Simulated Environmental Conditions Research Articles

High removal of volatile organic compounds on hierarchical carbons prepared from agro-industrial waste of banana fruit production for air decontamination.

Activated carbons were prepared from residues from agro-industrial banana production (banana pseudostem) and evaluated in the capture of five different volatile organic compounds (VOCs): dichloromethane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, hexane, and cyclohexane. The biomass was first submitted to a hydrothermal treatment in the presence of KOH or ZnCl2 as activating agents, followed by a dry pyrolysis. This new advance in methodology contributes to producing activated carbons with hierarchical porosity and high surface areas (701-1312 m2g-1), promoting increased interest in managing waste from banana fruit agricultural production. VOC capture studies were performed by thermal analysis, and capture capacities were similar to or higher than those presented in the literature. Higher adsorption capacities were related to the amount of available micropores, and the capture capacity was enhanced by the contribution of small mesopores. As the highest adsorbed amounts of dichloromethane (933mgg-1 at 25°C) were obtained for the material activated with ZnCl2 (1:3), further studies were carried out for this system. The experimental data was fitted using a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. A study was carried out in different atmospheres (He, N2, air), showing that co-adsorption is occurring. Under simulated environmental conditions, the capture capacity decreased slightly at equilibrium, and the new adsorbent was used for up to ten cycles without significantly losing its efficiency, indicating good application in the field.

Frictional Wear Behavior of Water-Lubrication Resin Matrix Composites under Low Speed and Heavy Load Conditions.

Resin matrix composites are commonly utilized in water-lubricated stern tube bearings for warship propulsion systems. Low-speed and high-load conditions are significant factors influencing the tribological properties of stern tube bearings. The wear characteristics of resin-based laminated composites (RLCs), resin-based winding composites (RWCs), and resin-based homogeneous polymer (RHP) blocks were investigated under simulated environmental conditions using a ring-on-block wear tester. Simulated seawater was prepared by combining sodium chloride with distilled water. The wetting angle, coefficient of friction (COF), and mass loss were measured and compared. Additionally, their surface morphologies were examined. The results indicate a significant increase in the COFs for the three materials with an increased speed or load under dry conditions. The COF of the RLCs is the lowest, indicating that it has superior self-lubricating properties. In wet conditions, the COFs of the three materials decrease with an increasing speed or load, exhibiting a pronounced hydrodynamic effect. The COF and mass loss of RWCs are the highest, while RLCs and RHP exhibit lower COFs and mass loss values. The reticulated texture and flocculent fibers on the surface of RLC enhance the heat diffusion and improve the material wettability and water storage capacity. The surface of RWC is dense, and the friction area under dry conditions is melted and brightened. The surface of RHP is smooth, while the worn material forms an agglomerate and exhibits susceptibility to burning and blackening under dry conditions. The laminated formation method demonstrates superior tribological performance throughout the wear evolution process.

Study on the novel green magnetoplumbite-type oxide BaZn6-xNixTi6O19: synthesis, structure and properties

Magnetoplumbite-type oxides display various properties and find applications in multiple fields. In this study, a novel magnetoplumbite-type solid solution BaZn6-xNixTi6O19 (0 ≤ x ≤ 4) with vivid green color was synthesized through a high-temperature solid-phase method for the first time. The as-synthesized BaZn6-xNixTi6O19 solid solution crystallizes in the space group of P63/mmc. The solid solution exhibits excellent green property, and its color is adjustable with increasing doping levels of Ni2+. The depth of color originates from the content and position of Ni2+ in the solid solution. BaZn6-xNixTi6O19 is suitable for PMMA (Polymethyl methacrylate) pigment and hydrophobic coating. Colored PMMA containing BaZn6-xNixTi6O19 exhibits vibrant colors with high saturation, showing excellent application potential. The hydrophobic coating compounded with BaZn6-xNixTi6O19 exhibits near-superhydrophobic properties and demonstrates excellent self-cleaning effects under simulated natural environmental conditions.

TagP, a PAAR-domain containing protein, plays roles in the fitness and virulence of Acinetobacter baumannii.

Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is widely present in Gram-negative bacteria and directly mediates antagonistic prokaryote interactions. PAAR (proline-alanine-alanine-arginine repeats) proteins have been proven essential for T6SS-mediated secretion and target cell killing. Although PAAR proteins are commonly found in A. baumannii, their biological functions are not fully disclosed yet. In this study, we investigated the functions of a PAAR protein termed TagP (T6SS-associated-gene PAAR), encoded by the gene ACX60_RS09070 outside the core T6SS locus of A. baumannii strain ATCC 17978. In this study, tagP null and complement A. baumannii ATCC 17978 strains were constructed. The influence of TagP on T6SS function was investigated through Hcp detection and bacterial competition assay; the influence on environmental fitness was studied through in vitro growth, biofilm formation assay, surface motility assay, survivability in various simulated environmental conditions; the influence on pathogenicity was explored through cell adhesion and invasion assays, intramacrophage survival assay, serum survival assay, and G. melonella Killing assays. Quantitative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were utilized to observe the global impact of TagP on bacterial status. Compared with the wildtype strain, the tagP null mutant was impaired in several tested phenotypes such as surface motility, biofilm formation, tolerance to adverse environments, adherence to eukaryotic cells, endurance to serum complement killing, and virulence to Galleria melonella. Notably, although RNA-Seq and proteomics analysis revealed that many genes were significantly down-regulated in the tagP null mutant compared to the wildtype strain, there is no significant difference in their antagonistic abilities. We also found that Histone-like nucleoid structuring protein (H-NS) was significantly upregulated in the tagP null mutant at both mRNA and protein levels. This study enriches our understanding of the biofunction of PAAR proteins in A. baumannii. The results indicates that TagP involved in a unique modulation of fitness and virulence control in A. baumannii, it is more than a classic PAAR protein involved in T6SS, while how TagP play roles in the fitness and virulence of A. baumannii needs further investigation to clarify.

The plastisphere can protect Salmonella Typhimurium from UV stress under simulated environmental conditions

Plastic waste is found with increasing frequency in the environment, in low- and middle-income countries. Plastic pollution has increased concurrently with both economic development and rapid urbanisation, amplifying the effects of inadequate waste management. Distinct microbial communities can quickly colonise plastic surfaces in what is collectively known as the ‘plastisphere’. The plastisphere can act as a reservoir for human pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella enterica sp. (such as S. Typhimurium), which can persist for long periods, retain pathogenicity, and pose an increased public health risk. Through employing a novel mesocosm setup, we have shown here that the plastisphere provides enhanced protection against environmental pressures such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation and allows S. Typhimurium to persist at concentrations (>1 × 103 CFU/ml) capable of causing human infection, for up to 28 days. Additionally, using a Galleria Mellonella model of infection, S. Typhimurium exhibits greater pathogenicity following recovery from the UV-exposed plastisphere, suggesting that the plastisphere may select for more virulent variants. This study demonstrates the protection afforded by the plastisphere and provides further evidence of environmental plastic waste acting as a reservoir for dangerous clinical pathogens. Quantifying the role of plastic pollution in facilitating the survival, persistence, and dissemination of human pathogens is critical for a more holistic understanding of the potential public health risks associated with plastic waste.

Automation of the marked-up data sets formation for machine learning based on simulation modeling

The problematic issue of generating marked-up data sets for training artificial intelligence systems preparing for autonomous operation in the proposed new conditions, when the formation of a feature description of objects and situations with a known target variable is impossible or significantly difficult, is considered. As a general approach to its solution, it is proposed to build and use a software testing area that provides the generation of training and control samples, checking the effectiveness of various machine learning methods on them, forming sets of in-formative features of objects and phenomena, bundles of "vector-implementation of features – classification method (clustering, regression)". The results of the systematization of scientific approaches to the definition of ma-chine learning types, as well as the main machine learning methods used in data mining, are presented. Using the example of solving the problem of assessing the dynamics of changes in the radio-electronic environment, the features of real feature descriptions of objects and phenomena that significantly affect the quality of problem solv-ing are shown. To form training samples that adequately reflect these features, it is proposed to use simulation modeling systems that implement an agent-oriented approach to model construction. An example of setting a task and constructing such a model is presented, which ensures the formation of marked-up data sets corresponding to the simulated environmental conditions.

Compressive Strength of Paver Block Using Rubber Tyre Waste and Bamboo Fibre Under Extreme Conditions

The utilisation of by-products in paver block production has gained significant attention due to its potential in environmental condition. This research investigates the effect of incorporating rubber tyre waste and bamboo fibre into the fabrication of paver block on compressive strength, water absorption, density and ultrasonic pulse velocity tests. This research comprises two batches of paver blocks fabrications following a 1:2:3 ratio(cement: fine aggregate: coarse aggregate). Batch 1 involves the fabrication of paver blocks by incorporating varying percentages of rubber tyre waste (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50%), which replace a portion of the sand (referred to as rubber paver block). In Batch 2, various dosages of bamboo fibre, used as a reinforcement material were added to the paver block containing 40% rubber tyre waste, which are referred to as rubber-bamboo fibre paver blocks. Nevertheless, the compressive strength of the rubber-bamboo fibre paver blocks was further examined under two simulated environmental conditions: (1) air and dry cycle, and (2) wet and dry conditions. These conditions aim to assess the block’s resistance to temperature fluctuations, moisture effects, and theiroverall durability. The strength of the paver blocks decreases with the additional inclusion of rubber tyre waste. While the utilisation of 0.3% bamboo fibre has shown improvement in its strength performance compared to 0.2% and 0.4%. It suitable to used for non-loading structural applications that require strength below 25 kPa. This study was able to promote sustainable and green construction materials for paving applications through the efficient recycling of waste materials. It aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Insights into Plastic Degradation Processes in Marine Environment by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study.

The present study employs X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to analyze plastic samples subjected to degradation processes with the aim to gain insight on the relevant chemical processes and disclose fragmentation mechanisms. Two model plastics, namely polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE), are selected and analyzed before and after artificial UV radiation-triggered weathering, under simulated environmental hydrodynamic conditions, in fresh and marine water for different time intervals. The object of the study is to identify and quantify chemical groups possibly evidencing the occurrence of hydrolysis and oxidation reactions, which are the basis of degradation processes in the environment, determining macroplastic fragmentation. Artificially weathered plastic samples are analyzed also by Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy. Changes in surface chemistry with weathering are revealed by XPS, involving the increase in chemical moieties (hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl functionalities) which can be correlated with the degradation processes responsible for macroplastic fragmentation. On the other hand, the absence of significant modifications upon plastics weathering evidenced by Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy confirms the importance of investigating plastics surface, which represents the very first part of the materials exposed to degradation agents, thus revealing the power of XPS studies for this purpose. The XPS data on experimentally weathered particles are compared with ones obtained on microplastics collected from real marine environment for investigating the occurring degradation processes.

High-Temperature Fatigue Testing of Turbine Blades

Abstract This paper evaluates the efficacy of a patented grip for high-temperature fatigue testing by establishing the S-N curve for full-scale nickel-based turbine blades under simulated environmental conditions. Initially, a bending test assessed the stress-displacement characteristics of the component. This was followed by a series of fatigue tests at 950°C, using cyclic bending with force amplitudes from 5.2 kN to 6.6 kN and a constant frequency of 10 Hz. The setup, integrating the grip into a standard testing machine, proved effective for high-temperature tests and successfully determined the service life of full-scale components.

Performance of Cow Evaluation System Elements in Simulated Environmental Conditions

Animal phenotype assessment plays a crucial role in enhancing the genetic potential of domestic breeds. Currently, research is underway to digitize and automate phenotyping through optical systems, enabling the recognition and evaluation of animals’ linear parameters. A prototype of a non-contact monitoring system for livestock phenotype indicators is currently under development. The movement of animals within the model (a laboratory measuring stand) is restricted by a specially designed transparent barrier made of polyethylene terephthalate, enabling the capture of three-dimensional photographs of the animals’ exterior. To validate the suitability of glass for this purpose, laboratory tests were conducted. (Research purpose) The research aims to determine the degree of relationship between protective glass contamination and the accuracy of the optical animal recognition system. (Materials and methods) The paper outlines the specifications of the laboratory stand, facilities, and equipment used, along with the methods employed and experimental conditions. The probability of determining the degree of protective glass contamination was quantified on a scale of 0 to 1, with a value of 0.78 indicating a high likelihood of accurate determination. (Results and discussion) The findings reveal that the system for determining the linear parameters of animals can operate reliably even when the protective glass is contaminated up to 30 percent. When the contamination reaches 50 percent due to inadequate glass cleaning, the system’s ability to recognize points of interest reduces by a factor of 1.625. Furthermore, at 80 percent contamination, achieving high-quality data collection becomes unfeasible as the camera fails to recognize the object. Proper cleaning of the glass is imperative to maintain the system stability. (Conclusions) The optical system enables the recognition and evaluation of animals’ linear parameters, provided that the protective glass of the laboratory stand is contaminated by no more than 50 percent and undergoes high-quality cleaning. At lower levels of glass contamination, up to 30 percent, these estimates exhibit a 2.6-38 percent increase compared to other contamination levels.

“Manufacturing and underwater cyclic behavior of different types of twisted and coiled artificial muscles (TCAMs)”

Twisted and Coiled Artificial Muscles (TCAMs) are a recently developed class of artificial muscles manufactured from inexpensive polymer fibers that possess the characteristic of anisotropic volume expansion. Supercoiling these fibers produces a helical geometry which can be altered electrothermally to produce an axial contraction. In this work we demonstrate a manufacturing process using off-the-shelf components to automate the process of manufacturing and produce TCAMs with repeatable performance characteristics utilizing two methods of production: self-coiling and mandrel-coiling. This manufacturing system also facilitates the production of TCAMs in a wide range of sizes and greatly improves the success rate for producing useable samples when compared to current methods. In addition, we investigate the suitability of various polymer fibers for use in manufacturing of TCAMs through cyclic testing in simulated environments and find that nylon 6 and polyvinyl difluoride offer an attractive blend of repeatable performance and suitability in a variety of simulated environmental conditions.

Stability and biological activity enhancement of fucoxanthin through encapsulation in alginate/chitosan nanoparticles

A response surface methodology based on the Box-Behnken design was employed to develop fucoxanthin (FX) delivery nanocarrier from alginate (ALG) and chitosan (CS). The FX-loaded ALG/CS nanoparticles (FX-ALG/CS-NPs) were fabricated using oil-in-water emulsification and ionic gelation. The optimal formulation consisted of an ALG:CS mass ratio of 0.015:1, 0.71 % w/v Tween™ 80, and 5 mg/mL FX concentrations. The resulting FX-ALG/CS-NPs had a size of 227 ± 23 nm, a zeta potential of 35.3 ± 1.7 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 81.2 ± 2.8 %. These nanoparticles exhibited enhanced stability under simulated environmental conditions and controlled FX release in simulated gastrointestinal fluids. Furthermore, FX-ALG/CS-NPs showed increased in vitro oral bioaccessibility, gastrointestinal stability, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effect, and cytotoxicity against various cancer cells. The findings suggest that ALG/CS-NPs are effective nanocarriers for the delivery of FX in nutraceuticals, functional foods, and pharmaceuticals.

Bioactive Hydrogel Based on Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid Enriched with Freeze-Dried Sheep Placenta for Wound Healing Support.

In an increasingly aging society, there is a growing demand for the development of technology related to tissue regeneration. It involves the development of the appropriate biomaterials whose properties will allow the desired biological response to be obtained. Bioactivity is strongly affected by the proper selection of active ingredients. The aim of this study was to produce bioactive hydrogel materials based on hyaluronic acid and collagen modified by the addition of placenta. These materials were intended for use as dressings, and their physicochemical properties were investigated under simulated biological environmental conditions. The materials were incubated in vitro in different fluids simulating the environment of the human body (e.g., simulated body fluid) and then stored at a temperature close to body temperature. Using an FT-IR spectrophotometer, the functional groups present in the composites were identified. The materials with the added placenta showed an increase in the swelling factor of more than 300%. The results obtained confirmed the potential of using this material as an absorbent dressing. This was indicated by pH and conductometric measurements, sorption, degradation, and surface analysis under an optical microscope. The results of the in vitro biological evaluation confirmed the cytosafety of the tested biomaterials. The tested composites activate monocytes, which may indicate their beneficial properties in the first phases of wound healing. The material proved to be nontoxic and has potential for medical use.

Extremely compact and lightweight triboelectric nanogenerator for spacecraft flywheel system health monitoring

The abnormal state of supporting bearings significantly affects the directional accuracy of spacecraft flywheel systems. A self-sensing triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) offers a desirable route for on-orbit health monitoring and can potentially improve the intelligence level of spacecraft. Here, an extremely compact and lightweight TENG (CL-TENG) for the nonguided clearance of bearings is proposed and fabricated for the condition monitoring of a flywheel assembly. Using the bearing radial space allows the CL-TENG to perceive the revolution and whirling behavior of the cage; therefore, the output of the CL-TENG is simultaneously affected by the bearing speed and load. A test platform for capturing the kinematic of the cage is established to validate the effectiveness of the CL-TENG based on bearing skidding, cage rotation, and whirling instability. A negative exponential correlation between the output voltage and dynamic whirling clearance index is shown to be the basis of cage whirling sensing. The internal clearance and materials of the CL-TENG are optimized to enhance the output performance while preventing wear on the flexible electrodes. The application of the CL-TENG to an actual flywheel system in a simulated space environment and nonstationary operating conditions demonstrate its advantages in detecting the abnormal operating state of the cage.

Exploring the environmental factor fulvic acid attenuates the ecotoxicity of graphene oxide under food delivery exposure

There is limited understanding of nanoparticle potential ecotoxicity, particularly regarding the influence of environmental factors that can be transferred through the food chain. Here, we assessed the transfer behavior and the ecotoxicity of commercially manufactured graphene oxide nano-materials (GO, <100 nm) in a food chain perspective spanning from Escherichia coli (E. coli) to Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) under simulated environmental conditions. Our findings revealed that E. coli preyed upon GO, subsequently transferring it to C. elegans, with a discernible distribution of GO observed in the digestive system and reproductive system. Accumulated GO generated serious ecological consequences for the higher level of the food chain (C. elegans). More importantly, GO and the resulting injurious effects of germ cells could be transferred to the next generation, indicating that GO exposure could cause genetic damage across generations. Previous research has demonstrated that GO can induce degradation of both the inner and outer cell membranes of E. coli, which is then transmitted to C. elegans through the food chain. Additionally, fulvic acid (FA) possesses various functional groups that enable interaction with nanomaterials. Our findings indicated that these interactions could mitigate ecotoxicity caused by GO exposure via food delivery, and this approach could be extended to modify GO in a way that significantly reduced its toxic effects without compromising performance. These results highlighted how environmental factors could attenuate ecological risks associated with nanomaterial transmission through the food chain.

Biotoxicity attenuation and the underlying physicochemical mechanism of biochar aged under simulated natural environmental conditions

Biochar (BC), with the benefits of enhancing soil fertility, absorbing heavy metals, carbon sequestration, and mitigating the greenhouse effect, has been extensively used for soil remediation. However, the long-term changes in the biotoxicity of BC under complex environmental conditions, which are the key factors influencing the sustainable application of BC in soil, are still unclear. Herein, the biotoxicity of BC aged with various processes, including dry‒wet cycle (DW) aging, freeze‒thaw cycle (FT) aging, ultraviolet irradiation (UV) aging, and low molecular weight organic acid (OA) aging, was systematically investigated by Escherichia coli (E. coli) culture experiments. The toxicity attenuation rate (%·week−1) was proposed to more concisely and clearly compare the influence of different aging methods on BC toxicity. The results indicated that after 5 weeks of aging, the toxicity attenuation rate during the four aging modes followed the order OA aging > FT aging > UV aging > DW aging. BC was nontoxic after 1 week of OA aging, 4 weeks of FT aging, 7 weeks of UV aging, and 14 weeks of DW aging. Spectroscopic characterizations revealed that humic acids in the dissolved organic matter of BC were the main reason for the biotoxicity. In addition, the attenuation of environmentally persistent free radicals on BC during aging was also an important factor for reducing environmental toxicity. This work provides insight into the detoxification mechanism of the BC aging process under ordinary environmental conditions and guidance for the safe application of BC in soil.

Fe(III)-alginate and layered aluminum oxyhydroxide assisted hydro ceramsite composite for efficient removal of Se and as from high-concentration sulfate wastewater

In this work, hydro ceramsite (HC) was coated by layered aluminum oxyhydroxide (LAO) with the assistance of Iron(III)-alginate (IA) to obtain HC@LAO-IA. Iron(III)-alginate (IA) and layered aluminum oxyhydroxide (LAO) assist in the improvement of the adsorption capacity of hydro ceramsite (HC) for Se(IV), Se(VI), and As(V) via hydrogen bonding, electrostatic adsorption, and inner sphere complexation, respectively. HC@LAO-IA showed superior removal of Se(IV), Se(VI), and As(V) under simulated and actual environmental conditions in the presence of multiple competing anions (Cl−, NO3–, CO32–, PO43− and SO42−), particularly excelling in high-concentration sulfate wastewater, and also has a wide pH application range of 3–10. After four reuse cycles, HC@LAO-IA still exhibits satisfactory performance. Sand column experiments also demonstrated that HC@LAO-IA has excellent capabilities for the removal of Se(IV), Se(VI), and As(V) from real wastewater obtained from a metallurgical process plant. This work provides a promising, low-cost approach to remove Se and As from aqueous solutions and a new route for ceramsite recycling.

Biofilm formation and desiccation survival of Listeria monocytogenes with microbiota on mushroom processing surfaces and the effect of cleaning and disinfection

Microbial multispecies communities consisting of background microbiota and Listeria monocytogenes could be established on materials used in food processing environments. The presence, abundance and diversity of the strains within these microbial multispecies communities may be affected by mutual interactions and differences in resistance towards regular cleaning and disinfection (C&D) procedures. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the growth and diversity of a L. monocytogenes strain cocktail (n = 6) during biofilm formation on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and stainless steel (SS) without and with the presence of a diverse set of background microbiota (n = 18). L. monocytogenes and background microbiota strains were isolated from mushroom processing environments and experiments were conducted in simulated mushroom processing environmental conditions using mushroom extract as growth medium and ambient temperature (20 °C) as culturing temperature. The L. monocytogenes strains applied during monospecies biofilm incubation formed biofilms on both PVC and SS coupons, and four cycles of C&D treatment were applied with a chlorinated alkaline cleaning agent and a disinfection agent based on peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. After each C&D treatment, the coupons were re-incubated for two days during an incubation period for 8 days in total, and C&D resulted in effective removal of biofilms from SS (reduction of 4.5 log CFU/cm2 or less, resulting in counts below detection limit of 1.5 log CFU/cm2 after every C&D treatment), while C&D treatments on biofilms formed on PVC resulted in limited reductions (reductions between 1.2 and 2.4 log CFU/cm2, which equals a reduction of 93.7 % and 99.6 %, respectively). Incubation of the L. monocytogenes strains with the microbiota during multispecies biofilm incubation led to the establishment of L. monocytogenes in the biofilm after 48 h incubation with corresponding high L. monocytogenes strain diversity in the multispecies biofilm on SS and PVC. C&D treatments removed L. monocytogenes from multispecies biofilm communities on SS (reduction of 3.5 log CFU/cm2 or less, resulting in counts below detection limit of 1.5 log CFU/cm2 after every C&D treatment), with varying dominance of microbiota species during different C&D cycles. However, C&D treatments of multispecies biofilm on PVC resulted in lower reductions of L. monocytogenes (between 0.2 and 2.4 log CFU/cm2) compared to single species biofilm, and subsequent regrowth of L. monocytogenes and stable dominance of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas. In addition, planktonic cultures of L. monocytogenes were deposited and desiccated on dry surfaces without and with the presence of planktonic background microbiota cultures. The observed decline of desiccated cell counts over time was faster on SS compared to PVC. However, the application of C&D resulted in counts below the detection limit of 1.7 log CFU/coupon on both surfaces (reduction of 5.9 log CFU/coupon or less). This study shows that L. monocytogenes is able to form single and multispecies biofilms on PVC with high strain diversity following C&D treatments. This highlights the need to apply more stringent C&D regime treatments for especially PVC and similar surfaces to efficiently remove biofilm cells from food processing surfaces.

Experimental development and evaluation of a fiber bragg grating-based outside air temperature sensor for aircraft applications

This study presents the development and rigorous evaluation of a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG)-based Outside Air Temperature (OAT) sensor designed for aircraft applications. Employing a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach, the research optimized the sensor's performance for reliability, accuracy, and durability in aviation environments. Experimental assessment covered detailed installation of the FBG sensor on an aircraft, considering influential parameters such as outside dimensions and varying temperature. The OAT sensor's design focused on robustness and precision for accurate real-time temperature recording, vital for operational efficiency and safety. Extensive statistical analysis assessed the sensor's performance under differing conditions, providing valuable insights into operational capabilities and overall efficacy. Thermo-climatic chamber tests simulated extreme environmental conditions to validate the sensor's durability and function under potential aircraft operational scenarios. This research enhances understanding of FBG-based OAT sensors for aircraft applications, demonstrating their superior robustness and performance capabilities, thereby contributing to aviation safety, operational efficiency, and data precision.© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Encapsulation of thymol and menthol loaded N/S co-doped carbon dots derived from a mixture of herbal extracts as theranostic agents with anticancer properties

This research was conducted by synthesizing carbon dots MNE-CDs (mixed natural extract-carbon dots) based on mixed natural extract (ginger, garlic, turmeric) through the hydrothermal routh. Menthol and thymol were loaded as multi-therapeutic drugs with the addition of the bio-enhancer loaded on MNE-CDs with the hydrothermal method during a separate stage. These nanostructures were successfully encapsulated in chitosan by the nanospray drying method to enhance sustainability and release control. This study answered three of these issues by fabricating novel carbon dots for anticancer potential, release behavior and bioimaging at the same time. Preparation carbon dots are characterized using UV–vis, PL, FE-SEM, DLS, EDX, and FT-IR analysis. A moderate and sustained release profile of encapsulated carbon dots was noticed in comparison to the free carbon dots over 48 h of study in both simulated physicological environment (pH 7.4) and tumor tissue (pH 5.2) conditions. It was found that the release of bioactive substances from encapsulated samples was significantly attenuated. The cell viability assay showed all the samples, including free and encapsulated carbon dots, offered acceptable cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Despite this, the toxicity of free carbon dots is more than the encapsulated samples, and also the enhancement in anticancer potential was not observed for carbon dots loaded with menthol and thymol. Upon the obtained results, the synthesized fluorescence N/S co-doped carbon dots hold great anticancer potential and biological fluorescent labeling.