Soaking In Solution Research Articles

Methods of Modifying the Content of Glucosinolates and Their Derivatives in Sprouts and Microgreens During Their Cultivation and Postharvest Handling

Sprouts and microgreens which belong to the Brassicaceae family contain significantly more glucosinolates than mature vegetables, and their composition often differs too. These plant growth stages can be a valuable supplement of the aforementioned compounds in the diet. The content and proportion of individual glucosinolates in sprouts and microgreens can be regulated by modifying the length and temperature of cultivation, the type of light, the use of mineral compounds, elicitation, primming, and cold plasma as well as storage conditions. The way in which sprouts are prepared for consumption affects the yield of glucosinolate hydrolysis. Genetic variation leading to different plant responses to the same factors (e.g., type of light) makes it necessary to conduct detailed studies involving species and variety diversity. Heat stress and the use of cold plasma appear to be fairly universal methods for increasing glucosinolate content. Studies on the use of light at different wavelengths do not provide unequivocal results. Despite experiments on the use of seed soaking solutions (e.g., sulfur and selenium compounds), there are no studies in the available literature on the effects of chemical and thermal seed disinfection methods on the glucosinolate content of the obtained sprouts and microgreens.

Efficacy of CycloMesh™ + Ropivacaine in the treatment of uncomplicated inguinal hernia after the Lichtenstein procedure: Results of a prospective multicentric double-blind study

Twenty to 30% of patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery (20 million patients per year worldwide) present early postoperative pain. The aim of this study was to assess the interest of a mesh (CycloMesh™, Cousin Biotech) soaked with ropivacaine for managing early postoperative pain. This was a randomized, phase III, comparative superiority, double-blind, international multicenter study. From October 2019 to February 2022, 290 patients underwent surgery for uncomplicated inguinal hernia, under general anesthesia, using the Liechtenstein technique. Each patient was randomly assigned to either the experimental group (mesh soaked in ropivacaine hydrochloride 10mg/mL) or the control group (mesh soaked in physiological saline solution). The primary endpoint was the pain at cough assessment with the visual analogue scale (VAS) at H6 after the surgery. The secondary endpoints were the global pain assessment at H2, H4, H6, day 1, day 2, day 3, day 7, 1month, 1year, and 2years after the surgery, assessment of antalgic consumption, description of the surgical procedure and postoperative complications rate, hospitalization and post-hospital discharge data (number of conversions from outpatient to inpatient care), and recurrence. Of the 290 patients included in the study, 150 and 140 patients were in the experimental or control group respectively. The per-protocol (PP) population (240 patients) comprised 125 patients in the ropivacaine group and 115 in the control group. The mesh soaking solution had no significant effect on the pain at cough at H6, either in the intention-to-treat population (3.3 vs 3.2, P=0.12) or in the PP population (3.3 vs 3.7, P=0.15). The ropivacaine-soaked prosthesis resulted in a reduction in overall pain at H2 (2.3 vs 3.2, P<0.0001), H4 (2.3 vs 3.1, P<0.0001) and H6 (2.3 vs 2.7, P=0.0039). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of antalgic consumption, postoperative complications, or the number of ambulatory conversions. The placement of CycloMesh™ soaked with ropivacaine did not reduce the pain at cough at H6 but did reduce overall pain in the first 6hours after surgery and could simplify patient management.

Effect of Lime Solution Soaking on Physicochemical Characteristics of Catfish Bone Powder (Arius thalassinus)

Fish bone powder is one of the fisheries by product processing that has a high nutritional content, especially calcium and phosphorus content. In the processing of fish bone powder, the fishy odor is still detected due to organic compound such as protein and lipid which produce volatile compounds yielded unpleasant odor. The use of lime can eliminate fishy odors, improve color, shape, taste, texture, and extend shelf life. This study aimed to determine the difference of lime solution concentration on the physicochemical characteristics of catfish bone powder and to determine the best lime concentration used on the volatile compound content of catfish bone powder. The method carried out in this study was a laboratory experimental method and used a Complete Random Design (CRD) with 4 treatments (0%, 15%, 20%, 25%) and carried out in triplicate. Data analysis from physical and chemical tests were analyzed using ANOVA, while hedonic tests were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the Mann-Whitney test. The results showed that soaking lime solution had a significant effect (P&lt;5%) on moisture content, protein content, fat content, ash content, calcium content and color. Catfish bone powder with the best treatment of soaking in lime solution of 20% contained a calcium of 25.17%.The results of the hedonic test showed that the best treatment (20%) had a confidence interval of 3.95 &lt; μ &lt; 4.19 from 5 scale. The volatile compound of 4-[4-(dimethylamine) Benzaldehyde associated with fishy odor was detected in fish bone powder without lime solution, but it could not be detected in sample soaked in 20% lime solution showing the capability of lime solution to reduce fishy odor in fishbone powder.

PROCESS OF MAKING BANANA PEEL CHIPS (Musa paradisiaca Var Raja) USING DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF BETEL LIME SOLUTION

Chips are crispy snacks made from processed agricultural products and can be stored for a long time. The general criteria for chips are that they contain carbohydrates, have a dry appearance, make a sound when consumed, and are easily broken. The factors that encourage the formation of crispy chips include initial treatment in the form of soaking using materials such as lime solution. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of soaking banana peels with different concentrations of lime solution on the quality of banana peel chips. This study used the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) method with 5 treatments, namely A = 0%, B = 2%, C = 4%, D = 6% and E = 8% as many as 4 replications so that 20 experimental units were obtained. The results of the study showed that the treatment of soaking in lime solution with different concentrations, namely A = 0%, B = 2%, C = 4%, D = 6% and E = 8% had a significant effect on the value of water content, ash content and organoleptic color, but did not have a significant effect on the organoleptic taste, aroma and texture. The banana peel chips product with the lowest water content was found in the treatment with a concentration of 8% lime (7.59%) and the lowest ash content in the concentration of 2% lime (10.94%). The best acceptance based on consumer preferences was obtained in the treatment without soaking in the solution betel lime (0%) with color characteristics of 3.67, taste 3.72, aroma 3.80, and texture 3.77 at the level of acceptance of liking.

Assessment of mycotoxins in infant flour and their decontamination in raw material during production processes in Ouagadougou.

The infant flours produced in Burkina Faso are essentially a mixture of cereals and legumes. These raw materials are frequently contaminated with mycotoxins which pose a huge food safety and public health threat. The objective of this study was to determine mycotoxin levels in raw materials and infant flours in Ouagadougou and to investigate the impact of decontamination on the raw materials used in infant flour production. A total of 22 cereals and 17 legumes as raw materials and 26 infant flour samples were analysed for aflatoxins, fumonisin B1 (FB1), and ochratoxin A (OTA) by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, while saline treatment and hand-sorting of grains in mycotoxin reduction were tested. All the samples of raw materials and infant flours were contaminated with aflatoxins, whereas 20.5% and 38.5% of raw materials and 57.7% and 61.5% of infant flours, respectively, were contaminated by FB1 and OTA. These decontamination assays significantly reduced the levels of mycotoxins. AFB1 was reduced by 48% after soaking of maize for 6h in a 6% NaCl solution. Sorting resulted in a 92% reduction in AFB1 content in peanut. However, soaking in saline solution did not reduce the FB1 and OTA contents. Sorting did not also reduce FB1 contents in peanut. Sorting and soaking in 6% saline solution for 6h are production processes that lead to a reduction in the level of contamination by aflatoxins in maize and peanut used as raw materials for infant flour production.

Study on the Effect of Selenium‐rich Foliar Fertilizer on the Growth of Chinese Wolfberry Based on High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography‐Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

ABSTRACTA sensitive and straightforward method for determining various species of selenium (Se) in Chinese wolfberry and Se‐rich foliar fertilizers was established using high‐performance liquid chromatography—inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The application of this method proved effective in quantifying both organic and inorganic Se in 64 batches of Chinese wolfberry and their soaking solutions, along with five types of foliar fertilizer. This investigation revealed notable variations in the Se content among different batches of Chinese wolfberry, with selenomethionine (SeMet) emerging as the predominant form. Furthermore, the application of Se‐enriched foliar fertilizer led to the deposition of surface Se residues on the surface of Chinese wolfberry, primarily in the form of Se(VI) and Se(IV). This observation has implications for the proportion of organic Se in the plants (Chinese wolfberry), as organic Se, particularly SeMet, exhibits greater bioavailability and lower toxicity than its inorganic counterparts. Therefore, augmenting the organic Se content in the plant may confer greater benefits for the utilization of Chinese wolfberry in promoting human health.

Development of Highly Durable Anion Exchange Membrane and the Utility for Aemwe Cells

Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis is of great interest in terms of the environmental impact and the cost because it does not need precious metal-based catalysts and corrosion-resistant components. But, it is difficult to satisfy all the performance requirements for anion exchange membranes (AEMs). There are three major performance requirements for AEMs, high ion conductivity, high durability, and low cost and so on. Therefore, further development of AEMs is still needed.Yamaguchi et al. have been researched the polyfluorene-based AEMs with high alkaline durability [1,2]. We are working on the practical application of their AEMs technology, and have been improving quality by optimizing the synthesis process and examining the film forming method, and examining scale-up for cost reduction. In addition, we prepared the test stand to evaluate the water electrolysis performance of AEMs, and we expanded our water electrolysis evaluation technology by introducing spray coater for the catalyst layer optimizing that of formation process, and the water electrolysis evaluation system.Based on the report by Yamaguchi et al., we developed the AEM. The water electrolysis performance of the MEA using the AEM was below 1.75V at 1A/cm2 in 1M KOH solution at 80℃, which is equivalent to that of commercial AEMs. To compare the durability of AEMs, the water electrolysis performance was evaluated after soaking in 1M KOH solution at 80℃. Water electrolysis performance after durability test was better than that of commercial aromatic AEMs(Figure.1(a)). The performance of the AEM was slightly changed at 200 hours, but after that, there was almost no change in the performance at 2000 hours, and the increase in voltage was less than 3% compared to the initial performance(Figure.1(b)). On the other hand, the voltage of commercially available aromatic AEM increased by 140% at 1000 hours. We confirmed the high durability of the polyfluorene-based AEMs. For the future, we would like to show the superiority of the AEMs in the continuous data of the water electrolysis durability test in the cell.

Spatial Confinement Growth Enabling MoS2@Hollow Mesoporous Carbon Spheres Microspheres with Enhanced Microwave Absorption and Corrosion Resistance.

The complex electromagnetic applications in harsh corrosive environments urgently require research into multifunctional microwave absorption (MA) materials. The core-shell structure is an effective strategy to prepare multifunctional MA materials by efficiently combining the advantages of each component. Nevertheless, it remains a tough challenge to elucidate the effect of the binding positions of each component in MA materials on the comprehensive electromagnetic performance. Herein, two types of core-shell structured composites based on hollow mesoporous carbon spheres (HMCS), HMCS@MoS2 and MoS2@HMCS, were prepared via synergistic etch growth and spatial confinement growth strategies, respectively. Compared with HMCS, HMCS@MoS2 severely destroys the connection of HMCS, therefore resulting in impedance mismatching. Comparatively, the growth of MoS2 within the HMCS reduces the disruption of the HMCS connection, enabling MoS2@HMCS with enhanced dielectric loss while optimizing the impedance matching, and therefore, it yields an optimal reflection loss of -46.91 dB at 2 mm and an effective bandwidth of 5.78 GHz at 2.4 mm mixed with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). In addition, the combinations of the spatial confinement effect of HMCS, corrosion resistance of MoS2, and chemical stability of PDMS resulted in minimal changes in the MA performance of MoS2@HMCS/PDMS after soaking in acidic and alkaline solutions for 14 days, proving an excellent corrosion resistance property. This inspiring work proposes an effective spatial confinement growth strategy to optimize the impedance matching and further tailor the multifunction for dielectric loss dominated MA materials.

One-step soaking strategy toward mechanical double-network hydrogel

Double-network (DN) hydrogels, which comprise noncovalent interacting networks, are highly sought after due to their controlled compositions and environmental friendliness. However, the complex preparation methods hinder the application of these hydrogels. In this study, we present a simple and feasible approach for fabricating hybrid PAA-CS DN hydrogels by post-treating the PAA-CS composite hydrogels with CuSO4 solutions to induce the formation of physical networks through CS chain entanglement. The composite hydrogel, composed of chitosan (CS) and polyacrylic acid (PAA), readily transforms into a DN hydrogel after soaking in a CuSO4 solution, thanks to in situ formation of chain entanglements, hydrogen bonds, and ionic coordination. The resulting hybrid DN hydrogels exhibit porous networks, high tensile strength, and exceptional toughness. This facile but effective soaking method can be universally applied to fabricate mechanically robust hydrogels, modulate noncovalent interactions, and broaden their potential applications.

Synthesis of palygorskite based microspheres for efficient and recyclable simultaneous removal of radioactive iodine and iodide

The valence state of radioactive iodine is abundant and convertible. Therefore, it is crucial to synthesize a cost-effective, recyclable adsorbent that can effectively and simultaneously remove polyvalent radioactive iodine. Polymerized microsphere adsorbents (PMs) with pore size of 10 ∼ 20 μm and surface of palygorskite (PAL) were prepared by the Pickering emulsion template method using 2-(diethylamine)ethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) as functional monomer and affordable PAL as matrix material. Under the synergistic effect of chemical adsorption of tertiary amine group in PDEAEMA and physical adsorption, the optimized PM-2 exhibits excellent adsorption activities for gaseous iodine (2.98 g/g), iodine in n-hexane (1.39 g/g), and iodide (1.48 mmol/g). After heating and soaking in NaOH solution, the high adsorption capacity and almost unchanged morphology and crystal structure of PM-2 after 5 cycles indicate that PMs have outstanding physical and chemical stability and reusability. Importantly, PMs also show astonishing adsorption activity for the simultaneous removal of iodine and iodide. Moreover, the ultra-fast adsorption rate and ultra-high adsorption efficiency of PMs provide promising results for the removal of polyvalent radioactive iodine in environmental remediation.

The Impacts of Volcanic Activity on Microbial Growth-A Simulation Experiment in the Qiliao Section in Shizhu County, Chongqing, China.

The impact of volcanic activity on microorganisms has always been a hot topic of discussion during geological history. Further studies are needed on the effects of volcanic activity on microbial growth in shale and the differences in nutrients provided by volcanic ash and other weathered rocks. This study's results indicated that TOC contents at the bottom of the shale layer are 1.93-4.44% and 3.0% on average. The TOC contents at the top of the layer are 3.38-5.13% and 4.0% on average. It indicated that TOC contents at the bottom of the shale layer are smaller than the TOC contents at the top of the layer, suggesting that volcanic activity posed a long-term effect on biological growth. Seven different leachate concentrations were set in this experiment as follows: 1/10, 1/100, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/1500, 1/2000, and 1/2500. The results showed that the growth status of Pseudourostyla crassipes was affected by the addition of leachates with different concentrations compared to the control group. Additionally, the synthesis of chlorophyll a by Anabaena pseudoichthyoides was the most efficient with the 1/10 volcanic ash leachate. Through the analysis of major and trace elements in the solution before labeland after cultivation, the main elemental content of Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+ decreased by 3.8~87.24%, 75.96~92.70%, 86.56~95.67%, and 5.42~20.52% in the solution after microbial growth respectively. The trace elements B, Ba, Zn, and Fe decreased by 27.54~94.39%, 20~82.03%, 70.45~98.29%, and 99%. It was found that the B, Ba, Fe, and Zn elements decreased significantly. The nutrients from volcanic ash are the main factor promoting microbial growth. It can be indicated that the volcanic ash soaking solution has a higher content of nutrients when compared to the solubility of nutrients in volcanic ash compared to that of granite. A higher content of nutrients promotes microbial growth. The calculation results indicate that a volcanic eruption with a quantity of several 1010 m3 has a significant impact on microorganisms, lasting from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years.

Aflatoxin control strategies for traditional Korean doenjang: Fermentation process improvements and industrial application

Meju, a raw material used in fermented soybean paste, doenjang, is often contaminated with aflatoxins; thus, controlling aflatoxin contamination in meju and doenjang is crucial. A one-variable-at-a-time (OVAT) approach revealed an inhibitory effect on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus in cooked soybeans treated with soaking solutions containing NaCl (≥ 5 %) and vinegar (≥ 1 %). Additionally, a fermentation temperature (40 °C) negatively affected aflatoxin production. Based on OVAT and response surface methodology, three soaking solutions: I (0.1 % vinegar + 2.5 % salt), II (0.1 % vinegar + 3.75 % salt), and III (0.1 % vinegar + 5 % salt) were prepared and applied at the industrial level of meju production. Meju prepared from soybeans treated with these soaking solutions, coded Meju-I, Meju-II, and Meju-III, respectively, exhibited significant reductions (96.03–100 %) in aflatoxin production compared with control meju (Meju-C). Similar microbial counts and genus-level microbial diversity were observed in Meju-C and Meju-I, with Bacillus, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, and Aspergillus as the predominant microbial genera. Furthermore, sensory analysis of doenjang prepared from Meju-C and Meju-I yielded no significant differences, supporting the applicability of soaking solution I to regulate aflatoxin levels in meju and doenjang at industrial scale.

Environmental disposal of sulphide-rich and desulfurized tailings: Thickening, rheological, mechanical, and leaching performance

The surface disposal of sulphide-rich tailings (compared to ordinary tailings, it contains many sulphides) will cause environmental and groundwater pollution, and it is an eco-friendly method to prepare cemented paste backfill (CPB) from sulphide-rich tailings and backfill it into underground goafs. However, the thickening performance of sulphide-rich and desulfurized tailings is unclear, the sulphide-rich CPB strength cannot meet the standard. Therefore, a comprehensive study was conducted on its thickening performance through settling columns and dynamic thickening experiments, mechanics, and leaching tests were also conducted. The optimal flocculant conditions with different sulphide contents were obtained through settling column experiments. Meanwhile, it was found that turbidity and initial settling rate (ISR) were linearly related to tailings feeding concentration. Due to the higher specific gravity of sulphide-rich tailings, under different flocculation conditions, the higher the sulphide content, the higher the concentration, and there is a linear correlation between sulphide content and concentration. The results of dynamic thickening show that rake-shearing can improve the concentration and the shear yield stress, both of which increase rapidly at first and then slowly with the extension of shearing time. A logarithmic model of concentration based on shear yield stress was established. The unconfined compressive stress of the CPB prepared from tailings desulfurized to 20.7 wt%-S (S20.7) is much higher than that of 30.7 wt%-S sulphide content tailings (S30.7), which can meet the backfilling requirements. The concentration of metal ions in the soaking solution of S20.7 CPB is higher, and the environmental impact is small. Finally, it is recommended to choose S20.7 for backfilling. The study is significant for revealing the thickening and mechanical performance evolution of sulphide-rich tailings and environmental protection disposal.

Soaking Water Of Pineapple Peel (Ananas comocus L. Merr) Solution On Reducing Formaldehyde Levels In Salted Fish

ABSTRACT Formaldehyde in salted fish processing is used to extend the shelf life of salted fish, potentially causing harmful effects on health. Before processing, such as soaking using pineapple peels can be done to reduce formaldehyde levels so that it is not harmful to health. The purpose of the study was to determine the decrease in formaldehyde levels in salted fish before and after soaking using a pineapple peel solution. This research is a pre-experimental study with a group Pretest and Posttest Design. The object of research is salted fish soaked in pineapple peel solution concentrations of 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% with 4 replications. Soaking time is done for 60 minutes. The method of checking formaldehyde levels using the spectrophotometer method. The data that has been obtained is then analyzed using a paired t-test. The results of the examination of formaldehyde levels of salted fish before soaking amounted to 13.30 mg/kg. In contrast, after soaking the pineapple peel solution concentration of 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% respectively amounted to 6.58 mg/kg, 4.16 mg/kg, 0.15 mg/kg, and 0.11 mg/kg, and tap water of 8.14 mg/kg. The Paired t-test obtained the P &lt; α (0.05), meaning there is a significant difference in decline. The highest formaldehyde content reduction of 99.14% occurred in the treatment of soaking in pineapple peel solution with a concentration of 80% with a soaking time of 60 minutes. There is a significant difference between formaldehyde levels in salted fish before and after soaking using a pineapple peel solution. The use of pineapple peel solution can be an alternative effort in reducing formaldehyde levels in salted fish before processing for consumption and using other fruit peels with different concentration variations and different soaking times in salted fish.

Rigid polyurethane foam with durable hydrophobicity and flame retardancy endowed by novel functional surfactants

Traditional rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) with flame retardancy might be easily damaged in some moist condition due to its hydrophobicity, which would lead to unsafety. Therefore, novel surfactants with both hydrophobic fluorinated group and flame-retardant phosphorus group were synthesized. With lower surface tension and more hydrogen bonds formed in polyurethane, the mixed surfactants, which were used in the preparation of RPUF, have not only obviously improved the size uniformity and integrity of cells but also enhanced its hydrophobicity, compressive strength and thermal insulating performance. Besides, effective ‘protection’ could be constructed on the surface of RPUF by prepared surfactants, when ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and expandable graphite (EG) were introduced to provide good flame retardancy. As a result, with just 2.8 wt% content of those functional surfactants, hydrophobic and flame-retardant RPUF with water contact angle of 126 °, limiting oxygen index of 25 %, compressive strength of 1.3 MPa and thermal conductivity of 27 mW/mK, were finally obtained, which is ahead of other flame-retardant RPUF reported before. It’s worth noting that, this hydrophobic and flame-retardant RPUF exhibits more stable and durable properties when soaking in HCl solution (2 mol/L), NaOH solution (2 mol/L), NaCl saturated solution and various solvents (THF and EtOH), or under strong fiction for 100 times and high and low temperature cycling test for 20 times. This would provide a novel and effective strategy to endow RPUF with enhanced and durable flame retardancy, hydrophobicity, compressive strength and thermal insulating performance even under extreme conditions.

The mechanical and hydrochemical properties of cemented calcareous soil under long-term soaking

This study investigates the impact of long-term water immersion on the mechanical and hydrochemical properties of cemented calcareous soil, emphasizing the critical role of carbonate content in mechanical performance. Utilizing hydrochemical analysis and triaxial testing, the research revealed that prolonged immersion disrupts the acid-base balance of the solution, resulting in an increased concentration of ions and chemicals. Significant dissolution of carbonates and soluble minerals occurs, which reacts with carbon dioxide to generate bicarbonate ions, thereby elevating the alkalinity of the soaking solution. Additionally, the gradual dissolution of clay minerals compromises the cementitious structure, leading to particle reorientation and interlocking. The study quantitatively assesses the changes in soil properties, demonstrating a substantial reduction in soil cohesion by up to 86.1% and an increase in the internal friction angle by 37.5%. Furthermore, the gradual dissolution of clay minerals compromises the cementitious structure, resulting in particle reorientation and interlocking that contribute to the observed mechanical changes. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the effects of extended immersion on the stability and engineering applicability of cemented calcareous soils.

Hydrothermal synthesis of bioactive calcium silicate glass

This work presents the synthesis of bioactive glass 60SiO2-40CaO (wt.%) by the hydrothermal method without using acid catalysts in shortened synthesis time. The precursors Si(OC2H5)4 (TEOS), Ca(NO3)2.4H2O were introduced in a hydrothermal system, and heated at 150 oC for 24 hours. The resulting gel was dried at 150 oC for 24 hours, then calcined at 800 oC for 3 hours to achieve bioactive glass. Several physical-chemical methods such as TG-DSC, XRD, SEM, and ICP-OES were used to evaluate the synthetic material. The bioactivity and biocompatibility of synthetic glass were evaluated by in vitro experiments in SBF solution and in cell culture environment. The obtained results show that the synthetic glass is an amorphous material, presenting the bioactivity through the formation of a hydroxyapatite mineral layer after 10 days of soaking in SBF solution, and also showing good biocompatibility with cells L-929. Keywords: Bioactive glass, bioactivity, artificial bone, hydroxyapatite, cell viability

Effect of treatment types of recycled concrete aggregates on the properties of concrete

Reusing waste materials such as construction and demolition waste is an environmentally significant task. This article aims to improve the quality of recycled aggregates after the demolition of concrete structures. Two methods, mechanical cleaning and impregnation, were explored to enhance the quality of coarse aggregates. The findings indicate that mechanical cleaning is more effective than soaking in a sodium silicate solution. The compressive strength of concrete made with mechanically cleaned recycled aggregates was 2.3 times greater than that of concrete made with untreated rubble. Concrete with impregnated rubble had a compressive strength 1.1 times greater than that of concrete with untreated aggregates. Infrared spectroscopy was used to study the microstructure, revealing that the type of treatment does not influence the quantity of portlandite and ettringite in hydrated cement. However, the treatment of recycled aggregates alters the interaction in the gel portion of cement hydration products. Concrete with aggregates treated by sodium silicate has more aluminate components. Additionally, there is a shift of the bands assigned to Si-O stretching to higher wave numbers (from 995 cm–1 to 1088 cm–1), which can be attributed to the formation of calcium-silicate-hydrate gel with a lower calcium/silicon ratio.

Graphene coated optical microfiber for aflatoxin B1 detection

We proposed a graphene coated microfiber-based sensor for enhancing Aflatoxin B1 detection at room temperature. The heat-and-pull technique was used to fabricate the microfiber while the graphene layer was coated using a drop-casting technique. Aflatoxin samples are used as a sensor sensing area soaking solution, whereby the prepared graphene-coated microfiber was used as a sensor probe. The sensing is based on the modulation of transmission intensity and wavelength shift induced by the alteration of concentration of aflatoxin B1 from 0 ppm to 10 ppm. There is an increase in sensitivity from 0.129 dBm/ppm to 0.187 dBm/ppm and an increase in resolution from 0.17 ppm to 0.037 ppm by coating graphene on the microfiber sensor. For the graphene coated microfiber-based sensor, the wavelength shift from 1525.37 nm to 1525.19 nm was obtained when the aflatoxin B1 concentration was increased from 0 to 10 ppm. It reveals a sensitivity of 0.018 nm/ppm with a linearity of more than 90 %. This finding shows that the proposed sensor can be used to detect various concentration of Aflatoxin sample with the ability to offer real time measurement.

The in vitro elution characteristics of vancomycin from the ligament augmentation and reconstruction system

AbstractPurposeIn this study, we aimed to characterize the elution profile of the ligament augmentation and reconstruction system (LARS) immersed in different concentrations of vancomycin using different immersion methods and determine whether the amount of vancomycin released was lower than the toxic concentrations for osteoblasts and chondroblasts.MethodsThe LARS was presoaked with 5, 2.5 or 1.25 mg/mL vancomycin solutions or wrapped in presoaked sterile gauze. After 10 min, the rinsed and unrinsed LARS samples were eluted in 100 mL agitated 37°C phosphate‐buffered saline. An ultraviolet spectrophotometer was used to analyze 1 mL samples taken after 10 min and 0.5, 1, 6, 12, 24h.ResultsInitially, no hysteresis was observed with vancomycin release into the solution at the tested conditions. The LARS elution profiles for different concentrations of the vancomycin solutions varied significantly. The amount of vancomycin released after 24 h was 9.10 ± 1.21, 5.29 ± 0.63 and 2.28 ± 0.59 mg for the 5, 2.5 and 1.25 mg/mL solutions, respectively. The amount of vancomycin released in the soaked group was significantly higher than in the rinsed and wrapped groups. The released amounts of vancomycin were below the toxic concentrations for osteoblasts and chondrocytes.ConclusionSoaked LARS can act as a reservoir for vancomycin, with the amount released and the elution profile dependent on rinsing, soaking solution concentration and soaking method. The eluted concentrations of vancomycin were lower than those previously reported for osteoblast and chondrocyte toxicity and higher than the minimal inhibitory concentrations for Staphylococci.Level of EvidenceN/A.