Simple Process Research Articles

One-step preparation of Z-scheme g-C3N4 nanorods/TiO2 microsphere with improved photodegradation of antibiotic residue

Graphitic carbon nitride nanorods/titanium dioxide microspheres (g-C3N4 NRs/TiO2 MSs) Z-scheme heterojunctions were simply prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method, which showed improved visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl). The photodegradation activity of g-C3N4 NRs/TiO2 MSs is 6.6 and 1.9 times better than that of pristine g-C3N4 and TiO2, which is assigned to the unique morphology and formed heterojunction. Hydroxyl radical (⋅OH) and superoxide radical (⋅O2−) were the main species for TC-HCl photodegradation according to capture experiments, and a possible mechanism is proposed. This study provides an effective reference for the preparation of binary heterostructures with excellent photocatalytic activity from a simplified process.

Vanadium-doped Li6.7La3Zr1.7V0.3O12 and PVDF-HFP enhanced the ionic conductivity and cycling stability of composite solid electrolytes for All-Solid-State lithium batteries

Solid electrolytes receive widespread attention due to their high safety, high energy density and simplicity of processing. However, the poor interface stability between the solid electrolyte and the electrode leads to a significant increase in interface resistance, greatly reducing the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Here we designed and prepared a new type of solid composite electrolytes (SCEs), which were composed of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) blended with poly (vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene) (PVDF-HFP) and doped with cubic phase Li6.7La3Zr1.7V0.3O12 (LLZVO) particles. Compared with our previous work, the addition of PVDF-HFP can further reduce the crystallinity of PEO, limit the formation of lithium dendrites, and make the electrolyte/electrode interface more stable. The SCEs had better ionic conductivity of 2.04 × 10-4 S cm−1 and 2.03 × 10-3 S cm−1 at 30 ℃ and 80 ℃, respectively, and the Li/SCEs/Li symmetrical battery cycled for 1800 h without short circuit. Moreover, the coulombic efficiency of LiFePO4/SCEs/Li battery remained at 98 % after 300 cycles. This opens up a new direction for the research of garnet-type composite solid electrolytes with lower interface resistance.

Sustainable crude oil desulfurization: A multi-objective fuzzy optimization for pollution prevention

The ultrasonic-assisted oxidative desulfurization (UAOD) process is employed to mitigate the environmental impact of sulfur emissions. Previous studies have focused on evaluating the efficiency of crude oil UAOD. This research assesses the desulfurization efficiency encompassing irradiation time, ultrasonic power, and oxidant amount, as well as the corresponding operational expenses, to ascertain the optimal conditions. The research employed a multi-objective fuzzy optimization (MOFO) method to assess the operational expenses of crude oil UAOD. It established the upper and lower limits and subsequently optimized the operational costs and desulfurization efficiency while accounting for uncertainties. The fuzzy model optimized the level of satisfaction on a scale from 0 (unsatisfied) to 1 (satisfied) using the max-min aggregation. The degree of satisfaction slightly decreased to 55.49 %, achieved under optimal conditions of 739.70 W ultrasonic power, 6.70 min irradiation, and 8.47 mL oxidant. This configuration yielded a desulfurization efficiency (YA) of 63.24 % at 2.02 USD/L. Compared to existing literature, the desulfurization of crude oil was found to be less efficient and less expensive. The outcomes presented by MOFO showcase economic feasibility with reduced overall operating expenses and simplified process conditions and provide valuable insights for optimizing potential large-scale UAOD processes.

Impact of ambient moisture on gate controllability in ferroelectric-gate field-effect transistors with bottom-gate geometry

Abstract Ferroelectric-gate field-effect transistors (FeFETs) with a bottom-gate geometry consisting of a ferroelectric HfO2 gate and an oxide channel have been intensively studied in recent years. However, there has been no detailed investigation into the impact of atmospheric exposure on device performance, even though the channel is often exposed to ambient air for process simplification, especially at the research stage. In this study, the ambient stability of an indium tin oxide channel FeFET with a ferroelectric Ce-HfO2 bottom gate was investigated. We found that ambient degradation of the gate controllability was caused by an increase in physisorbed water in the device owing to the intrusion of moisture. Mobile ions, such as H+, which can easily move through a network of hydrogen bonds formed by adjacent physisorbed water, may compensate for ferroelectric polarization. Finally, we demonstrated that the observed degradation can be managed effectively without compromising the original device characteristics using Al2O3 passivation gently formed via plasma-free deposition.

Systematic reengineering of Klebsiella oxytoca KC004-TF160 for enhancing metabolic carbon flux towards succinate production pathway

Klebsiella oxytoca KP001-TF60 (ΔadhEΔpta-ackAΔldhAΔbudABΔpflBΔtdcDΔpmd) was re-engineered to direct more carbon flux towards succinate production with less acetate. Glucose uptake, cell growth, and carbon distribution were restricted by alterations in relative expressions and nucleotide sequences of genes associated with PEP and pyruvate metabolisms. Transcripts of pck, ppc, and frd genes were up-regulated for enhancing NADH reoxidation during succinate production while increased pyk and tdcE transcripts were observed due to maintenance of acetyl-CoA through the oxidative branch of TCA cycle. Based on whole-genome sequencing, several genes in sugars-specific PTS (ptsG, bglF, chbR, fruA, mtlR, and treY), ABC transporters (alsK, and rbsK), Major Facilitator Superfamily (uhpB and setB), and catabolite repression (cyaA and csrB) were found to be mutated. The strain produced succinate yield up to 0.89 g/g (∼80 % theoretical maximum) with acetate < 1 g/L, and may be one of the succinate producers applied in an industrial-production scale with simplified purification processes.

In-situ wet milling for particle size control in continuous crystallization: Expanding the attainable region

Continuous mixed-suspension mixed-product removal crystallizer cascades are robust and proven options for continuous manufacturing. However, when applied to a late-stage drug substance the desired particle size could not be achieved due to rapid crystal growth and slow secondary nucleation kinetics. This necessitated a batch terminal milling operation to achieve particle size control (Johnson et al., 2021). To overcome this and to intensify the process, an in-situ high-shear wet mill was integrated into the continuous equipment train to achieve the target physical properties of the drug substance that met the quality and manufacturability criteria needed for the drug product. This article describes the workflow used to optimize the equipment set and operational parameters. Incorporation of a high-shear wet mill operated intermittently in the continuous drug substance process greatly expanded the attainable particle size region, improved product quality, reduced cycle time, and simplified process development and scale-up compared to the process of batch milling after continuous crystallization. Small scale batch milling experiments were used to characterize milling performance at lab and production scales and inform operational space. Several lab-scale continuous runs were then used to define the process operating space and validate the process parameters necessary to meet the particle specifications of the product. Scale-up of the equipment set for in-situ milling was also demonstrated. This approach was tested at lab-scale on representative material operating for 70 h while changing the particle size of the product in real time. This illustrated the potential of intermittent milling for model-free particle size control.

High-yield magnetosome production of Magnetospirillum magneticum strain AMB-1 in flask fermentation through simplified processing and optimized iron supplementation.

Developing a simplified flask fermentation strategy utilizing magnetotactic bacterium AMB-1 and optimized iron supplementation for high-yield magnetosome production to address the challenges associated with magnetosome acquisition. A reliable processing for the pure culture of AMB-1 was established using standard laboratory consumables and equipment. Subsequently, the medium and iron supplementation were optimized to enhance the yield of AMB-1 magnetosomes. The mSLM supported higher biomass accumulation in flask fermentation, reaching an OD565 of ~ 0.7. The premixed solution of ferric quinate and EDTA-Fe (at a ratio of 0.5:0.5 and a concentration of 0.4mmol/L) stabilized Fe3+ and significantly increased the reductase activity of AMB-1. Flask fermentations with an initial volume of 15 L were then conducted employing the optimized fermentation strategy. After two rounds of iron and nutrient supplementation, the magnetosome yield reached 185.7 ± 9.5mg/batch (approximately 12mg/L), representing the highest AMB-1 flask fermentation yield to our knowledge. A flask fermentation strategy for high-yield magnetsome production was developed, eliminating the need for bioreactors and greatly simplifying the process of magnetosome acquisition.

Electrochromic windows with fast response and wide dynamic range for visible-light modulation without traditional electrodes

Electrochromic (EC) devices represent an emerging energy-saving technology, exhibiting the capability to dynamically modulate light and heat transmittance. Despite their promising potential, the commercialization of EC devices faces substantial impediments such as high cost, intricate fabrication process, and low optical contrast inherent in conventional EC materials relying on the ion insertion/extraction mechanism. In this study, we introduce an innovative “electrode-free” electrochromic (EC) device, termed the EECD, which lacks an EC-layer on the electrodes during device assembling and in the bleached state. This device features a simplified fabrication process and delivers superior optical modulation. It achieves a high optical contrast ranging from 68-85% across the visible spectrum and boasts a rapid response time, reaching 90% coloring in just 17 seconds. In addition, EECD exhibits stable cycling for over 10,000 cycles without noticeable degradation and maintains functionality across a broad temperature range (0 °C to 50 °C). Furthermore, the fabricated large-area devices (40 cm × 40 cm) demonstrate excellent tinting uniformity, suggesting excellent scalability of this approach. Our study establishes a paradigmatic breakthrough for EC smart windows.

Nitrogen recovery from intensive livestock farms using a simplified ammonia stripping process

Nitrogen recovery from intensive livestock farms using a simplified ammonia stripping process

Reverse-Mode Polymer-Stabilized Liquid Crystal Films with Enhanced Peel Strength and Electro-Optical Performance Based on Photoreactive Self-Assembly Alignment Layers and Patterned Polymer Walls.

Polymer-stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC) is a promising material toward the practical application of serving as energy-saving reverse-mode smart windows owing to its superior electro-optical (E-O) properties, simple and efficient processability, and compatibility to most practical circumstances. However, its feeble peel strength originated from low polymer content and poor adhesion between polymer networks and substrates inhibited its large-scale flexible film production. It is still a challenging task to derive good mechanical properties and superior E-O performance for PSLCs at the same time. In this study, a highly durable liquid crystal/polymer composite film showing enhanced peel strength and excellent E-O properties was attained by simultaneously building photoreactive self-assemble alignment layers through an efficient one-step method and the sculpture of a patterned polymer wall structure. This film has comprehensive ascendant E-O properties of lower driving voltages, faster response times, and higher contrast ratio, together with an over 30 times lift of the peel strength. The effectuation mechanisms of the alignment, E-O properties, peel-strength, microstructures, and cyclic durability of the films have been systematically studied. This novel liquid crystal/polymer composite film demonstrates advantages in every aspect of performance compared to traditional PSLC devices, which hoards promising applications in smart windows for cars and buildings.

RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH OF SELF-HELP GROUP MEMBERS

This research paper explores the vital role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in fostering rural entrepreneurship and inclusive growth of the members. By examining the framework of women’s entrepreneurship and rural development, the paper highlights that SHGs empower women economically and socially. The study reviews literature that underscores the effectiveness of SHGs in promoting entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and social empowerment. It further conducts an ABCD (Advantages, Benefits, Constraints, and Disadvantages) analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of SHGs on rural women’s entrepreneurial development. The findings indicate that rural entrepreneurship through SHGs significantly contributes to community development, job creation, and improved living standards while also identifying challenges related to market access, financial literacy, and sustainability. The paper concludes with suggestions for enhancing the effectiveness of rural entrepreneurship of SHGs through government support, simplified loan processes, capacity building, and improved market access. By addressing these challenges, SHGs can continue to play a crucial role in driving inclusive growth and sustainable development of rural entrepreneurship. KEYWORDS: Self-help groups, Rural Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Growth, Women's Empowerment, Economic Development.

Fine-Tuning Electron Transfer for Nanozyme Design.

Nanozymes, with their versatile composition and structural adaptability, present distinct advantages over natural enzymes including heightened stability, customizable catalytic activity, cost-effectiveness, and simplified synthesis process, making them as promising alternatives in various applications. Recent advancements in nanozyme research have shifted focus from serendipitous discovery toward a more systematic approach, leveraging machine learning, theoretical calculations, and mechanistic explorations to engineer nanomaterial structures with tailored catalytic functions. Despite its pivotal role, electron transfer, a fundamental process in catalysis, has often been overlooked in previous reviews. This review comprehensively summarizes recent strategies for modulating electron transfer processes to fine-tune the catalytic activity and specificity of nanozymes, including electron-hole separation and carrier transfer. Furthermore, the bioapplications of these engineered nanozymes, including antimicrobial treatments, cancer therapy, and biosensing are also introduced. Ultimately, this review aims to offer invaluable insights for the design and synthesis of nanozymes with enhanced performance, thereby advancing the field of nanozyme research.

Multilayer ceramic capacitor induced audible noise simulation

Multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) are one of the most widely used capacitors. Their small size, high capacitance, high reliability and low cost make them ideal for miniaturized electronic devices. However, their piezoelectric effect may cause the deformation of the capacitor associated with the applied voltage. Even worse, the deformation may cause the PCB vibration and potential noise radiation, which can be a problem for devices designed to be quiet, such as cellphones, earbuds, laptops, etc. This paper introduces how MLCCs can cause PCB vibration and noise radiation problems by simulating a single MLCC with piezoelectric effect. And then, a methodology is proposed on how to quantify the MLCC as vibration load source. Moreover, a simplified process is illustrated to simulate the MLCC induced noise radiated from circuit boards. Finally, a couple applications are demonstrated by using the developed process.

DAMPAK PENERAPAN TARIF PAJAK EFEKTIF RATA-RATA (TER) TERHADAP PERHITUNGAN PAJAK PENGHASILAN PASAL 21 WAJIB PAJAK ORANG PRIBADI KARYAWAN TETAP PADA PT. ANUGRAH SEKAYU

This descriptive research is aiming to analyze the impact of implementing TER on the calculation of PPh 21 WPOP for permanent employees at PT. Anugrah. The analysis technique is conducted by comparing calculation of PPh 21 WPOP based on tariffs 17 UU-HPP 7 of 2021 with TER based on PMK 168 of 2023. The secondary data is in the form of all income and calculation of PPh 21 for 32 WPOP permanent employees of PT. Anugrah. The results of this research show the calculation of PPh 21 WPOP a month for 32 permanent employees by applying TER is Rp 3,888,343, while the PPh calculation based on the article 17 rate is Rp 4,242,485. There is a difference in excess income tax deduction of Rp 354,142 a month. Implementation of TER can save taxes. It reduces tax burden and makes calculation process simpler and easier, so PMK regulation 168 of 2023 can reduce WPOP taxes, which is expected to increase awareness and voluntary compliance of WPOP. Apart from that, tax regulations have positive impact in increasing the amount of tax revenue. For this tax overpayment/withholding, request can be submitted for compensation.

Combination of Anatomical Plates and Rotator Cuff Reinforcement for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Greater Tuberosity Fractures of the Humerus.

Greater tuberosity fractures of the humerus can be challenging to manage due to their complex anatomy and the potential for compromised shoulder function. We present a novel technique for treating greater tuberosity fractures utilizing specialized anatomical plates and rotator cuff reinforcement. The technique involves the use of an anatomically T-shaped plate designed specifically for the greater tuberosity region of the humerus, allowing for precise fixation and stability. Additionally, rotator cuff reinforcement is performed using sutures to enhance structural integrity and promote early mobilization. The simplified process is as follows: After administering anesthesia, a 3 cm incision is made along the lateral aspect of the shoulder to precisely expose the fracture site of the greater tuberosity. A suture of size 5 is skillfully threaded through the tough rotator cuff tendon to securely attach the proximal humerus to the anatomical plate after the greater tuberosity has been reduced. Intraoperative fluoroscopy is utilized to verify the accurate positioning of plates and screws. After ensuring everything is correct, the surgery concludes.

Weakly ionized gold nanoparticles amplify immunoassays for ultrasensitive point-of-care sensors.

Gold nanoparticle-based lateral flow immunoassays (AuNP LFIAs) are widely used point-of-care (POC) sensors for in vitro diagnostics. However, the sensitivity limitation of conventional AuNP LFIAs impedes the detection of trace biomarkers. Several studies have explored the size and shape factors of AuNPs and derivative nanohybrids, showing limited improvements or enhanced sensitivity at the cost of convenience and affordability. Here, we investigated surface chemistry on the sensitivity of AuNP LFIAs. By modifying surface ligands, a surface chemistry strategy involving weakly ionized AuNPs enables ultrasensitive naked-eye LFIAs (~100-fold enhanced sensitivity). We demonstrated how this surface chemistry-amplified immunoassay approach modulates nanointerfacial bindings to promote antibody adsorption and higher activity of adsorbed antibodies. This surface chemistry design eliminates complex nanosynthesis, auxiliary devices, or additional reagents while efficiently improving sensitivity with advantages: simplified fabrication process, excellent reproducibility and reliability, and ultrasensitivity toward various biomarkers. The surface chemistry using weakly ionized AuNPs represents a versatile approach for sensitizing POC sensors.

Stimuli-Responsive Delivery of Ions through Layered Materials-Based Triangular Nanofluidic Device.

The elegance and accuracy of biological ion channels inspire the fabrication of artificial devices with similar properties. Here, we report the fabrication of iontronic devices capable of delivering ions at the nanomolar (nmol) level of accuracy. The triangular nanofluidic device prepared with reconstructed vanadium pentoxide (VO) membranes of thickness 45 ± 5.5 μm can continuously deliver K+, Na+, and Ca2+ ions at the rate of 0.44 ± 0.24, 0.35 ± 0.06, and 0.03 nmol/min, respectively. The ionic flow rate can be further tuned by modulating the membrane thickness and salt concentration at the source reservoir. The triangular VO device can also deliver ions in minuscule doses (∼132 ± 9.7 nmol) by electrothermally heating (33 °C) with a nichrome wire (NW) or applying light of specific intensities. The simplicity of the fabrication process of reconstructed layered material-based nanofluidic devices allows the design of complicated iontronic devices such as the three-terminal-Ni-VO (3T-Ni-VO) devices.

A comparison of different intensified upstream processes highlighting the advantage of WuXi Biologics' Ultra-high Productivity platform (WuXiUPTM) in improved product quality and purification yield.

WuXiUPTM, WuXi Biologics' Ultra-high Productivity platform, is an intensified and integrated continuous bioprocess platform developed for production of various biologics including monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins, and bispecific antibodies. This process technology platform has manifested its remarkable capability in boosting the volumetric productivity of various biologics and has been implemented for large-scale clinical material productions. In this paper, case studies of the production of different pharmaceutical proteins using two high-producing and intensified culture modes of WuXiUPTM and the concentrated fed-batch (CFB), as well as the traditional fed-batch (TFB) are discussed from the perspectives of cell growth, productivity, and protein quality. Both WuXiUPTM and CFB outperformed TFB regarding volumetric productivity. Additionally, distinctive advantages in product quality profiles in the WuXiUPTM process, such as reduced acidic charge variants and fragmentation, are revealed. Therefore, a simplified downstream purification process with only two chromatographic steps can be developed to deliver the target product at a satisfactory purity and an extremely-high yield.

Microwave-supported one-pot reaction for the synthesis of 5-alkyl/arylidene-2-(morpholin/thiomorpholin-4-yl)-1,3-thiazol-4(5H)-one derivatives over MgO solid base

Abstract In this study, we synthesized 5-alkyl/arylidene-2-(morpholin/thiomorpholin-4-yl)-1,3-thiazol-4(5H)-one through a one-pot reaction using all starting materials in a microwave oven. The presence of the solid base MgO catalyzed the reaction in the eco-friendly solvent of ethanol as a green chemistry approach owing to the noticeable advantages of short reaction times to save energy and less toxic starting materials for environmental friendliness. This indicates that the one-pot reaction makes the process simpler, in which the reaction time (1 h) is shorter than that of conventional methods (10 h). The yield of the reactions reached 55–76% for 18 final products consisting of 17 derivatives of morpholine or thiomorpholine with various aldehydes and one extended moiety of the primary amine, of which 13/18 final compounds were new. The purification procedure was performed without using polluting solvents. The structures were confirmed using IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and MS analyses.

Influence of water on the machinability of calcium fluoride crystal

Calcium fluoride (CaF2) optical components are produced by ultra-precision machining, but the often-neglected ambient water may potentially affect its processing. This work provides a systematic study on the role of water in the machinability of single-crystal CaF2. Micro-scratching experiments revealed poor machinability and reduced deformability under water adsorption. Atomic scratching simulations reproduced the mechanical deformation and identified the enhancement in dislocation nucleation with water, which led to the reduction in deformability due to dense cross-linking of dislocations. Atomic scale cutting simulations also identified easier formation of subsurface cracks under water adsorption. With the aid of mechanical schematic models based on the simplification of the scratching process, this work revealed that while water enhances the plastic flow of the material during machining, the accumulation of dislocations creates stress conditions sufficient to induce material fracture, which is a unique influence of water adsorption on the reduction in machinability of CaF2.