Specific Temperature Research Articles

Prediction of wellbore gas hydrate generation based on temperature-pressure coupling model in deepwater testing

With the advancement of oil and gas exploration and development technology, the development of the world's oil and gas resources is gradually advancing from land and shallow waters to deep waters. During the development of gas wells in deepwater regions, the temperature of the wellbore decreases from the bottom of the well to the wellhead, and therefore, common well conditions of high pressure, low temperature, and the presence of free water are encountered, which can lead to gas hydrate plugging of the pipeline and affect the transportation of natural gas. Simulation of temperature and pressure along the wellbore and identification of gas hydrate-generating zones in the wellbore can be used to take timely preventive measures and minimize losses. In this study, a wellbore gas hydrate generation and prediction model is developed by combining the mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations, and the model is solved by the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method, taking into account the temperature-pressure coupling in the wellbore. The effects of gas production, specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, tubing size, test duration, and ground temperature gradient on the location of gas hydrate generation and the amount of inhibitor used were analyzed in a case study well in the South China Sea. Some suggestions for practical engineering operations, such as increasing the gas production in moderation and choosing smaller tubing sizes within the acceptable range, were given. The study's results can provide a theoretical basis for flow assurance for hydrocarbon production in the wellbore of deepwater gas wells.

Tunable bandgaps in an elastic meta-plate with shape memory alloy springs

In this paper, a tunable metamaterial based on shape memory alloy springs is designed, which can achieve bandgap tuning by spring's unique shape memory effect. The variation mechanism of shear modulus and geometrical parameters of shape memory alloy springs is investigated by considering a detailed phase transition mechanism. For any specific temperatures, the energy band structure and frequency response spectrum of the metamaterial are calculated by numerical simulation. And the theoretical prediction models of bandgap boundary frequency and tuning range at different temperatures are established. The experimental test of vibration transmission of metamaterial is finally presented. The results show that (1) By varying the spring's shear modulus and height, the metamaterial exhibits excellent vibration isolation characteristics and bandgap tuning in low-frequency range of 124–226Hz. (2) The bandgap boundaries and tuning ranges can be predicted by the theoretical prediction model, which shows good agreement with both the simulation results and the experimental data. (3) By artificially designing shape memory alloy springs with larger shear modulus and wire radius, smaller helix radius and number of turns, the bandgap moves to higher frequencies. The current work can provide a reference for further engineering applications with the tunable elastic/acoustic metamaterials.

Enhancing the Purification and Stability of Superoxide Dismutase by Fusion with Thermoresponsive Self‐Assembly of Elastin Like Polypeptide

AbstractElastin‐like polypeptide (ELP) is a thermo‐sensitive biosynthetic polymer composed of a Val‐Pro‐Gly‐Xaa‐Gly repeating unit possessing a sharp reversible phase transition property at specific temperatures. Here, ELP was fused to human superoxide dismutase 1 (hSOD1) modified with His tag to produce recombinant hSOD1‐Linker‐ELP‐His (hSODLEH) which was expressed in E. coli and purified via inverse thermal cycling (ITC) and Ni‐NTA resin. The results showed that ELP tag did not affect the soluble expression of SOD1. The purification by ITC was superior to Ni‐NTA resin due to its convenient purification process, improved recovery rate and purification fold, thus indicating industrial suitability for large scale protein purification in a cost‐ and time‐efficient manner. Moreover, one round of ITC was sufficient for the recovery of highly purified recombinant SOD. The results further showed that ELP improved the stability of the SOD, and did not affect its secondary structure nor its ability to bind divalent metal ions. Overall, ELP‐protein fusion system could be a promising tool for large scale enzyme purification.

Hydrothermal synthesis and morphological evolution of hexagonal ceria microrod structures

CeriaBTC (CeO2-1,3,5-Benzenetricarboxylic acid) microstructures have been synthesized through hydrothermal methods. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) micrographs and X-ray diffraction (XRD) data reveal that the microstructure exhibit hexagonal rod-like structures with average diameters 1.9 ± 0.17 µm and length 5.7 ± 0.19 µm, synthesized at 130 °C for 72 h. Elevating the reaction temperature or duration leads to gradual morphological evolution in micromaterial shape and size (aspect ratio), stabilizing at 3.51. This signifies an ongoing chemical transformation driving morphological alteration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) reveals the presence of an organic linker in the CeriaBTC microrods. Results from XRD, FE-SEM, FT-IR, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) suggest a chemical transformation from hexagonal type CeriaBTC to Ceria microrods at higher calcination temperatures of 400 °C for 4 h. The development of hierarchical morphologies, transitioning from hexagonal CeriaBTC rods to Ceria microstructure powder, has been observed to rely on both the orientation of the organic precursor (1,3,5-Benzenetricarboxylic acid) and the specific calcination temperature applied.

Achieving Super-Metallophobicity on Silicon-based Ceramics at High Temperature.

As a critical concept in physical chemistry, superwettability is widely concerned in both fundamental science and practical engineering in past few decades. Despite this, investigation on high temperature superwettability is still a void, which is significant both in scientific and industrial fields. Herein, a ceramic with specific high temperature non-wetting property, Si2N2O is proposed. Compared with other materials, Si2N2O is elucidated with better practical non-wetting property against various non-ferrous metals. Combining with micro-nanostructures, the metallophobicity is further improved (contact angle >150° and contact angle hysteresis ≈0°). The extraordinary metal repellency is defined as "super-metallophobicity", which is proved to be induced by distinctive thermodynamic and dynamic wetting behavior on the rough surface. The research of super-metallophobicity not only sheds light on superwettability at high temperature, but also offers worthy insights for future potential material design in a wide range of applications, such as metallurgy, 3D printing and semiconductor industry.

A novel mathematical model for modeling viscosity and temperature relationship for dead oils

Viscosity is crucial in subsurface and surface transport, used in engineering domains like heat transfer and pipeline design. However, measurements are limited, necessitating predictive viscosity relationships. Existing models lack precision or pertain to limited fluids, and accurately forecasting dead oil viscosity remains challenging due to errors. The study presents a mathematical algorithm to accurately estimate viscosity values in hydrocarbon fluids. It uses a robust non-linear regression technique to establish a reliable relationship between fluid viscosity and temperature within a specific temperature range. The algorithm is applied to extra-heavy to light crude oil samples from Iranian oilfields, revealing viscosity values ranging from 0.29 cp to 5328.74 cp within a dataset of 243 viscosity data points. After modeling each of these five fluids, the highest values obtained for the maximum absolute error and relative error are related to the fluid with an API gravity of 12.92. The maximum absolute error and relative error for this fluid sample are 1.25 cp and 6.04%, respectively. The algorithm offers acceptable precision in outcome models, even with limited training data, demonstrating its effectiveness in training models with less than 30% of available data. Moreover, these models end up with a near-unity coefficient of determination in testing data, reaffirming their proficiency at reflecting empirical data with remarkable accuracy.

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PROTEASE FROM WISTERIA SINENSIS AND CHLORIS BARBATA

Enzymes, as biocatalysts, have extensive industrial applications. Protease enzymes, in particular, are widely used in industries such as leather, detergents, food, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics. Alkaline proteases, which require a neutral to alkaline pH for activity, are notably sourced from plants. Objective: This study aimed to isolate and partially purify protease enzymes from the leaves of Wisteria sinensis and Chloris barbata, and to characterize their enzymatic properties, particularly their caseinolytic activity in alkaline conditions. Methods: Proteases were isolated and partially purified from the leaves of Wisteria sinensis and Chloris barbata. Enzyme kinetics were assessed to determine the optimal caseinolytic activity of the proteases. The study focused on evaluating the enzymes' stability at specific pH levels and temperatures. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the enzymatic activities and to validate the findings. Results: The isolated proteases from both Wisteria sinensis and Chloris barbata demonstrated optimal caseinolytic activity in alkaline pH. The enzymes exhibited significant stability across specific pH levels and temperatures, confirming their alkaline nature. These findings highlight the potential industrial applications of these proteases. Conclusion: The study provides valuable insights into the isolation and characterization of proteases from Wisteria sinensis and Chloris barbata. The identified alkaline proteases show promise as industrial biocatalysts due to their stability and significant protease activity. Further research is warranted to purify these enzymes fully and explore their specific industrial applications, emphasizing the biotechnological potential of diverse plant sources.

Comparison of environmental impacts from pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion of oily sludge

Thermochemical treatment of oily sludge (OS) has been demonstrated to be an effective approach for resource and energy recovery. However, the migration and emission of potential pollutants have limited its further development. In this study, the environmental impacts, including aromatic compounds in liquid products, N-, S-, and Cl-containing pollutants in gaseous products, and residual organic matter and heavy metals in solid residues, during the pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion processes of OS are comparatively investigated. The results indicate that the aromatics in the liquid products obtained from pyrolysis and gasification are primarily hydrocarbons with 10, 14, and 16 carbon atoms, and the corresponding degree of unsaturation is between 7 and 16. By contrast, the aromatics produced during combustion are mainly hydrocarbons with 10–12 carbon atoms and an unsaturation degree of 7. The liquid products from gasification of OS contain aromatics with more carbon atoms and a higher degree of unsaturation, suggesting potential issues of recalcitrant aromatics and tar by-products during the gasification process. The release behaviors of N-, S-, and Cl-containing pollutants during the thermochemical treatment of OS are closely related to the specific thermochemical technology and treatment temperature. At 550 °C, these pollutants are gradually released from the OS. By contrast, at 950 °C, they are released over a narrow temperature range with significantly higher concentrations. Furthermore, compared with the peak concentrations of SO2 and HCl during thermochemical processing at 550 °C, these values increase by 1–2 orders of magnitude at 950 °C. With the increase in treatment temperature, the loss on ignition (LOI) of residues from pyrolysis or gasification of OS gradually decreases and stabilizes around 0.5 %. On the other hand, the LOI from combustion fluctuates around 1.0 %. In addition, the removal rates of total organic carbon in the residues from all three thermochemical processes exceed 98.89 %. However, the potential ecological risks associated with heavy metals in the residues from thermochemical treatment of OS also increase to some extent. Cr, Cu, and Zn are found to evaporate and escape into liquid and gaseous products, while Pb is retained in the residues. Notably, the residue from combustion poses the highest environmental risks among the three processes.

Application of ferromagnetic materials for technological processes thermal regime stabilization (Review)

The research focuses on the technological and auxiliary equipment used in various industries that require maintaining a specific narrow temperature range. The study aims to critically analyze the potential use of structural elements made of ferromagnetic materials with a second-kind phase transition temperature (Curie temperature or Curie point) in high-performance, knowledge-intensive industries, particularly the chemical industry. These materials correspond to the required temperature of the processed or transported liquid or loose medium. The technological processes using the magnetothermal effect and the corresponding designs of equipment are considered: heat exchange, heat and mass exchange, mechanical and hydromechanical, equipment for processing thermoplastics, as well as other devices used in various branches of industry, in particular chemical, food and microbiological, in thermal energy, metallurgy, agriculture, medicine and construction. It is shown that the specified method of ensuring the required thermal regime is suitable for use primarily in large-tonnage continuous production. As the conducted studies have shown, the proposed approach to stabilizing the heat flow of various technological and auxiliary equipment is effective and quite promising. The indisputable advantage of the corresponding method is to ensure a certain temperature of the working parts of the equipment with high accuracy, however, this method is quite difficult to implement on the existing equipment, which is mostly made of magnetic materials (steel, cast iron). Therefore, to implement the proposed method in practice, it is necessary to develop new equipment designs or to subject existing samples to deep modernization. At the same time, there may be difficulties associated with the search for existing or the creation of new ferromagnetic materials with the required thermomagnetic properties for the manufacture of appropriate structural elements of technological and auxiliary equipment. However, in certain cases, the proposed method of maintaining the specified temperature of the processed media may become the most appropriate (primarily in fine chemical technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, precision instrument manufacturing, microelectronics, and medicine).

Elastocaloric effect of NiTi shape memory alloys manufactured by laser powder bed fusion

To address the challenges posed by the complex processing of NiTi alloys, the additive manufacturing technology has been employed for the preparation of NiTi alloys samples. Up to now, there is limited research on the elastocaloric effects of NiTi alloys manufactured by LPBF. This study focused on the utilization of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) to fabricate NiTi samples, with a particular emphasis on the influence of laser power, scanning speed and hatch spacing on the microstructure and properties of NiTi alloys. The results indicated that the process parameters affect the stress hysteresis of superelasticity by influencing the Ni content in the NiTi alloys. The higher Ni content, the lower the stress hysteresis. In addition, the critical stress for plastic deformation of the texture in the <001> direction in NiTi alloys is the smallest. When only the P was changed, the proportion of the texture in the <001> direction in the sample increased with the increase of P, the proportion of plastic deformation increased, and the degree of recovery also gradually decreased. Furthermore, at a specific temperature, 10 K higher than the end temperature of austenite transformation, each sample exhibited good superelasticity. In particular, the 1st cooling capacity of the sample with the best elastocaloric effect reached 11.0 K, which was superior to other results obtained by LPBF under similar compressive strain levels.

Quantum physisorption behavior of methane in nanoporous shales: Model and new mechanism

Methane adsorption in nanoporous shales plays a significant role in the storage and flow of shale gas. Although previously numerous theoretical models have been proposed to describe the gas adsorption behavior, how the potential energy distribution in nanopores impacts gas adsorption remains unclear. The mechanism of methane adsorption in extremely complicated nanopores is still no satisfactory explanation. In this study, a total of 28 shale samples located in the Paleozoic-Mesozoic strata from different sedimentary environments were utilized to investigate the nature and process of quantum physisorption of methane in nanoporous shales. It was suggested that methane confined within nanoscale space shows a quantum effect, and the physisorption behavior of methane may be the result of molecular energy level transition. Further, the quantum physisorption model was developed by considering the quantum potential energy distribution, maximum adsorption amount, gas temperature and gas pressure, which matches the isothermal adsorption data well for a various of shales under widely varied temperature and gas pressure condition. The adsorption amounts of methane with different energy levels can also be obtained by the model. Finally, a new mechanism of the methane quantum physisorption in nanoporous shales was proposed. Uneven spatial distribution of gas molecules and elementary space of gas adsorption are the intrinsic factors of controlling the quantum physisorption behavior. The former is mainly influenced by minimum potential unit (E0) and gas temperature, while the latter is represented by the parameter of maximum adsorption amount (nL) which impacted by specific surface area and gas temperature. Gas pressure only affects the molecule concentration with different energy levels, but does not affect the spatial distribution of molecule. E0 and nL vary in shales from different sedimentary environments, due to the difference in organic matter properties (TOC content and kerogen type), which indirectly impacts the methane physisorption behavior. These results are helpful to deeply understand the storage of methane in shales and improve the efficient development of shale gas. In addition, this study is expected to open a new research direction about the quantum physisorption of gas in nanoporous media.

Enhanced solar desalination with photothermal hydrophobic carbon nanotube-infused PVDF membranes in air-gap membrane distillation

This work aims to increase the efficiency of the solar powered-air gap membrane distillation (SP-AGMD) process; a desalination method driven by solar energy, providing an eco-friendly and sustainable approach to addressing global water shortages. The innovation lies in integrating photothermal hydrophobic multiwalled carbon nanotubes (h-MWCNTs), in varying weight percentages from 5 % to 60 %, into polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes using the phase inversion membrane fabrication technique. The h-MWCNTs were synthesized through oxidation and functionalization with oleylamine (OL) to improve their photothermal properties. Their successful integration was confirmed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. The h-MWCNTs-based SP-AGMD membranes were further evaluated for wettability, liquid entry pressure (LEP), surface temperature, and solar absorbance, demonstrating significant solar light absorption and localized surface heating. This generated the necessary driving force for the AGMD process. Performance metrics such as vapor flux, salt rejection, specific thermal energy consumption, photothermal efficiency, and temperature polarization (TP) coefficient were significantly improved, especially with a 20 % h-MWCNTs addition, which tripled the solar-energy-driven flux and increased photothermal efficiency by 326 % under standard solar conditions, compared to unmodified membranes. All h-MWCNTs-based SP-AGMD membranes achieved over 99 % salt rejection. Lastly, the membranes were tested with real seawater to confirm their applicability for desalination. This photothermal approach offers a scalable, sustainable solution for water purification, making a significant advancement in membrane distillation technology.

Long-term operational characteristics of subway source heat pump system under various tunnel internal heat source intensities

In recent years, subway systems have effectively alleviated urban traffic congestions. However, thermal pollution of underground spaces is a prevailing problem, which poses a serious threat to the safe and efficient operation of subways. The subway source heat pump system (SSHPS), equipped with a front-end tunnel lining heat exchanger, is an effective solution to tackle the aforementioned problem. However, the design methodology and operational strategy of the system is not yet established, which necessitates an analysis of its long-term operational characteristics. In this study, an SSHPS simulation model was developed using the TRNSYS simulation tool based on a demonstration project and the model was subsequently validated against measured data. The validated model was used to evaluate the long-term performance and operational characteristics of the subway system under various internal heat source intensities ranging from 0 W/m to 240 W/m. The simulation results showed that the tunnel air temperature steadily increased as the internal heat source intensity increased. When the internal heat source was 0 W/m, the average annual decrease in tunnel air temperature was 0.11 °C. However, the average annual tunnel air temperature did not fall below the minimum subway design specification temperature of 5 °C at any point in time. When the internal heat source was 120, 180, and 240 W/m, the tunnel air temperature exceeded the maximum temperature of 40 °C stipulated in subway design guidelines on multiple occasions. As the internal heat source intensity increased, the performance of both the heat pump unit and SSHPS progressively decreased during the cooling season and gradually increased during the heating season. The runtime of the heat pump unit gradually decreased from 92.72 % to 77.57 % during the cooling season, whereas it increased from 46.92 % to 89.41 % during the heating season. The heat pump unit exhibited an average energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 5.07, 4.95, 4.87, 4.80 and 4.76 whereas the SSHPS demonstrated an average EER of 3.04, 3.01, 3.00, 2.99 and 2.98. Throughout its operational years, the SSHPS consistently maintained stable and cyclically high performance. However, the system did not fully meet the specified cooling and heating loads under all operational conditions, indicating that there was a source–load mismatch issue within the system. Hence, it is recommended to incorporate auxiliary cold and heat sources, thereby establishing a composite heating and cooling system based on subway source heat pump technology, with the aim of enhancing the reliability of energy supply for the system. This study can serve as a valuable reference for formulating high-efficiency and energy-saving operational strategies for SSHPSs.

Cr–Sc co-substituted nickel-cobalt nanospinel ferrites: An investigation of their structural, magnetic properties and hyperfine interactions

The chromium and scandium co-substituted nickel-cobalt nanospinel ferrites (NSFs) having general formula of Co0.5Ni0.5ScxCrxFe2-2xO4 (CoNiScCr) (x ≤ 0.10) have been fabricated through the sol-gel route and citric acid as fuel and characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and finally by scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques (SEM and TEM, respectively). The crystallite size (Dmax) values of the products were estimated to lay between 31 and 46 nm, which was calculated by the Scherrer formula. It was observed that the doping ions’ concentration did not have a linear impact on the expansion of the lattice constant. SEM and TEM present the cubic shape of CoNiScCr NSFs. All ratios demonstrate highly agglomerated cubic particles with diverse sizes. Both XRD and EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) analyses confirmed the absence of any impurity/phases. Through an analysis of hysteresis loops at 300 (RT = room temperature) and 20 K, along with a probe of temperature-induced alteration in magnetization M, the magnetic properties of CoNiScCr (x ≤ 0.10) NSFs have been thoroughly investigated. Notably, all products exhibited complementary soft and hard magnetic behaviors at RT and 20 K, respectively. At 20 K, the observation of squareness ratio values surpassing 0.5 exhibits a single-domain behavior at this specific temperature. Magnetic parameters, in general, exhibit fluctuations with increasing doping content. Across the entire range of materials studied, a notable trend emerges as the temperature decreases, the magnetization in the zero field cooling curves shows a non-linear decrease, eventually stabilizing in the field cooling branches. The findings suggest that the inclusion of Sc3+/Cr3+ dopants can be utilized to manipulate and achieve desired magnetic properties in Co–Ni ferrites. The spectra of Mössbauer analysis, which was utilized to establish the distribution of cations, presented four magnetic sextets for all samples. Doped ions are substituted with Fe3+ ions at the B site.

Thermal management analysis with different PCMs in Sodium-Ion batteries

The advent of modern technology has led to a significant increase in the utilisation of rechargeable secondary batteries. Despite the sustainability of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, the limited availability of lithium has driven research into alternative energy storage technologies. Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries, as a potential alternative to Li-ion batteries, have emerged as a highly promising contender. However, for these batteries to become industrially viable, certain properties such as energy and power density need to be enhanced. To address this issue, batteries have been a focus of research, and battery thermal management systems have been developed. These systems aim to evaluate battery performance, which is strongly influenced by temperature. Effective thermal management ensures that the battery operates within the optimal temperature range. This study models a pouch-type battery and evaluates the effects of phase changing materials (PCM) on battery temperature control. Comparative analysis is conducted using different PCMs to understand their impact. The study analyses the battery's response to specific temperature ranges and assesses how different PCMs affect battery cooling performance. The results provide critical insights for ensuring efficient battery operation. Furthermore, this research supports the broader adoption of Na-ion batteries in industrial applications and contributes to the development of sustainable energy storage systems.

PLC Controlled Fuzzy Logic-Based Egg Hatching Machine

In response to the increasing food demand due to the growing global population, this study has designed a fully automated incubator machine based on a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) to enhance efficiency in the egg production sector. To align with Industry 4.0 technologies, this machine controls temperature and humidity using fuzzy logic, one of the artificial intelligence methods. The incubator is capable of meeting the specific temperature and humidity needs for the incubation processes of various types of bird eggs. It has been tested under different conditions, and its performance has been examined in detail. The analysis results show that the fuzzy logic-based temperature and humidity control systems on the PLC successfully reached the set reference values and maintained them continuously and stably after initial fluctuations. In conclusion, the design and control of an automated incubation machine with a PLC-based fuzzy logic controller were successfully accomplished.

Environmental Drivers of Palsa and Peat Plateau Occurrences: A Regional Comparison Across the Northern Hemisphere

ABSTRACTPalsas and peat plateaus occur in various environmental conditions, but their driving environmental factors have not been examined across the Northern Hemisphere with harmonized datasets. Such comparisons can deepen our understanding of these landforms and their response to climate change. We conducted a comparative study between four regions: Hudson Bay, Iceland, Northern Fennoscandia, and Western Siberia by integrating landform observations and geospatial data into a MaxEnt model. Climate and hydrological conditions were identified as primary, yet regionally divergent, factors affecting palsa and peat plateau occurrence. Suitable conditions for these landforms entail specific temperature ranges (500–1500 thawing degree days, 500–4000 freezing degree days), around 300 mm of rainfall, and high soil moisture accumulation potential. Iceland's conditions, in particular, differ due to higher precipitation, a narrower temperature range, and the significance of soil organic carbon content. The annual thermal balance is a critical factor in understanding the occurrence of permafrost peatlands and should be considered when comparing different regions. We conclude that palsas and peat plateaus share similar topographic conditions but occupy varying soil conditions and climatic niches across the Northern Hemisphere. These findings have implications for understanding the climatic sensitivity of permafrost peatlands and identifying potential greenhouse gas emitters.

Magnetic Induction Heating in a Conducting Polymer for Biomedical Applications.

In this study, we investigate the magnetic induction heating induced in a conducting polymer (CP) under alternative magnetic fields (AMFs). Experimental results and numerical simulations have proved that the magneto-thermal conversion of the CP is caused by the induced eddy current, which is related to the shape and intensity of the applied external AMF, and the intrinsic electrical conductivity, macrostructure and microstructure of the CP. By employing various fabrication methods, specific temperature distribution and control of thermal field within conducting polymer films and aerogels could be achieved. To exploit the potential of magnetic induction heating in CP for biomedical applications, we designed a conducting polymer aerogel-based self-adaptive heat patch and demonstrated its AMF-enabled localized heating of skin. In addition to the thermal ablation of tumor cells via magneto-thermal conversion of the CP, the promotion of neuronal differentiation at mild temperature by noninvasive magneto-electrical stimulation has also been demonstrated to be an effective strategy for tissue engineering.

Qualitative Comparison of Hydrogen Peroxide Decontamination Systems: Vapor vs. Aerosol

This study aimed to compare the efficiency of two methods for airborne surface decontamination: hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) and aerosolized hydrogen peroxide (aHP). Spores of G. stearothermophilus and B. atrophaeus were exposed to a 35% hydrogen peroxide solution under controlled laboratory conditions, including specific concentrations, exposure durations, humidity levels, and temperatures. Following each decontamination procedure, the spores were incubated for 7 days to evaluate bacterial growth and assess the efficacy of each method. The results indicate that the aHP method achieved biocidal rates of 84.76% for G. stearothermophilus and 89.52% for B. atrophaeus, while the HPV method demonstrated respective rates of 90.95% and 90.48%. These findings suggest that both the aHP and HPV methods are highly effective for microbial decontamination, with HPV showing a slight edge in overall efficacy. However, despite its comparable effectiveness, the HPV method has raised concerns regarding technical and economic factors. Observations highlighted issues such as fluctuations in humidity levels causing surface damage, a problem not encountered with the aHP method. Economically, HPV requires specific devices that can cost up to EUR 50,000, whereas aHP equipment costs do not exceed EUR 10,000. These observations emphasize the importance of critically evaluating the pros and cons of each decontamination method, taking into account factors such as biocidal efficacy, technical feasibility, and the associated costs.

Interactions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Isolated from Light-Flavor Jiupei at Various Fermentation Temperatures.

Chinese Baijiu is a famous fermented alcoholic beverage in China. Interactions between key microorganisms, i.e., Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, have recently been reported at specific temperatures. However, empirical evidence of their interactions at various temperatures during fermentation is lacking. The results of this study demonstrated that S. cerevisiae significantly suppressed the viability and lactic acid yield of L. plantarum when they were cocultured above 15 °C. On the other hand, L. plantarum had no pronounced effect on the growth and ethanol yield of S. cerevisiae in coculture systems. S. cerevisiae was the main reducing sugar consumer. Inhibition of lactic acid production was also observed when elevated cell density of L. plantarum was introduced into the coculture system. A proteomic analysis indicated that the enzymes involved in glycolysis, lactate dehydrogenase, and proteins related to phosphoribosyl diphosphate, ribosome, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis in L. plantarum were less abundant in the coculture system. Collectively, our data demonstrated the antagonistic effect of S. cerevisiae on L. plantarum and provided insights for effective process management in light-flavor Baijiu fermentation.