2 C and 3 C, respectively. Noteworthy, the areal capacity can reach 7.8 mAh cm‐2 at 0.05 C and a retention capacity of 4.7 mAh cm‐2 after 100 cycles at 0.2 C for Ni‐NSC based Li‐S battery with sulfur loading of 5.88 mg cm‐2. This work provides profound insight for rational optimizing microscopic electronic density of active site to promoting SROR in metal‐sulfur batteries.

Optimization of extraction for efficient recovery of kenaf seed protein isolates: evaluation of physicochemical and techno-functional characteristics.

Kenaf seeds are a rich source of protein; however, finding the best extraction method is crucial to obtaining high-quality protein from these underutilized seeds. This research devised an optimized extraction process for best recovery of kenaf seeds protein using response surface methodology. The key parameters affecting the yield and protein content were optimized, including extraction pH (2-11), seed:water ratio (5:1-50:1), temperature (30-90 °C), and duration (20-360 min). The physicochemical and techno-functional properties of kenaf seed protein isolates (KSPIs) were examined. A maximum protein yield of 12.05 g/100 g with purity level 91.94 g/100 g was obtained using an optimized extraction with pH 11.0, seed:water ratio 50:1, 360 min duration, and temperature 50 °C. The oil and water retention capacities of KSPI were 1.14 mL g-1 and 1.37 mL g-1 respectively. After 30 min at pH 7, KSPIs demonstrated remarkable emulsion capacity (83.12%) and stability (75.63%), along with high foaming capacity (106%) and stability (18.3%). As per high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, arginine, glutamic acid, leucine, phenylalanine, and lysine were the most abundant amino acids detected in KPSIs. The KSPIs' globular protein structure was successfully verified using analytical approaches, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, protein fraction ratios, and differential scanning calorimetry. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that KPSI has a molecular weight distribution ranging from 10 kDa to 50 kDa. The results of this study support the application of the proposed response-surface-methodology-optimized extraction method for efficient recovery of high-quality kenaf seed proteins that meet the necessary physicochemical and techno-functional requirements. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Electronic Modulation and Symmetry-Breaking Engineering of Single-Atom Catalysts Driving Long-Cycling Li-S Battery.

Developing efficient and durable single-atom catalysts is vitally important for the sulfur redox reaction (SROR) in Li-S battery, while it remains enormous challenging. Herein, undercoordinated Ni-N3 moieties anchored on N,S-codoped porous carbon (Ni-NSC) is obtained to enhance the SROR. The experiments and theoretical calculations indicate that the symmetry-breaking charge transfer in Ni single-atom catalyst originates from tuning effect of sulfur atoms mediated Ni-N3 moieties, which can both facilitate the chemical adsorption by formation of N-Ni⋯Sn2-, and achieve a rapid redox conversion of polysulfides because of the enhanced electron transfer. As results, the Ni-NSC based Li-S battery delivers a very high initial reversible capacity (1025 mAh g-1 at 1 C), as well as outstanding cycling-stability for 2400 cycles at 2 C and 3 C, respectively. Noteworthy, the areal capacity can reach 7.8 mAh cm-2 at 0.05 C and a retention capacity of 4.7 mAh cm-2 after 100 cycles at 0.2 C for Ni-NSC based Li-S battery with sulfur loading of 5.88 mg cm-2. This work provides profound insight for rational optimizing microscopic electronic density of active site to promoting SROR in metal-sulfur batteries.

Optimize Stormwater Management for Green Roofs Based on IoT Technology and Sensor Networks

The intensification of global climate change and the significant increase of extreme rainfall events have made traditional urban drainage systems face great adjustments. As a key component of green infrastructure to avoid urban flood risk, green roofs are receiving increasing attention due to their unique capabilities in stormwater management. This paper explores the potential of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and sensor networks to enhance green roof stormwater management. Integrated real-time monitoring of key environmental parameters, including soil moisture, temperature and rainfall, enables the system to dynamically adjust roof drainage and irrigation strategies. This greatly improves the rainwater retention capacity and reduces the pressure on the municipal sewage system. The results show that the combination of IoT technology and sensor networks not only improves the efficiency of green roof management in combating climate change, but also promotes the efficient use of water resources and enhances the adaptability and sustainability of the system. This research provides the necessary technical support for the wider adoption of green roofs in urban environments and offers viable solutions to future challenges posed by climate change.

Insights into the low-temperature rapid catalytic pyrolysis and remediation mechanism of weathered petroleum-contaminated saline-alkali soil using Beta zeolite

Pyrolysis technique is considered to have great potential in the remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil, but it still has difficulties such as high energy consumption for the degradation of complex petroleum hydrocarbons and the deterioration of soil quality after treatment. In this study, the low-temperature rapid catalytic pyrolysis was realized using Beta zeolite to assist in remediating weathered petroleum-contaminated saline-alkali soil. Under the action of Beta zeolite, the removal efficiency of petroleum hydrocarbons reached 81% after pyrolysis treatment for 10 min at 250 °C, which was reduced to regulatory standard. The pyrolysis behavior and mechanism revealed that the addition of Beta zeolite effectively reduced the activation energy of C-C and C-O bonds cleavage in petroleum hydrocarbon macromolecules due to the strong acidity of Beta, meanwhile the quality of recovered oil from pyrolysis was improved. Additionally, the analyses of soil physicochemical property indicated that the harmless graphitic C generated from the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons increased the organic matter in the soil, and the addition of Beta zeolite enhanced soil water retention capacity and reduced the soil alkalinity, thus improving the ecological function of saline-alkali soil. This study provides a new strategy for the removal of organic pollutants under special soil media conditions.

Development and Characterization of Thermal Protection Gels for Steel Pipelines Transporting Combustible Materials

Due to low costs, pipelines are commonly used for transporting hazardous substances such as combustible liquids and gasses. Currently, chemical industrial parks and gas production stations have dense pipeline networks. In the case of a pipeline leakage and subsequent fire accident, the adjacent pipelines could be directly impinged by the flame or engulfed in hot smoke, with the potential to result in a chain of accidents and catastrophic consequences. It is thus of practical importance to develop an efficient thermal protection material for pipelines. In this study, a new type of bio-based gel material was prepared for pipeline thermal protection, using guar gum (GG) as the gelling agent, sodium tetraborate (B) as the crosslinking agent and magnesium chloride (MgCl2) as the fire retardant. Firstly, orthogonal experiments were conducted to examine the gelling time of the gel and determine the optimal formulations that meet the protection requirements. Subsequently, water retention, thermal stability and the microstructure of these formulations were analyzed. Finally, the thermal protection performance of the gel formulations was evaluated under the direct impingement of flames or high-temperature smoke. The results indicated that the best performance was achieved by the formulation with GG, B and MgCl2 mass fractions of 2.5, 0.6 and 0.5 wt%, respectively. This formulation also exhibited the best water retention capacity and thermal stability. In the pipeline thermal protection experiments, this formulation achieved effective protection times of 216 s (for a 90 mm diameter) and 312 s (for a 120 mm diameter) for the lower part of the pipeline under direct flame impingement. Under high-temperature smoke impingement, this formulation also showed excellent performance. These research and findings can provide an important foundation for the further development of thermal protection materials for pipelines under fire conditions.

Rheological properties and in vitro digestibility of chicken breast myofibrillar protein containing various psyllium (Plantago ovata) husk concentrations

SummaryMost dietary fibres improved rheological properties but negatively impacted digestibility. However, the effect of psyllium husk powder (PHP) on digestibility has not been yet reported. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the rheological properties and digestibility of chicken myofibrillar protein (MP) containing different concentrations of PHP (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%) at 0.45 m NaCl. To assess the rheological properties of MP, viscosity, hydrophobicity, disulphide bond, SDS–PAGE, cooking yield and gel strength were evaluated. The addition of PHP enhanced water retention capacity and protein–protein interactions in the MP system. To evaluate the effect of PHP on digestibility, protein digestibility, SDS–PAGE and microstructure observations were performed. It was confirmed that the addition of PHP improved the protein digestibility of MP by measuring the differences in protein content (%). Therefore, the addition of PHP into MP gel improved not only the rheological properties but also the protein digestibility during in vitro digestion.

Apelin/APJ signaling in IGF-1-induced acute mitochondrial and antioxidant effects in spontaneously hypertensive rat myocardium.

IGF-1 and apelin are released in response to exercise training with beneficial effects. Previously we demonstrated that a swimming routine is effective to convert pathological into physiological cardiac hypertrophy, and that IGF-1 improves contractility and the redox state, in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Now, we hypothesize that the apelinergic pathway is involved in the cardioprotective effects of IGF-1 in the SHR. We assessed the redox state and mitochondrial effects of IGF-1 or apelin in the presence/absence of AG1024 or ML221 [pharmacological antagonists of IGF1 (IGF1R) and apelin (APJ) receptors, respectively] in SHR isolated cardiomyocytes or perfused hearts. Acute IGF-1 (10 nmol/L) significantly: -reduced H2O2 production (IGF-1:62 ± 6; control:100 ± 8.1, %), -increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (IGF-1:193 ± 17, control: 100 ± 13,%), -prevented H2O2-induced ΔΨm loss (TMREF10min/F0 min: IGF-1:0.93 ± 0.017, control: 0.72 ± 0.029), -reduced mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening estimated by the calcium retention capacity (nmol/mg protein, IGF-1:251 ± 34, control:112 ± 5), and -increased P-AMPK (IGF-1:129 ± 0.9, control: 100 ± 2%) and P-AKT (IGF-1:143 ± 17 control:100 ± 6, %). These effects were suppressed not only by the antagonism of IGF1R but also of APJ. Moreover, IGF-1 significantly increased APJ (IGF-1:198 ± 29 control:100 ± 15,%) and apelin mRNAs (IGF-1:251 ± 48, control:100 ± 6,%). On the other hand, an equipotent dose of exogenous apelin (50 nmol/L) emulated IGF-1 effects being cancelled by the antagonism of APJ however not by AG1024. IGF-1/IGF1R stimulates the apelinergic pathway, improving the redox balance and mitochondria status in the pathologically hypertrophied myocardium of the SHR.

Genipap Oil as a Natural Cross-Linker for Biodegradable and Low-Ecotoxicity Porous Absorbents via Reactive Extrusion.

Proteins derived from agroindustrial coproducts and a natural cross-linking agent (genipap oil containing genipin) were used to develop porous materials by reactive extrusion for replacing fossil-based absorbents. Incorporating genipap oil allowed the production of lightweight structures with high saline uptake (above 1000%) and competing retention capacity despite their porous nature. The mechanical response of the genipap-cross-linked materials was superior to that of the noncross-linked ones and comparable to those cross-linked using commercial genipin. The extruded products were hemocompatible and soil-biodegradable in less than 6 weeks. The compounds generated by the degradation process were not found to be toxic to the soil, showing a high bioassimilation capacity by promoting grass growth. The results demonstrate the potential of biopolymers and new green cross-linkers to produce fully renewable-based superabsorbents in hygiene products with low ecotoxicity. The study further promotes the production of these absorbents using low-cost proteins and continuous processing such as reactive extrusion.

A Review of Advanced Hydrogel Applications for Tissue Engineering and Drug Delivery Systems as Biomaterials

Hydrogels are known for their high water retention capacity and biocompatibility and have become essential materials in tissue engineering and drug delivery systems. This review explores recent advancements in hydrogel technology, focusing on innovative types such as self-healing, tough, smart, and hybrid hydrogels, each engineered to overcome the limitations of conventional hydrogels. Self-healing hydrogels can autonomously repair structural damage, making them well-suited for applications in dynamic biomedical environments. Tough hydrogels are designed with enhanced mechanical properties, enabling their use in load-bearing applications such as cartilage regeneration. Smart hydrogels respond to external stimuli, including changes in pH, temperature, and electromagnetic fields, making them ideal for controlled drug release tailored to specific medical needs. Hybrid hydrogels, made from both natural and synthetic polymers, combine bioactivity and mechanical resilience, which is particularly valuable in engineering complex tissues. Despite these innovations, challenges such as optimizing biocompatibility, adjusting degradation rates, and scaling up production remain. This review provides an in-depth analysis of these emerging hydrogel technologies, highlighting their transformative potential in both tissue engineering and drug delivery while outlining future directions for their development in biomedical applications.

Forest ecosystem services of water-related filtration and regulation, a multi-source assessment and economic valuation in Mangla watershed

ABSTRACT Watershed forests offer crucial ecosystem services for hydrological systems. This study provides comprehensive insights into sediment retention within the Mangla watershed. We analyzed spatial layers from Sentinel-2 imagery, land use data, weather, soil properties, and terrain characteristics to identify soil erosion and sediment delivery hotspots. Using the Integrated Valuation of Environmental Services and Tradeoffs-sediment delivery ratio (InVEST-SDR) model, we quantified sediment exported to the downstream Mangla Dam. The InVEST-sediment retention (InVEST-SR) model estimated the sediment retention capacity of various land cover types. Our findings show that forests retained 20,300.70 tons of sediment in 2017 and 29,887.60 tons in 2021, making them the primary source of sediment retention. The economic value of this ecosystem service was approximately USD 2.59 trillion for 973,168.51 ha of forest in 2017 and USD 4.02 trillion for 1,023,927 ha in 2021. Understanding the dynamics and economic value of this forest ecosystem service at a large watershed scale provides essential insights for decision-making and conservation efforts aimed at protecting water resources and ecological integrity.

Effectiveness of Delayed First Baths on Transepidermal Water Loss in Late Preterm Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study evaluates whether delaying the first bath affects late preterm infants' skin barriers, body temperatures, and comfort. Late preterm infants' skin is drier and has a limited water retention capacity compared to term infants and adults. It is important to determine timing of care for this population with limited competencies. A two-arm, three-center, and single- and evaluator-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. The study is based on the CONSORT guidelines. The participants were recruited from September 2020 to September 2021. The first baths of participants in the intervention group were postponed until 48hours after birth. Outcomes were measured before bathing and 1, 10, and 30minutes after bathing. There was a statistically significant interaction between the groups and times for transepidermal water loss, body temperature, and comfort. The intervention group had a lower transepidermal water loss value at follow-up than the control group in the forearm and sternum. The control group had lower mean body temperatures and comfort levels. When the first bathing of a late preterm infant is postponed by a minimum of 48hours, it reduces damage to the skin barrier, body temperature is maintained, and the experience is more comfortable. Therefore, the first bath should be delayed for at least 48hours after birth. The study can guide nurses to eliminate the uncertainty of the first bath applied for late preterm infants with a fragile structure in the neonatal intensive care setting and to eliminate the differences between clinics.

Biochar influences phytoremediation of heavy metals in contaminated soils: an overview and perspectives.

Heavy metals (HMs) contamination has gained much attention due to its high degree of toxicity for living organisms. Therefore, different techniques are underway to eradicate HMs from the environment. Among the biological techniques, phytoremediation is a suitable method, but owing to the slow rate and chance of HMs penetration into the food chain, alternative techniques are needed to reduce their phytotoxicity, and biochar is one of them. Due to the diverse characteristics, biochar immobilizes HMs in the soil by improving soil pH, ion exchange, electrostatic interactions, complexation, precipitation, surface adsorption, and microbial activation. Thereby, amendment of biochar in the HMs-contaminated soils reduces HMs toxicity to plants and limits their penetration into the food chain. In contrast, some biochars have also been studied to induce metal availability in soils and subsequently its uptake by plants. This dual role of biochar depends on the feedstock of biochar, incineration temperature, and the rate of application. Moreover, biochar treatments enhance plant growth under HMs stress by improving nutrient availability, water retention capacity, scavenging of reactive oxygen species, and photosynthetic efficiency. Owing to the beneficial characteristics of biochar in HMs-contaminated sites, the number of publications has tremendously increased. Additionally, the plant species and the types of HMs that have been tested frequently under biochar treatments in these articles have been studied. Overall, the current study would help in understanding the mechanisms of how biochar influences phytoremediation of HMs and improves plant growth in HMs-polluted soils and the current scenario of the available literature.