Uniform Diameter Research Articles

A Global Resilience Analysis-Based Benchmark Framework for Comparing Reliability Surrogate Measures of Water Distribution Systems

Various reliability surrogate measures have emerged over the last three decades to design water distribution systems. However, existing comparative studies cannot assess surrogate measures from the resilience perspective considering the dynamic absorption–recovery process imposed by pipe failures. In this work, we propose a novel benchmark framework based on the global resilience analysis to examine surrogate measures’ performance. Surrogate measures were compared via the stress–strain curve derived from the global resilience analysis under extended period simulation. In particular, we identify the comparable stress range to articulate the differences among surrogate measures and significantly reduce the computational burden. Then, we develop the normalized resilience score (NRS) to evaluate the quality of solutions to network design. Five well-known measures are compared for the multiobjective design of two benchmark networks. Results show that the Network Resilience Index achieves 2.5% to 10.1% better NRSs than the mean NRSs over five surrogate measures, implying that both nodal surplus energy and pipe diameter uniformity greatly impact the network system’s resilience. The uniformity of pipe diameters is more significant than the uniformity of flow rate. Our findings contribute to the design of new and better surrogate measures for network resilience evaluation.

Copper-Based Metal–Organic Framework: Synthesis, Characterization and Evaluation for the Hydrogenation of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol

AbstractA novel Cu-MOF was synthesized at room temperature from commercially available and inexpensive reagents. The pre-catalyst was characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The Cu-MOF was characterized as microporous material with BET surface area and pore volume of 7.47 m2/g and 0.27 cm3/g, respectively, and is stable in most solvents. The MOF was evaluated as a heterogeneous catalyst for the hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol (FA). Cu-MOF exhibited a high conversion of FF (76%) with selectivity towards FA (100%) at 140 °C, 50 bar for 24 h. The MOF was reused four consecutive times with a loss in catalytic performance. The decrease in catalytic activity could be attributed to the formation of inactive Cu(0) as revealed by HR-TEM and XPS studies. The HR-TEM of spent Cu-MOF showed a uniform particle size diameter of 3.5 nm. This work is significant in providing new strategies for the design and fabrication of highly selective MOF catalysts for the FF upgrading.

Characterisation of Three Ovine KRTAP13 Family Genes and Their Association with Wool Traits in Chinese Tan Sheep.

Understanding the genetic basis of wool traits is crucial for improving wool production. In this study, we investigated the ovine KAP13 gene family, which in humans contains multiple members, while only one member has been identified to date in sheep. Three ovine KRTAP13 genes, likely representing KRTAP13-1, KRTAP13-2, and KRTAP13-4, were identified through sequence analysis and phylogenetic comparisons. These genes are positioned on chromosome 1, between KRTAP15-1 and KRTAP27-1, in a pattern that is like the arrangement in humans but not identical. Analyses revealed multiple sequence variants of each gene in 356 sheep from a variety of wool, meat, and dual-purpose breeds. The effect of these genes on four fibre traits: mean fibre curvature (MFC), mean fibre diameter (MFD), coefficient of variation of fibre diameter (CVFD), and fibre diameter standard deviation (FDSD), was assessed in 240 lambs of the Chinese Tan sheep breed. An allele of KRTAP13-2 was revealed to be associated with a decrease in FDSD and CVFD in heterotypic fibres. No associations were found between KRTAP13-4 variation and wool traits, and an association analysis for KRTAP13-1 was not conducted because no variation was found in this gene in the Chinese Tan sheep studied. These findings suggest a potential role for KRTAP13-2 in regulating wool traits, particularly fibre diameter uniformity in larger heterotypic hair fibres, and suggest its potential use as a marker for improving wool traits.

Production of Ag nanowires with high yield and narrow size distribution by promoting nucleation through hot injection and their application to disposable paper electrodes

The polyol method has been the most commonly used technique for fabricating silver nanowires (Ag NWs), wherein additive reagents facilitate precise control over their morphology. In this work, we introduced a straightforward approach to synthesize Ag NWs with minimal impurities and uniform diameter by using hot injection method. The underlying mechanism and final product are evaluated, and the scalable process was optimized to achieve a high yield (∼87.8 %). It was found that the hot injection of a Ag precursor at 170 °C significantly accelerated the reduction of Ag ions. The issue of the uniformity of Ag NWs was addressed by adding an organic halide to control the nucleation rate of Ag. The resulting Ag NWs solution was used to impregnated cellulose paper, forming an enhanced electrical network compared to other substrates. Given the low commercial cost of paper, this approach holds significant potential for widespread use in disposable electrodes. Furthermore, after subjecting the fabricated paper electrodes to various forms of damage, the connected LED bulbs consistently maintained their brightness. This demonstrates the network stability and suitability of these electrodes for flexible applications.

Development and characterization of nitazoxanide-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) membrane for GTR/GBR applications

ObjectiveGuided tissue/guided bone regeneration (GTR/GBR) membranes are widely used for periodontal bone regeneration, but their success depends on a bacteria-free environment. Systemic antibiotic treatment often proves inadequate, moreover, the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance in oral infections exacerbates this challenge. This study aimed to fabricate antibacterial membranes using a new class of antibiotics for local drug delivery, to eradicate infections and promote tissue regeneration. MethodsMembranes loaded with nitazoxanide (NTZ) were fabricated via electrospinning using poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with varying concentrations of NTZ (0 %, 2.5 %, and 5 % w/w) relative to the polymer weight. Morphochemical of NTZ-loaded membranes were assessed using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Mechanical properties were evaluated using universal testing machine and NTZ release profile from membranes was determined by spectrophotometer (λmax = 444) for 14 days. Antimicrobial efficacy against periodontal pathogens, cell compatibility and mineralization were evaluated using periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). ResultsOptimized spinning parameter maintained a uniform fiber diameter and successful loading of NTZ was confirmed by SEM-EDS and FTIR. NTZ incorporation did not significantly affect mechanical properties, whereas the drug release kinetics showed an initial burst, followed by sustained release over 14 days. NTZ-loaded membranes demonstrated antibacterial activity against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn). Importantly, the presence of NTZ showed minimal cell toxicity; however, it reduced the mineralization potential compared with that of the pure PCL membrane, which increased over time. SignificanceTaken together, these findings established that NTZ-loaded membranes could be promising barrier membrane to counteract microbial environment and aid periodontal bone regeneration.

Self-assembly Pt hollow nanospheres for highly selective and ultrasensitive detection of dopamine

Abnormal concentration of dopamine, one critical neurotransmitter in central nervous system, causes several neurological diseases associated with behavioral responses and brain functions in human beings. Highly sensitive detection of dopamine is of great significance yet challengeable. In this work, Pt hollow nanospheres (Pt HNSs) with a uniform diameter of 30 nm were successfully synthesized in water by self-assembly method under room temperature. The fabricated Pt hollow/Nafion nanospheres modified glassy carbon electrode (Pt HNSS/Nafion/GCE) exhibited superior electrocatalytic performance, with peak currents 2.24 and 4.54 times higher than those of Nafion-modified glassy carbon electrode (Nafion/GCE) and bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE), respectively. Theoretical calculations indicate that dopamine has an adsorption energy of −3.18 eV on the Pt(111) surface, with an electron transfer of + 1.84 |e|, aligning with the 2-electron transfer mechanism. Furthermore, the low energy barrier observed during dopamine oxidation process suggests that the Pt(111) surface is highly favorable for dopamine oxidation. Meanwhile, Pt HNSS/Nafion/GCE electrochemical sensor exhibits highly sensitive and selective response in determination of dopamine ranging from 0.01 to 250 μM with low detection limits of 0.804 nM (S/N = 3). Moreover, the electrochemical sensor shows reliable signals in real test with great anti-interference and stability during the experiments, making it a promising candidate for applications in dopamine sensing.

Radiomics prediction models of left atrial appendage hypercoagulability based on machine learning algorithms: an exploration about cardiac computed tomography angiography imaging.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the standard method for diagnosing left atrial appendage (LAA) hypercoagulability in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), which means LAA thrombus/sludge, dense spontaneous echo contrast and slow LAA blood flow velocity (< 0.25m/s). Based on machine learning algorithms, cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) radiomics features were adopted to construct prediction models and explore a suitable approach for diagnosing LAA hypercoagulability and adjusting anticoagulation. This study included 652 patients with non-valvular AF. The univariate analysis were used to select meaningful clinical characteristics to predict LAA hypercoagulability. Then 3D Slicer software was adopted to extract radiomics features from CCTA imaging. The radiomics score was calculated using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression analysis to predict LAA hypercoagulability. We then combined clinical characteristics and radiomics scores to construct a nomogram model. Finally, we got prediction models based on machine learning algorithms and logistic regression separately. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of radiomics score was 0.8449 in the training set and 0.7998 in the validation set. The nomogram model had a concordance index of 0.838. The final machine-learning based prediction models had good performances (best f1 score = 0.85). Radiomics features of long maximum diameter and high uniformity of Hounsfield unit in left atrial were significant predictors of the hypercoagulable state in LAA, with better predictive efficacy than clinical characteristics. Our combined models based on machine learning were reliable for hypercoagulable state screening and anticoagulation adjustment.

Molecular regulation of lignin multi-level structure and conformational evolution for the self-powered fire alarm sensors

Many studies are still limited to focusing on the primary structure of biomass macromolecules, ignoring the impact of the multi-level structure of macromolecules and their conformational evolution on the high-value utilization of biomass. In this paper, a novel and clever strategy is designed and executed to regulate and immobilize the multi-level structure of lignin macromolecules. Lignin with different spatial conformations exhibits differences in physical properties and processability, despite their chemical primary structures being highly similar. In order to clearly and intuitively study the impact of multi-level structures, lignin-based carbon nanofibers (CFs) with high requirements for processing and precursor properties have been selected as the high-value utilization. The introduction of lignin with optimized multi-level structures effectively improves fiber morphology, uniform diameter, and flexibility. The resulting lignin-based CFs exhibit excellent refractoriness, stability, flame sensitivity (response time of only 1 s), and good energy storage properties (specific capacitance up to 226.1F/g). Furthermore, the CFs moist-electric generator has a high power generation efficiency, and the output voltage of a single device reaches 0.649 V and the output current is up to 160 μA. This work may explain a long-standing issue: why do lignin macromolecules with similar primary structures exhibit many differences in physical and processing properties, which is of great significance for promoting the industrial utilization of lignin macromolecules.

Quality assessment of common anti-malarial medicines marketed in Gambella, National Regional State, South Western-Ethiopia

BackgroundOver the past years, there has been a growing concern that a considerable amount of anti-malarial supply in the underdeveloped world particularly in the private sector, is of poor quality. The World Health Organization (WHO) has received about 1500 reports that mentions instances of substandard and falsified products since 2013. The majority of the reports concerned antibiotics and anti-malarials. The majority of reports (42%) originate from the WHO African region.ObjectiveThis study intends to assess the quality of the most widely used anti-malarial medications [artemether-lumefantrine tablets, chloroquine phosphate tablets, primaquine phosphate tablets, artesunate, and artemether injections] in Gambella, South-West, Ethiopia.MethodsA total of 52 samples were collected on June 2022 from Gambella National Regional State, Ethiopia. Half of the districts (six) located in the four zones of the region were chosen using simple random sampling technique. All drug retail outlets available in the selected districts (locally known as woredas) were included. The samples were subjected to visual inspection with a tool adopted from the joint WHO/FIP/ USP checklist. The pharmacopeial tests for identification, uniformity of dosage forms, assay, thickness, diameter, hardness, friability, disintegration test, dissolution, and sterility tests were carried out according to the USP 44-NF 39 and International Pharmacopoeia 11th edition, 2022 monographs.Results and DiscussionOnly 25% of the samples were registered on the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA’s) electronic regulatory/ registration system (ERIS). Besides, 88.8% of artemether injection products were presented in clear glass ampoules. This might expose the products to photochemical degradation that leads to in loss of anti-plasmodial activity. In addition, 50% of the artemether products assessed were not bioequivalent with the comparator product in the in vitro dissolution comparison tests. Overall, the study findings reveal a high prevalence (58.3%) of substandard anti-malarial drugs in the region. The stated percent of the samples had failed in one or more of the quality test parameters assessed in this study.ConclusionThe study findings reveal a high prevalence (58.3%) of substandard anti-malarial drugs in the region. Only a quarter were registered and 38% of the unregistered products failed the quality tests. Hence, the national, regional medicine regulatory bodies and other stake holders should perform the required roles to circumvent presence of Substandard and Falsified (SF) anti-malarial drugs in the study sites.

ZIF-67 Assists ultra-high piezoelectric output based on PVDF flexible nanogenerator

As smart electronics and self-powered devices continue to evolve, the emergence of piezoelectric polymers has sparked significant research interest. In this pioneering project, we have successfully synthesized ZIF-67 particles/tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAHP)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) tree-like nanofiber structures for the first time, which was characterized by a large number of branching nanofibers (down to 5 nm) and a uniform diameter trunk fiber (about 400 nm). And the synergistic interaction between these two distinct additives yields exceptional multifunctional properties. By optimizing the quantities of ZIF-67 and TBAHP, we enhanced the β-phase content and piezoelectric performance of PVDF through diameter refinement, interface coupling enhancement, and the introduction of a micro-capacitance mechanism. Notably, the improvements surpassed those achieved with a single additive. Specifically, the piezoelectric energy harvester fabricated using TBAHP/PVDF-TLNMs doped with 0.5 wt% ZIF-67 exhibited an output current of 4.25 μA and a peak voltage of 17.32 V, marking an increase of approximately 1187 % and 831 %, respectively, over pure PVDF nanofiber membranes. Furthermore, the device demonstrated sensitivity to motor movements and effectively harvested energy from diverse bodily motions.

MgOMo2C/multiwalled carbon nanotube composite for high-performance supercapacitor applications

Magnesium molybdate (MgMoO4) nanostructure has been successfully prepared and employed as a catalyst for the production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by the chemical vapor deposition method. The prepared nanostructure materials are characterized through XRD, TEM, FTIR, BET and Raman spectroscopy. The XRD results and TEM images confirm the formation of the plate-like MgMoO4 structure, as well as the existence of Mo2C and CNTs in the type of bundles structure (CNTBs). The high dispersion and stability of Mo nanoparticles in the composite of plate-like MgMoO4 is responsible for the formation of CNTBs with uniform diameters. Thus, the plate-like MgMoO4 nanoparticles and the MgOMo2C@CNTBs hybrid material are assessed as electrodes in a supercapacitor device for the first time. The produced hybrid supercapacitor MgOMo2C@CNTBs has a good specific capacitance (354 F g−1) and strong cycling stability (82 percent capacity retention over 2000 cycles)

Study of the electrospun PVDF fibrous membrane in capturing particulate matters in smoke by the synergy between GO and CNWs

The filtration capability can be effectively adjusted by involving the incorporation of fillers into filter materials. Here, we present a promising filter material for capturing particulate matters in smoke, a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibrous membrane modified by cellulose nanowhisker (CNWs) and graphene oxide (GO), which was prepared by a facile electrospinning method. GO with oxygen-containing groups can improve the capability of capturing particle owing to its excellent adsorption performance. CNWs with highly ordered crystalline regions can alter the dimension and properties of PVDF fibers. The synergistic effect of GO and CNWs enabled uniform fiber diameter, higher porosity, and better filtration property as compared with that of pristine PVDF membranes. Experimental results demonstrated a significant improvement in the filtration efficiency of PVDF fibrous membranes after blending with GO and CNWs. The filtration data showed that the filtration efficiency (95.58%) of GO/CNWs/PVDF membrane was higher than that (87.68%) of CNWs/PVDF membrane and that (86.36%) of PVDF membrane. The reusability for capturing pollutants showed that the fibrous membrane could keep a certain filtration capability (93.85%) after 5 cycles. Computational results suggested there was an interaction between GO and smoke pollutants (monoterpene) and the addition of GO play an effect on the filtration efficiency of fibrous membranes. These results showed that GO/CNWs/PVDF fibrous membranes was ideal filter materials for air pollutant.

Pragmatic structure optimization: Achieving optimal crosstalk delay and gate oxide reliability of randomly mixed CNT bundle interconnects

This study explores the potential of randomly mixed carbon nanotube bundle (RMCB) as a viable on-chip interconnect. Achieving high-quality carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with uniform diameters is challenging for the current framework of enhanced fabrication techniques. The Stoyan and Yaskov technique is employed to optimize CNT arrangement within a specified rectangular area. This method accounts for statistical variation in CNT diameters, offering a more realistic and fabrication-focused approach to designing CNT bundle interconnects. Eight such practical RMCB structures (RMCB-50 to RMCB-350) are selected using this technique, each characterized by distinct CNT counts and variable diameters. Comprehensive average crosstalk-delay and reliability assessments are conducted by comparing different CNT bundle interconnects with the best-optimized RMCB (O-RMCB) interconnect, placed on various dielectric substrates such as SiO2, SiC, BN. The study unequivocally indicates that O-RMCB produces highly favorable results and stands as the most suitable future solution for VLSI circuits. Additionally, the thickness optimization of O-RMCB interconnect is explored, yielding in improvements in both performance and reliability compared to other well-known CNT bundled interconnects.

Enhanced non-viral gene delivery via calcium phosphate/DNA co-precipitates with low-voltage pulse electroporation in NK-92 cells for immunocellular therapy.

Achieving high cell transfection efficiency is essential for various cell types in numerous disease applications. However, the efficient introduction of genes into natural killer (NK) cells remains a challenge. In this study, we proposed a design strategy for delivering exogenous genes into the NK cell line, NK-92, using a modified non-viral gene transfection method. Calcium phosphate/DNA nanoparticles (pDNA-CaP NPs) were prepared using co-precipitation methods and combined with low-voltage pulse electroporation to facilitate NK-92 transfection. The results demonstrated that the developed pDNA-CaP NPs exhibited a uniform diameter of approximately 393.9 nm, a DNA entrapment efficiency of 65.8%, and a loading capacity of 15.9%. Furthermore, at three days post-transfection, both the transfection efficiency and cell viability of NK-92 were significantly improved compared to standalone plasmid DNA (pDNA) electroporation or solely relying on the endocytosis pathway of pDNA-CaP NPs. This study provides valuable insights into a novel approach that combines calcium phosphate nanoparticles with low-voltage electroporation for gene delivery into NK-92 cells, offering potential advancements in cell therapy.

Multifunctional Bioactivity Electrospinning Nanofibers Encapsulating Emodin Provides a Potential Postoperative Management Strategy for Skin Cancer.

Skin cancer is threatening more and more people's health; its postoperative recurrence and wound infection are still critical challenges. Therefore, specialty wound dressings with multifunctional bioactivity are urgently desired. Emodin is a natural anthraquinone compound that has anti-cancer and anti-bacterial properties. Herein, we fabricated coaxial electrospinning nanofibers loaded with emodin to exploit a multifunctional wound dressing for skin cancer postoperative management, which encapsulated emodin in a polyvinylpyrrolidone core layer, combined with chitosan-polycaprolactone as a shell layer. The nanofibers were characterized via morphology, physicochemical nature, drug load efficiency, pH-dependent drug release profiles, and biocompatibility. Meanwhile, the anti-cancer and anti-bacterial effects were evaluated in vitro. The emodin-loaded nanofibers exhibited smooth surfaces with a relatively uniform diameter distribution and a clear shell-core structure; remarkably, emodin was evenly dispersed in the nanofibers with significantly enhanced dissolution of emodin. Furthermore, they not only display good wettability, high emodin entrapment efficiency, and biphasic release profile but also present superior biocompatibility and anti-cancer properties by increasing the levels of MDA and ROS in A-375 and HSC-1 cells via apoptosis-related pathway, and long-term anti-bacterial effects in a dose-independent manner. The findings indicate that the emodin-loaded nanofiber wound dressing can provide a potential treatment strategy for skin cancer postoperative management.

Dynamic Characterization of Diameter for Round Surfaces using a Non-contact Optical Measurement System

Ensuring uniformity in the final round product's diameter is essential to production line operations because it permits adherence to geometry specifications and fulfills client demands. Non-contact diameter measurement systems are essential for manufacturing cost savings as well as quality monitoring. However, because of their non-linear movement, lengthy manufactured specimens like rods might be difficult to measure the diameter of precisely. Typically, analysis systems rely on costly and intricate optical components, limiting accessibility to small businesses. This research aims to address this issue by presenting a low-cost and practical optical system for measuring the diameters of round samples in continuous lines. The aim here is to obtain instant feedback through dynamic measurement and to create a continuous control mechanism that will contribute to sustainability. Experimental results show that the proposed method exhibits a high level of precision, with a measurement accuracy of 0.25% of nominal diameter.

Advanced biomimetic design strategies for porous structures promoting bone integration with additive-manufactured Ti6Al4V scaffolds

The natural bone structure exhibits a radial gradient with dense cortical bone externally and porous cancellous bone internally. However, previous studies proposing scaffold designs have predominantly focused on homogeneous porous structures. Moreover, no consensus exists on the optimal structure for gradient porous scaffolds. Our scaffold closely imitated the natural bone structure by incorporating a gradient of pillar diameters. Additionally, we introduced a inverse gradient structure and three uniform diameter pillar structures (400 μm, 600 μm, and 1000 μm) for comparative analysis. Mechanical testing revealed that the compressive strength and elastic modulus of the Ti6Al4V porous scaffolds gradually increased with an increase in pillar diameter. In vitro experiments demonstrated that both the biomimetic gradient and inverse gradient scaffolds promoted osteogenic differentiation, with higher ALP activity (alkaline phosphatase) and osteogenesis-related gene expression compared to the uniform pillar structure scaffolds. The in vivo experiments confirmed these results, highlighting the superior ability of the biomimetic gradient Ti6Al4V porous scaffold to induce new bone formation. Based on our findings, we suggest that the optimal porous structure should have fine-diameter pillars (approximately 400 μm) internally to enhance cell penetration, while coarse-diameter pillars (approximately 800 μm) should be used externally to increase the cell attachment area and enhance mechanical strength. Overall, our study contributes to the field of bone tissue engineering by providing a biomimetic scaffold design that closely imitates the structure of natural bone and promotes osteogenic activity.

An enzymatic hydrolysis-based platform technology for the efficient high-yield production of cellulose nanospheres

This study evaluates the feasibility of using enzymatic technology to produce novel nanostructures of cellulose nanomaterials, specifically cellulose nanospheres (CNS), through enzymatic hydrolysis with endoglucanase and xylanase of pre-treated cellulose fibers. A statistical experimental design facilitated a comprehensive understanding of the process parameters, which enabled high yields of up to 82.7 %, while maintaining a uniform diameter of 54 nm and slightly improved crystallinity and thermal stability. Atomic force microscopy analyses revealed a distinct CNS formation mechanism, where initial fragmentation of rod-like nanoparticles and subsequent self-assembly of shorter rod-shaped nanoparticles led to CNS formation. Additionally, adjustments in process parameters allowed precise control over the CNS diameter, ranging from 20 to 100 nm, highlighting the potential for customization in high-performance applications. Furthermore, this study demonstrates how the process framework, originally developed for cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) production, was successfully adapted and optimized for CNS production, ensuring scalability and efficiency. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the versatility and efficiency of the enzyme-based platform for producing high-quality CNS, providing valuable insights into energy consumption for large-scale economic and environmental assessments.

Fabrication of electrospun PA66 nanofibers loaded with biosynthesized silver nanoparticles: investigation of dye degradation and antibacterial activity.

In the current study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) incorporated Polyamide 66 (PA66) nanofiber mat as a photocatalyst which was prepared using electrospinning technique for degradation of methyl orange (MO). Considering the lack of reported studies on the influence of the ultrasonication on the size and stability of AgNPs, the purpose of the study was to produce a small size of AgNPs and compare it with the continuous stirring method. It is reasonable to report that the advantage of ultrasonication is to generate relatively smaller AgNPs (u-AgNPs) compared to fabrication by continuous stirring method (s-AgNPs). Helichrysum arenarium (HA) extract was used as a reducing agent as well as a capping agent in green synthesis of AgNPs. AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). PA66/u-AgNs nanofibers were then successfully electrospun and characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), FT-IR, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and water contact angle measurement (WCA). Fabricated PA66-based nanofiber mat with smooth surface and uniform diameters (330-340nm) was used as a catalyst in MO degradation. PA66/u-AgNP nanofibers were also evaluated for antibacterial performance and showed significant inhibition against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. According to these findings, it is expected that the fabricated novel PA66/u-AgNP nanofibers can be announced as a promising potent and applied to the wastewater applications.

A novel sustainable photo/chemical magnetic nanomaterial effectively mitigates the allergenicity of phospholipase A2

Reducing the allergenicity of edible insects is crucial for the comprehensive utilization of insect resources. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) exists in various edible insects and mammalian tissues, which can cause serious allergic reactions. Herein, we constructed a magnetic nanocomposite with photo/chemical synergistic capability to mitigate the allergenicity of PLA2. The formation of prepared nanocomposite was systematically confirmed using various techniques. The nanocomposite exhibited uniform diameters, abundant functional groups, excellent magnetic capabilities. An effective photo/chemical method was established to reduce the allergenicity of PLA2 in vitro. The feasibility of the method was demonstrated through circular dichroism, fluorescence spectrum and IgE-binding analysis. The allergenicity and IgE-binding effect of PLA2 were significantly reduced due to conformational changes after nanomaterial treatment. These results demonstrate the sensitivity and effectiveness a strategy for reducing PLA2 allergenicity, providing a basis for development of nanomaterials to reduce the risk of novel food allergies in response to edible insect products.