Weight Ratio Research Articles

Removal of encapsulant ethylene-vinyl acetate for recycling of photovoltaic modules: Hansen solubility parameters analysis

Delamination of photovoltaic modules is crucial for the recovery of solar cell materials. In this article, we investigate the swelling of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) using various organic solvents at a temperature range between 25 to 55°C. The swelling of the encapsulant EVA caused by the interaction of organic solvents aids in the separation of glass, solar cell, and Tedlar layer in the recycling of photovoltaic modules. Further, we quantify the interactions between the encapsulant EVA and the organic solvents by the solvent weight ratio and solvent volume ratio of EVA. The quantification of interactions between encapsulant EVA and various organic solvents is used to estimate the Hansen solubility parameters of encapsulant EVA. The temperature-dependent variation of physical properties of organic solvents and their effect on encapsulant EVA swelling are described. Organic solvents retained in encapsulant EVA matrix after drying at room temperature can be viewed as a method to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds during recycling. Additionally, our experiments suggest that d-limonene, xylene, and toluene are the most effective solvents for delamination of end-of-life photovoltaic modules for recycling.

Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Natural Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composite

Abstract: Hybrid composite is a material composed of matrix and two or more reinforcements. Two or more reinforcements in hybrid composite replace the limitation of conventional composites by providing uniform strength to thematerial. Recently, natural fibers reinforced hybrid composites are gaining increased interest due to the encouraging properties of natural fibers such as high strength to weight ratio, low cost, no harm to environment etc. Many studies dealt with natural fibers based composite reported that the hybrid composites has the potential to replace glass fiber based composites and to reduce the weight of conventional composite. This project reports on the manufacturing of the Indian elm and Acacia fibre reinforced epoxy composite laminate as per the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Standards. This laminate consists of matrix and reinforcement. Epoxy is used as a structural matrix material which is then reinforced by Indian elm fiber, combining Acacia fibres with resin matrix results in composites that are strong, lightweight, corrosion-resistant and dimensionally stable. They also provide good design flexibility, high dielectric strength and act as inflammable materials. Their tremendous strength-to-weight and design flexibility make them ideal in structural components for the aerospace industry. In this project the Indian elm and Acacia fibre reinforced epoxy composite is manufactured into two different parts each having ratios of Indian elm and Acacia fibre to epoxy resin as 60:40, 40:60 respectively and are compared for ultimate tensile strength, impact strength, hardness strength and flexural strength of the material by conducting experiment such as tensile test, flexural test, hardness test and impact test.

Green sound-absorbing material prepared by using natural fiber for building acoustics

Natural fibers are recently seen as a replacement for synthetic fibers as core material to produce sound-absorbent materials. These are biodegradable and renewable, and using them as sound-absorbent material brings many environmental benefits as it is much greener compared to existing inorganic and synthetic fibers. Present exploration serves the purpose of investigation and comparison of the acoustic absorption characteristics of individual and mixed natural fibers; jute, coconut coir, and bamboo. Each fiber is reinforced with natural rubber in a certain weight ratio during the fabricating stage. The fibers are then compressed with the help of mould and ram piston in a hydraulic press. The compression is done in the form of cylindrical samples of 40 mm diameter. Each specimen is kept 36 mm thick, according to the given standards. The impedance tube technique is used to evaluate acoustical performances. Multilayered composites made of layers of coir, jute, and bamboo performed better in all the frequency ranges than composites made of individual fibers. Results establish that these fibers are promising and a viable option for light and environment-friendly sound absorption materials.

Reactive Magnetron Sputtering for Y-Doped Barium Zirconate Electrolyte Deposition in a Complete Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cell

Yttrium-doped barium zirconate is a commonly used electrolyte material for Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells (PCFC) due to its high protonic conductivity and high chemical stability. However, it is also known for its poor sinterability and poor grain boundary conductivity. In this work, in response to these issues, reactive magnetron sputtering was strategically chosen as the electrolyte deposition technique. This method allows the creation of a 4 µm tick electrolyte with a dense columnar microstructure. Notably, this technique is not widely utilized in PCFC fabrication. In this study, a complete cell is elaborated without exceeding a sintering temperature of 1350 °C. Tape casting is used for the anode, and spray coating is used for the cathode. The material of interest is yttrium-doped barium zirconate with the formula BaZr0.8Y0.2O3−δ (BZY). The anode consists of a NiO-BZY cermet, while the cathode is composed of BZY and Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ (BSFC) in a 50:50 weight ratio. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis reveals a global polarization resistance of 0.3 Ω cm2, indicating highly efficient interfaces between electrolytes and electrodes.

Design of Phytic Acid Crosslinked Xerogels as Organic Photocatalysts for Visible Light‐Assisted Degradation of Dyes

AbstractExtensive research is being carried out on the degradation of water pollutants using various strategies to overcome the global water crisis. In the present study, xerogels as a better alternative is utilized to metal oxides for the photocatalytic degradation of toxic water pollutants such as dyes. Xerogels of polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPy) are synthesized using phytic acid as a dopant as well as cross‐linker in the weight ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 via simple chemical oxidative polymerization. The synthesized xerogels are analyzed for their spectral, morphological, thermal, and optical properties using FTIR, UV–vis, XRD, SEM, and TGA techniques. The xerogels are also tested for their photocatalytic activity against textile dyes – Methylene Blue (MB), Alizarin Red S, (ARS), Rhodamine B (RhB), and Methyl Orange (MO). Among all the composite xerogels, PANI/PPy‐2/1 showed excellent degradation efficiency of 91% for MB dye, 88% for RhB dye, 96% for ARS dye, and 92% for MO dye respectively. The composite PANI/PPy xerogels showed better degradation efficiency than their pristine counterparts. The fragments of the degraded dyes are examined using the LCMS technique and a tentative dye degradation mechanism is proposed.

Development of morphologically tunable cobalt-zeolitic framework with copper nanowires: A bifunctional catalyst for the analysis of nitrobenzene and ortho-nitrobenzaldehyde in environmental effluents

Hazardous nitroaromatic compounds are a top-priority environmental pollutant and extremely harmful to human health and ecological systems. Hence, selective and ultra-sensitive quantitative analysis of nitroaromatic target detection is highly important nowadays. In this report, we designed and successfully developed the morphologically tunable hybrid composite nature of the cobalt-zeolitic framework (CZ) with copper nanowires (CNW). The morphological structure was highly controlled by switching different weight ratios of CNW into the CZ. Morphological and spectral analysis revealed the developed system is composite with mesoporous properties. Followed by, the designed catalyst was applied to catalytic reduction and electrochemical simultaneous with sensitive sensing of nitrobenzene (NB) and ortho-nitrobenzaldehyde (ONBA). The optimized modified electrode surface exhibited first-rate catalytic activity, the ultra-sensitive limit of detection of 5.3 nM and 2.6 nM (S/N = 3) with a linear response range of 20 nM – 1 mM and 10 nM – 1.5 mM for ONBA and NB. The selectivity of the system is evaluated in the presence of twelve potentially interfering analytes (including phenols, metal ions, and biomolecules). As an added benefit, the CNWCZ/GCE was used to quantify the detection targets in real industrial water samples, with high-rate recoveries of 96.60–99.68±0.05%, and the electrochemical result was validated by standard analytical method. Furthermore, the catalytic degradation of NB and ONBA was tested and achieved more than 91.63±1.13% degradation within 10 and 15 minutes for NB and ONBA, and facile kinetic rate reactions. The developed research findings suggest that catalysts can be used to dual-analyze NB and its derivatives.

Mechanistic insight into heteroatom removal from vacuum gas oil blended with PMMA or PET waste.

This work analyzes vacuum gas oil (VGO) and hydrocracking products of feed blended with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in depth to clarify the oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur removal pathways in these complex mixtures. Hydrocracking reactions are conducted in a semi-batch reactor with a Pt-Pd/HY bifunctional catalyst at 400 °C and 80 bar for 300 min with 10 wt% waste plastic using 0.1 catalyst/feed weight ratio. The samples are analyzed using various techniques, including high-resolution mass spectrometry, providing an improved, more detailed analytical representation. The results demonstrate the synergistic effect of cofeeding oxygenated plastics to the VGO, altering the preferential reaction pathways of heteroatom-containing species in the following order: nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. We assess the chemical structures from the gathered data, establish plausible reaction mechanisms, and evaluate the catalyst's role.

Estrogen restores disordered lipid metabolism in visceral fat of prediabetic mice.

Visceral obesity is increasingly prevalent among adolescents and young adults and is commonly recognized as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Estrogen [17β-estradiol (E2)] is known to offer protection against obesity via diverse me-chanisms, while its specific effects on visceral adipose tissue (VAT) remain to be fully elucidated. To investigate the impact of E2 on the gene expression profile within VAT of a mouse model of prediabetes. Metabolic parameters were collected, encompassing body weight, weights of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues (VAT and SAT), random blood glucose levels, glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, and overall body composition. The gene expression profiles of VAT were quantified utilizing the Whole Mouse Genome Oligo Microarray and subsequently analyzed through Agilent Feature Extraction software. Functional and pathway analyses were conducted employing Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses, respectively. Feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) moderately increased the weights of both VAT and SAT, but this increase was mitigated by the protective effect of endogenous E2. Conversely, ovariectomy (OVX) led to a significant increase in VAT weight and the VAT/SAT weight ratio, and this increase was also reversed with E2 treatment. Notably, OVX diminished the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism compared to HFD feeding alone, signaling a widespread reduction in lipid metabolic activity, which was completely counteracted by E2 administration. This study provides a comprehensive insight into E2's local and direct protective effects against visceral adiposity in VAT at the gene level. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the HFD-induced over-nutritional challenge disrupted the gene expression profile of visceral fat, leading to a universally decreased lipid metabolic status in E2 deficient mice. E2 treatment effectively reversed this condition, shedding light on the mechanistic role and therapeutic potential of E2 in combating visceral obesity.

MICU3 Regulates Mitochondrial Calcium and Cardiac Hypertrophy.

Calcium (Ca2+) uptake by mitochondria occurs via the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter. Mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter exists as a complex, regulated by 3 MICU (mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake) proteins localized in the intermembrane space: MICU1, MICU2, and MICU3. Although MICU3 is present in the heart, its role is largely unknown. We used CRISPR-Cas9 to generate a mouse with global deletion of MICU3 and an adeno-associated virus (AAV9) to overexpress MICU3 in wild-type mice. We examined the role of MICU3 in regulating mitochondrial calcium ([Ca2+]m) in ex vivo hearts using an optical method following adrenergic stimulation in perfused hearts loaded with a Ca2+-sensitive fluorophore. Additionally, we studied how deletion and overexpression of MICU3, respectively, impact cardiac function in vivo by echocardiography and the molecular composition of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter complex via Western blot, immunoprecipitation, and Blue native-PAGE analysis. Finally, we measured MICU3 expression in failing human hearts. Knock out MICU3 hearts and cardiomyocytes exhibited a significantly smaller increase in [Ca2+]m than wild-type hearts following acute isoproterenol infusion. In contrast, overexpression of MICU3 hearts exhibited an enhanced increase in [Ca2+]m compared with control hearts. Echocardiography analysis showed no significant difference in cardiac function in knock out MICU3 mice relative to wild-type mice at baseline. However, overexpression of MICU3 animals exhibited significantly reduced ejection fraction and fractional shortening compared with control mice. We observed a significant increase in the ratio of heart weight to tibia length in overexpression of MICU3 hearts compared with controls, consistent with hypertrophy. We also found a significant decrease in MICU3 protein and expression in failing human hearts. Our results indicate that increased and decreased expression of MICU3 enhances and reduces, respectively, the uptake of [Ca2+]m in the heart. We conclude that MICU3 plays an important role in regulating [Ca2+]m physiologically, and overexpression of MICU3 is sufficient to induce cardiac hypertrophy, making MICU3 a possible therapeutic target.

Green synthesis and studies on citrus medica leaf extract-mediated Au–ZnO nanocomposites: A sustainable approach for efficient photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye in aqueous media

Abstract Incorporating narrow band gap oxide semiconductors and metals into zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures broadens the range of light sensitivity to include visible wavelengths. In this study, the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye was studied as a model for environmental pollution in aqueous media. This study describes the use of photodegradation catalysts, including gold (Au), ZnO, and Au–ZnO nanocomposites (prepared in ratios of 90:10 and 95:5) using the extract of Citrus medica leaves. X-ray diffraction (XRD) findings have shown that ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) have a hexagonal wurtzite structure. Field emission-scanning electron microscopy findings have depicted that ZnO NPs have diverse shapes, including spherical, quasi-spherical, hexagonal, and anisotropic, with some clumping. Au exhibits consistent spherical shapes and sizes with even distribution. Au–ZnO (90:10) shows quasi-spherical NPs with interconnected spherical Au, forming a porous and uneven surface. Au–ZnO (95:5) has spherical gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) dispersed on a textured ZnO surface, with some clustering and size variation as evident from the transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy analysis. The characterization results have demonstrated the uniform distribution of Au across the ZnO lattice. Additionally, the XRD patterns confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO. Furthermore, energy-dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDX)-mapping verified the inclusion of zinc, oxygen, and Au in the hybrid Au–ZnO nanocomposites and their effective distribution. The topological analysis revealed a rough surface for the generated nanostructures. By comparing the results of various techniques, EDX analysis using atomic and weight ratios confirmed the presence of oxygen and Au in the nanocomposite. Additionally, the surface area analysis (BET) test has reported that the adsorption and desorption of nitrogen follow a Type III isotherm. The presence of an H3-type hysteresis loop further confirms the mesoporous nature of the composites, which reports the presence of wedge-shaped pores. The Au–ZnO (90:10) nanocomposite exhibits a higher surface roughness compared to other composites. In addition, this UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy has enumerated the band gaps of various nanomaterials using UV-visible spectroscopy. Moreover, the analysis has unveiled that combining ZnO with Au NPs (doping) improved the photocatalytic performance of ZnO. This improvement is attributed to the formation of additional energy levels within the ZnO band gap due to the presence of Au ions. Experimental investigation of the breakdown of RhB dye under visible light irradiation revealed superior photocatalytic activity for the Au–ZnO (90:10) nanocomposite compared to both Au–ZnO (95:5) and pure ZnO and Au counterparts. Multiple experiments confirmed the effective photodegradation and removal of RhB dye from the aqueous medium using the nanocatalyst under visible light irradiation. Under optimal conditions (1.0 g·L−1 photocatalyst, 10 ppm RhB, and pH 10), 99% photodegradation efficiency was reached within 50 min of irradiation. Investigation of reactive species revealed that the increased effectiveness of photodegradation in Au–ZnO (90:10) stems from the presence of photogenerated holes and hydroxyl radicals. The study also analyzed the reaction kinetics and order, and the reusability of the best photocatalyst Au–ZnO (90:10)) was confirmed through five consecutive cycles, demonstrating its sustained effectiveness in photodegradation. These findings highlight the potential of Au–ZnO (90:10) nanocomposite as a promising material for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes.

Mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete specimens exposed to fire retrofitted with glass and basalt fiber reinforced polymer laminates

AbstractExposure of concrete to elevated temperature affects its mechanical and physical properties. One of the important reasons for the use of fiber‐reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials is because of its superior mechanical properties. These mechanical properties include impact resistance, strength, stiffness, flexibility, and also it is enhanced ability to carry loads. The high strength–weight ratio, and corrosion resistance of FRPs made them suitable for repair. For strengthening and retrofitting of concrete structures confinement with FRP has received considerable attention in recent years. Geopolymer concrete (GPC) can be expressed as “concrete without cement.” GPC is environmentally friendly and an inventive way to replace the conservative concrete which contributes 7%–8% of total CO2 production in the world. “The concrete which entails of the source materials and the alkaline solution.” The composite material made of fiber‐reinforced polymer (FRP) has recently gained attention as a potential repair method for concrete structures that have been damaged. This study investigates the performance of glass and basalt fiber‐reinforced polymer (GFRP and BFRP) laminates as a retrofit solution for fire‐damaged GPC specimens. The specimens were subjected to temperatures of 200°C, 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C for a period of 1, 2, and 3 h, followed by retrofitting with FRP laminates. The results indicated an increase in the ultimate load‐carrying capacity of GPC specimens when subjected to 200°C for 1 h, beyond which it decreased. However, a fall in ultimate load capacity was observed for higher ranges of temperature and duration of the fire. In this project, geopolymer specimens that had been damaged by fire are wrapped with GFRP and BFRP laminates to study the effect of confinement on the strength of GPC specimens. The fiber laminate used was bi‐directional glass and bi‐directional basalt. Based on the analysis of test data, there was the conclusion that the fire‐damaged GPC was strengthened when retrofitted with GFRP and BFRP laminates was attainable.

Preoperative geriatric nutritional risk index and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio relate to postoperative acute kidney injury in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) poses a significant concern in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery due to increased vulnerability arising from aging, comorbidities, and surgery-related factors. Early detection and intervention are crucial for mitigating short- and long-term consequences. This study aims to investigate the correlation between preoperative Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the occurrence of postoperative AKI in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery, as well as to assess the predictive value of their combined detection for postoperative AKI. Methods: A retrospective study involving 347 elderly patients (aged 60 years or older) undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery explored the relationship between preoperative GNRI, NLR, and postoperative AKI. GNRI was calculated based on serum albumin and body weight ratios, while NLR was derived from preoperative blood tests. Results: The combined GNRI and NLR test demonstrated superior predictive value (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.87) compared to individual markers. Multivariate logistic analysis identified age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, comorbidities, preoperative GNRI, and NLR as independent risk factors for AKI. Correlation analysis affirmed a negative correlation between preoperative GNRI and AKI severity, and a positive correlation between preoperative NLR and AKI severity. Conclusion: The preoperative GNRI and NLR have clinical values in predicting postoperative AKI in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

CBX7 silencing promoted liver regeneration by interacting with BMI1 and activating the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway

Multiple studies have shown knockdown of chromobox 7 (CBX7) promotes the regenerative capacity of various cells or tissues. We examined the effect of CBX7 on hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration after 2/3 hepatectomy in a mouse model. For in vitro experiments, NCTC 1469 and BNL CL.2 hepatocytes were co-transfected with siRNA-CBX7-1 (si-CBX7-1), siRNA-CBX7-2 (si-CBX7-2), pcDNA-CBX7, si-BMI1-1, si-BMI1-2, pcDNA-BMI1, or their negative control. For in vivo experiments, mice were injected intraperitoneally with lentivirus-packaged shRNA and shRNA CBX7 before hepatectomy. Our results showed that CBX7 was rapidly induced in the early stage of liver regeneration. CBX7 regulated hepatocyte proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis of NCTC 1469 and BNL CL.2 hepatocytes. CBX7 interacted with BMI1 and inhibited BMI1 expression in hepatocytes. Silencing BMI1 aggregated the inhibitory effect of CBX7 overexpression on hepatocyte viability and the promotion of apoptosis. Furthermore, silencing BMI1 enhanced the regulatory effect of CBX7 on Nrf2/ARE signaling in HGF-induced hepatocytes. In vivo, CBX7 silencing enhanced liver/body weight ratio in PH mice. CBX7 silencing promoted the Ki67-positive cell count and decreased the Tunel-positive cell count after hepatectomy, and also increased the expression of nuclear Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO-1. Our results suggest that CBX7 silencing may increase survival following hepatectomy by promoting liver regeneration.

Alpha-cyperone mitigates renal ischemic injury via modulation of HDAC-2 expression in diabetes: Insights from molecular dynamics simulations and experimental evaluation

Chronic diabetes mellitus is reported to be associated with acute kidney injury. The enzyme histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC-2) was found to be upregulated in diabetes-related kidney damage. Alpha-cyperone (α-CYP) is one of the active ingredients of Cyperus rotundus that possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We evaluated the effect of α-CYP on improving oxidative stress and tissue inflammation following renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in diabetic rats. The effect of α-CYP on HDAC-2 expression in renal homogenates and in the NRK-52 E cell line was evaluated following renal I/R injury and high glucose conditions, respectively. Molecular docking was used to investigate the binding of α-CYP with the HDAC-2 active site. Both renal function and oxidative stress were shown to be impaired in diabetic rats due to renal I/R injury. Significant improvements in kidney/body weight ratio, creatinine clearance, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and uric acid were observed in diabetic rats treated with α-CYP (50 mg/kg) two weeks prior to renal I/R injury. α-CYP treatment also improved histological alterations in renal tissue and lowered levels of malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, and hydroxyproline. Treatment with α-CYP suppressed the increased HDAC-2 expression in the renal tissue of diabetic rats and in the NRK-52 E cell line. The molecular docking reveals that α-CYP binds to HDAC-2 with good affinity, ascertained by molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy analysis. Overall, our data suggest that α-CYP can effectively prevent renal injury in diabetic rats by regulating oxidative stress, tissue inflammation, fibrosis and inhibiting HDAC-2 activity.

Ethambutol-induced ovarian, uterine and placental oxidative stress: Implication for reproductive outcome in female Wistar rats

Tuberculosis is a major global challenge, potentially infecting more individuals than other pathogens. Ethambutol, a first line drug used in tuberculosis treatment, lacks adequate research regarding its impact on female reproductive health. This study investigates ethambutol-induced oxidative stress to the ovary, uterus and placenta with implications to reproductive outcome in female Wistar rats. Twenty adult female Wistar rats weighing between 170g-190g were divided into two groups (A and B) of ten rats each. Group A served as control and received only food and water ad libitum. Group B was administered with 15 mg/kg body weight of ethambutol, orally, daily for 28 days. After 28 days, five animals from each group were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the ovaries and uterus were harvested for oxidative stress analysis. The remaining animals from each group were mated, and ethambutol administration continued until gestational day 19 when they were sacrificed, and the placentae were harvested for oxidative stress analysis. The fetuses were used to study pregnancy outcomes. From the result, ovarian glutathione peroxidase was significantly elevated, uterine superoxide dismutase and catalase levels were significantly decreased while malondialdehyde activity was significantly elevated, placental catalase activity was significantly decreased while glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde activities was significantly elevated following ethambutol administration. On pregnancy outcomes, ethambutol significantly decreased crown rump length, litter weight, placental weight and fetal/placental weight ratio. In conclusion, evidence from this study suggests that ethambutol is toxic to the ovary, uterus and placenta via mechanisms that involve oxidative stress resulting in poor pregnancy outcomes.

Investigating the impact of the sulfonation degree in sulfonated polyphenylsulfone (sPPSU) on PES/sPPSU polymer blend membranes

Polyethersulfone (PES) has widespread applications due to its excellent processability, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance. Nevertheless, its hydrophobic nature often leads to severe fouling and permeance decline. To improve the hydrophilicity of PES membranes, polymer blending is one of the most common methods. In this work, a series of sulfonated polyphenylene sulfones (sPPSU) with 1.9, 4.5, 8.2, 12.7, 19 degrees of sulfonation (DS) were synthesized and used to blend with PES. The PES/sPPSU blends were found to be compatible by calculating their theoretical enthalpy of mixing and measuring their glass transition temperatures (Tg's) at a blend weight ratio of 1:1. Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes were cast using the nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) method. It was found that 50/50 PES/sPPSU blend membranes with a DS equaling to or exceeding 8.2 eliminated finger-like macrovoids, resulting in a thinner and tight cross-sectional structure. A higher DS of sPPSU rendered the blend membranes with more hydrophilicity and oleophobicity as well as a more negatively charged surface. The unmodified PES membrane had rejections of 87.47 % and 91.5 % in ultrafiltration tests using feed solutions containing BSA and oil/water emulsion, respectively. The rejections could be further increased to 99.37 % and 97.17 % respectively by the blend membranes. The blend membranes consisting of a higher DS of sPPSU also exhibited a higher permeance, lower BSA absorption and better anti-fouling properties than the PES membrane.

Cord Blood Proteomic Profiles, Birth Weight, and Early Life Growth Trajectories

The cord blood proteome, a repository of proteins derived from both mother and fetus, might offer valuable insights into the physiological and pathological state of the fetus. However, its association with birth weight and growth trajectories early in life remains unexplored. To identify cord blood proteins associated with birth weight and the birth weight ratio (BWR) and to evaluate the associations of these cord blood proteins with early growth trajectories. This cohort study included 288 mother-child pairs from the ongoing prospective Environmental Influence on Early Aging birth cohort study. Newborns were recruited from East-Limburg Hospital in Genk, Belgium, between February 2010 and November 2017 and followed up until ages 4 to 6 years. Data were analyzed from February 2022 to September 2023. The outcome of interest was the associations of 368 inflammatory-related cord blood proteins with birth weight or BWR and with early life growth trajectories (ie, rapid growth at age 12 months and weight, body mass index [BMI] z score, waist circumference, and overweight at age 4-6 years) using multiple linear regression models. The BWR was calculated by dividing the birth weight by the median birth weight of the population-specific reference growth curve, considering parity, sex, and gestational age. Results are presented as estimates or odds ratios (ORs) for each doubling in proteins. The sample included 288 infants (125 [43.4%] male; mean [SD] gestation age, 277.2 [11.6] days). The mean (SD) age of the child at the follow-up examination was 4.6 (0.4) years old. After multiple testing correction, there were significant associations of birth weight and BWR with 7 proteins: 2 positive associations: afamin (birth weight: coefficient, 341.16 [95% CI, 192.76 to 489.50]) and secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4; birth weight: coefficient, 242.60 [95% CI, 142.77 to 342.43]; BWR: coefficient, 0.07 [95% CI, 0.04 to 0.10]) and 5 negative associations: cadherin EGF LAG 7-pass G-type receptor 2 (CELSR2; birth weight: coefficient, -237.52 [95% CI, -343.15 to -131.89]), ephrin type-A receptor 4 (EPHA4; birth weight: coefficient, -342.78 [95% CI, -463.10 to -222.47]; BWR: coefficient, -0.11 [95% CI, -0.14 to -0.07]), SLIT and NTRK-like protein 1 (SLITRK1; birth weight: coefficient, -366.32 [95% CI, -476.66 to -255.97]; BWR: coefficient, -0.11 [95% CI, -0.15 to -0.08]), transcobalamin-1 (TCN1; birth weight: coefficient, -208.75 [95% CI, -305.23 to -112.26]), and unc-5 netrin receptor D (UNC5D; birth weight: coefficient, -209.27 [95% CI, -295.14 to -123.40]; BWR: coefficient, -0.07 [95% CI, -0.09 to -0.04]). Further evaluation showed that 2 proteins were still associated with rapid growth at age 12 months (afamin: OR, 0.32 [95% CI, 0.11-0.88]; TCN1: OR, 2.44 [95% CI, 1.26-4.80]). At age 4 to 6 years, CELSR2, EPHA4, SLITRK1, and UNC5D were negatively associated with weight (coefficients, -1.33 to -0.68 kg) and body mass index z score (coefficients, -0.41 to -0.23), and EPHA4, SLITRK1, and UNC5D were negatively associated with waist circumference (coefficients, -1.98 to -0.87 cm). At ages 4 to 6 years, afamin (OR, 0.19 [95% CI, 0.05-0.70]) and SLITRK1 (OR, 0.32 [95% CI, 0.10-0.99]) were associated with lower odds for overweight. This cohort study found 7 cord blood proteins associated with birth weight and growth trajectories early in life. Overall, these findings suggest that stressors that could affect the cord blood proteome during pregnancy might have long-lasting associations with weight and body anthropometrics.

Edible Long-Afterglow Photoluminescent Materials for Bioimaging.

Confining luminophores into modified hydrophilic matrices or polymers is a straightforward and widely used approach for afterglow bioimaging. However, the afterglow quantum yield and lifetime of the related material remain unsatisfactory, severely limiting the using effect especially for deep-tissue time-resolved imaging. This fact largely stems from the dilemma between material biocompatibility and the quenching effect of water environment. We herein present an in situ metathesis promoted doping strategy, namely, mixing ∼10-3 weight ratio of organic-emitter multicarboxylates with inorganic salt reactants, followed by metathesis reactions to prepare a series of hydrophilic but water-insoluble organic-inorganic doping afterglow materials. This strategy led to the formation of edible long-afterglow photoluminescent materials with superior biocompatibility and excellent bioimaging effect. The phosphorescence quantum yield of the materials can reach dozens of percent (the highest case: 66.24%), together with the photoluminescent lifetime lasting for coupes of seconds. Specifically, a long-afterglow barium meal formed by coronene salt emitter and BaSO4 matrix was applied into animal experiments by gavage, and bright stomach afterglow imaging was observed by instruments or mobile phone after ceasing the photoexcitation with deep tissue penetration. This strategy allows a flexible dosage of the materials during bioimaging, facilitating the development of real-time probing and theranostic technology. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Durable and Robust Antibacterial Polypropylene Hernia Mesh for Abdominal Wall Defect Repair.

Polypropylene (PP) mesh is commonly used in repairing abdominal wall hernia (AWH). However, the use of synthetic prosthesis comes with the risk of developing a prosthetic infection, resulting in delayed healing, secondary surgery, and potentially increased mortality. To address these issues, a facile surface functionalization strategy for PP mesh based on phytic acid (PA) and polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) was constructed through a one-step co-deposition process, referred to as the PA/PHMG coating. The development of PA/PHMG coating is mainly attributed to the surface affinity of PA and the electrostatic interactions between PA and PHMG. The PA/PHMG coating could be completed within 4 h under mild conditions. The prepared PA/PHMG coatings on PP mesh surfaces exhibited desirable biocompatibility toward mammalian cells and excellent antibacterial properties against the notorious "superbug" methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and tetracycline-resistant Escherichia coli (TRE). The PA/PHMG-coated PP meshes showed killing ratios of over 99% against MRSA in an infected abdominal wall hernia repair model. Furthermore, histological and immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significantly attenuated degree of neutrophil infiltration in the PA/PHMG coating group, attributed to the decreased bacterial numbers alleviating the inflammatory response at the implant sites. Meanwhile, the pristine PP and PA/PHMG-coated meshes showed effective tissue repair, with the PA/PHMG coating group exhibiting enhanced angiogenesis compared with pristine PP meshes, suggesting superior tissue restoration. Additionally, PP meshes with the highest PHMG weight ratio (PA/PHMG(3)) exhibited excellent long-term robustness under phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) immersion with a killing ratio against MRSA still exceeding 95% after 60 days of PBS immersion. The present work provides a facile and promising approach for developing antibacterial implants.

Unveiling the Supercapacitive Performance of B, P Dual‐Doped Graphene in Triple Redox Additives

AbstractDual heteroatom doping of graphene is currently presumed as more promising for energy storage applications. In addition, the development of energy density with multiple redox additives is paying special attention. Here, we report the fabrication of B, P dual‐doped graphene in three various weight combinations. The formation and the quantity of the prepared samples were investigated by XRD, FT‐IR, EDAX and XPS. The B, P dual‐doped graphene derived from the weight ratio of boron and phosphorus dopant in 1 : 3 has achieved an enriched gravimetric capacitance of 360 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 (1 M H2SO4) and greater than RGO (151 F g−1). The energy density of the fabricated symmetric supercapacitor cell is found to be 50 Wh kg−1 in triple redox additives in 1 M H2SO4 solution which is greater than KI (33 Wh Kg−1) and 1 M H2SO4 alone (5 Wh Kg−1) at 2 A g−1. Also, the same cell delivered an increased stability of 99.7 % of capacitance retained from its initial value after 7000 charge–discharge cycles at 5 A g−1.