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Polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared by reinforcing with suitable hybrid fillers such as short sisal fibers treated with an alkali and high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The synergistic effect of surface-treated short sisal fibers and silane-grafted HNTs were systematically evaluated through morphological, mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and thermal characterization. Alkali and HIU treatments of short sisal fibers drastically enhanced the interaction between sisal fibers and silane-grafted HNTs, which improved the interfacial adhesion between the filler system and the PP matrix. Scanning electron microscopic images indicated the continuity and smoothness of the hybrid composite surfaces. Dynamic mechanical analysis confirmed improved interactions between the hybrid filler system and the matrix, leading to significantly enhanced storage modulus in the hybrid composites. Therefore, the interfacial adhesion between the fillers and the matrix plays a significant role in improving the mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and thermal properties of polymer composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the sensor response was tested in conjunction with comorbidities of other underlying diseases, the response was highly specific to Covid-19 urinary metabolites. In recent years, research and development have focused on the early diagnosis and detection of diseases. Using molybdenum disulfide-GQD composites, a turn-on chemiluminescence sensor was developed to detect cholesterol in serum samples. [Extracted from the article]

Mechanical, dynamic-mechanical and thermal performance of polypropylene (PP) composites which are composed of (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) functionalized Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were investigated. Functionalization of HNTs was confirmed by the presence of amine stretching peaks in the FTIR spectrum. A decrease in the agglomeration and high dispersion of APTES-HNTs across the PP matrix was confirmed by scanning electron micrographs (SEM). The mechanical properties of APTES-HNT-PP polymer composites were superior over their unmodified counterparts. Tensile properties such as maximum strength, Young's modulus and impact strength were significantly enhanced by 28%, 45% and 60% respectively, with 6 wt% incorporation of surface-modified HNTs into PP matrix. A drastic improvement of stiffness and thermal stability of composites was noted with the incorporation of APTES modified HNTs into PP polymer. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed a total increase of 22% in the crystallinity of clay polymer nanocomposite after filled with surface-modified HNTs. Overall, the outcome of this research confirms the modification of the surface of HNTs with a silane coupling agent, which enhances the mechanical and thermal performance of PP composites incorporated HNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peritonsillar abscess is a polymicrobial infection with acute life threatening complications if not treated promptly. Primary objective is to find the anatomical factor for unilateral abscess formation and appropriate management protocols. Secondary objectives include the bacteriological study,antibiotic preference and comparison of crypt length of both tonsils post tonsillectomy to look for any significant association. A prospective study was carried out for one year in patients with peritonsillitis or peritonsillar abscess attending the Department of ENT in our hospital. Acute cases were treated by incision and drainage followed by IV antibiotics after taking pus or throat swab for culture and sensitivity. Patients further planned for interval tonsillectomy after 6 weeks followed by histopathological examination to compare the infected side and normal side. Crypt length measurements done to see any disparity which would have lead to the development of peritonsillar abscess unilaterally. In patients with peritonsillitis or peritonsillar abscess, histopathological examination of tonsils after interval tonsillectomy showed that risk of peritonsillitis or peritonsillar abscess were more on the tonsil with larger crypt length with more preponderance on left side and in males. This study concludes that deeper the crypt length,male sex, history of recurrent tonsillitis are main risk factors for development of peritonsillar abscess. Bacteriology showed Staphylococcus aureus against the most common Streptococcus Sp. Hence prompt use of antibiotics help in early recovery and reducing complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A broad overview of different aspects of ultrasonics and sonochemistry is presented in this article. • Among the applications covered are synthesis, emulsification, cleaning, and processing. • Food-related scale-up challenges are discussed. Ultrasonic waves can induce physical and chemical changes in liquid media via acoustic cavitation. Various applications have benefitted from utilizing these effects, including but not limited to the synthesis of functional materials, emulsification, cleaning, and processing. Several books and review articles in the public domain cover both fundamental and applied aspects of ultrasonics and sonochemistry. The Editors of the Ultrasonics Sonochemistry journal possess diverse expertise in this field, from theoretical and experimental aspects of acoustic cavitation to materials synthesis, environmental remediation, and sonoprocessing. This article provides Editors' perspectives on various aspects of ultrasonics and sonochemistry that may benefit students and early career researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Hydrodynamic cavitation is effective for the removal of Dicofol. • Highest rate of Dicofol degradation was observed at an inlet pressure of 7 bar. • HPLC and GC–MS analysis illustrated the presence of transformed products of Dicofol. • TOC removal of 85% was obtained within 60 min of treatment. Abstract Dicofol, a recommended Stockholm convention persistent organic pollutants (POPs) candidate is well known for its endocrine disruptive properties and has been extensively used as an organochlorine pesticide worldwide. The hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) treatment of Dicofol in aqueous media induced by a liquid whistle hydrodynamic cavitaion reactor (LWHCR) has been investigated while considering important parameters such as inlet pressure, initial concentration of Dicofol, solution temperature, pH, addition of H 2 O 2 and radical scavenger for the extent of degradation. The pseudo-first-order degradation rate constant (k) was determined to be 0.073 min−1 with a cavitational yield of 1.26 × 10−5 mg/J at optimum operating conditions and a complete removal of Dicofol was achieved within 1 h of treatment. Considering the removal rate and energy efficiency, the optimal inlet pressure was found to be 7 bar, resulting in a cavitation number of 0.17. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) analyses indicated a sharp decline in the concentration of Dicofol with treatment time and indicated the presence of degraded products. An 85% total organic carbon (TOC) removal was achieved within 1 h of treatment time, demonstrating successful mineralization of Dicofol. The obtained results suggest that the degradation of Dicofol followed thermal decomposition and successive recombination reactions at bubble-vapor interface. Overall, the attempted hydrodynamic cavitation demonstrated successful and rapid removal of endocrine disruptive chemicals such as Dicofol and is expected to provide efficient solution for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Degradation of BDE-209 by combined Sono-Fenton treatment is effective. • The effect of operational parameters on the degradation of BDE-209 was investigated. • HPLC and GC–MS analyses demonstrated the presence of degraded products. • A complete degradation of BDE-209 was achieved within 80 min of treatment. Abstract Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, used as flame retardants are a cause of concern over past several years, due to their toxicity, bioaccumulation and widespread distribution. In this work, the combination of ultrasound and advanced Fenton process was investigated for the degradation of Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209). The effect of pollutant concentration, solution pH, ultrasonic power density and loading of Fenton's reagent on the extent of BDE-209 degradation were studied. The results indicated an enhancement in the degradation of BDE-209 during Sono-Fenton treatment, leading to a complete degradation within 80 min of treatment, whereas only 40% and 25% degradation were achieved during ultrasound and Fenton treatment alone. To understand the degradation mechanism, analytical techniques including High performance liquid chromatography and Gas chromatography mass spectroscopy were employed to monitor the concentrations of parent compound along with degradation products. The degradation mechanism was proposed based on the identified degradation products. Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis demonstrated 60% TOC removal within 80 min of treatment. The obtained results suggest that the initiation of BDE-209 degradation during Sono-Fenton treatment followed thermal decomposition at bubble-vapor interface along with reductive debromination at iron surface, accompanied by oxidative degradation of lower brominated congeners at liquid bulk. This work illustrated an effective method for the removal of BDE-209 and hence providing an efficient wastewater treatment solution for recalcitrant pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a simple sugaring-out supported by liquid biphasic flotation technique combined with ultrasonication was introduced for the extraction of proteins from microalgae. Sugaring-out as a phase separation method is novel and has been used in the extraction of metal ions, biomolecules and drugs. But, its functioning in protein separation from microalgae is still unknown. In this work, the feasibility of sugaring-out coupled with ultrasound for the extraction of protein was investigated. Primary studies were carried out to examine the effect of sonication on the microalgae cell as well as the separation efficiency of the integrated method. Effect of various operating parameters such as the concentration of microalgae biomass, the location of sonication probe, sonication time, ultrasonic pulse mode (includes varying ON and OFF duration of sonication), concentration of glucose, types of sugar, concentration of acetonitrile and the flow rate in the flotation system for achieving a higher separation efficiency and yield of protein were assessed. Besides, a large-scale study of the integration method was conducted to verify the consistency of the followed technique. A maximum efficiency (86.38%) and yield (93.33%) were attained at the following optimized conditions: 0.6% biomass concentration, 200 g/L of glucose concentration, 100% acetonitrile concentration with 5 min of 5 s ON/10 s OFF pulse mode and at a flow rate of 100 cc/min. The results obtained for large scale were 85.25% and 92.24% for efficiency and yield respectively. The proposed liquid biphasic flotation assisted with ultrasound for protein separation employing sugaring-out demonstrates a high production and separation efficiency and is a cost-effective solution. More importantly, this method provides the possibility of extending its application for the extraction of other important biomolecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sonochemistry, an almost a century old technique was predominantly employed in the cleaning and extraction processes but this tool has now slowly gained tremendous attention in the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) where particles of sub-micron have been produced with great stability. Following this, ultrasonication techniques have been largely employed in graphene synthesis and its dispersion in various solvents which would conventionally take days and offers poor yield. Ultrasonic irradiation allows the production of thin-layered graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) of up to 1 nm thickness and can be produced in single layers. With ultrasonic treatment, reactions were made easy whereby graphite can be directly exfoliated to graphene layers. Oxidation to GO can also be carried out within minutes and reduction to RGO is possible without the use of any reducing agents. In addition, various geometry of graphene can be produced such as scrolled graphene, sponge or foam graphene, smooth as well as those with rough edges, each serving its own unique purpose in various applications such as supercapacitor, catalysis, biomedical, etc. In ultrasonic-assisted reaction, deposition of metal NPs on graphene was more homogeneous with custom-made patterns such as core-shell formation, discs, clusters and specific deposition at the edges of graphene sheets. Graphene derivatives with the aid of ultrasonication are the perfect catalyst for various organic reactions as well as an excellent adsorbent. Reactions which used to take hours and days were significantly reduced to minutes with exceedingly high yields. In a more recent approach, sonophotocatalysis was employed for the combined effect of sonication and photocatalysis of metal deposited graphene. The system was highly efficient in organic dye adsorption. This review provides detailed fundamental concepts of ultrasonochemistry for the synthesis of graphene, its dispersion, exfoliation as well as its functionalization, with great emphasis only based on recent publications. Necessary parameters of sonication such as frequency, power input, sonication time, type of sonication as well as temperature and dual-frequency sonication are discussed in great length to provide an overview of the resultant graphene products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sonophotocatalysis (SPC) is considered to be one of the important wastewater treatment techniques and hence attracted the attention of researchers to eliminate recalcitrant hazardous organic pollutants from aqueous phase. In general, SPC refers to the integrated use of ultrasonic sound waves, ultraviolet radiation and the addition of a semiconductor material which functions as a photocatalyst. Current research has brought numerous improvements in the SPC based treatment by opting visible light irradiation, nanocomposite catalysts and numerous catalyst supports for better stability and performance. This review accomplishes a critical analysis with respect to the recent advancements. The efficiency of SPC based treatments has been analyzed by considering the individual methods i.e. sonolysis, photocatalysis, sonophotolysis, sono-ozone, photo-Fenton and sono-Fenton. Besides, the essential parameters such as solution temperature, concentrations of initial pollutant and catalyst, initial pH, dosages of Fenton’s reagent and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), ultrasonic power density, gas sparging, addition of radical scavenger, addition of carbon tetrachloride and methanol have been discussed with suggestions for the selection of optimum parameters. A higher synergistic pollutant removal rate has been reported during SPC treatment as compared to individual methods and the implementation of numerous doping materials and supports for the photocatalyst enhances the degradation rate of pollutants using DSPC under both visible and UV irradiation. Overall, SPC and DSPC based wastewater treatments are emerging as potential techniques as they provide effective solution in removing the recalcitrant organic pollutants and progressive research is expected to bring out superior treatment efficiency using these advanced technologies. Importance of this review The review has accomplished a thorough and a critical analysis of sonophotocatalysis (SPC) based on the recently published journals. Recent advancements in the doped sonophotocatalysis (DSPC) and the mechanisms behind synergistic enhancement in the pollutant degradation rate have been discussed with justifications. Besides, the possible future works are suggested for the advancements in sonophotocatalysis based treatment. This review will be beneficial for electing a SPC based method because of the accomplished sharp comparisons among the published results. The review includes current advancements of SPC based methods which aid for a low-cost and a large-scale wastewater treatment application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Cancer is one of the most challenging, life-threatening illnesses to cure, with over 10 million new cases diagnosed each year globally. Improved diagnostic cum treatment with common side-effects are warranting for successful therapy. Nanomaterials are recognized to improve early diagnosis, imaging, and treatment. Recently, multifunctional nanocomposites attracted considerable interest due to their low-cost production, and ideal thermal and chemical stability, and will be beneficial in future diagnostics and customized treatment capacity. Stimuli-Responsive Hybrid Metal Nanocomposites (SRHMNs) based nanocomposite materials pose the on/off delivery of bioactive compounds such as medications, genes, RNA, and DNA to specific tissue or organs and reduce toxicity. They simultaneously serve as sophisticated imaging and diagnostic tools when certain stimuli (e.g., temperature, pH, redox, ultrasound, or enzymes) activate the nanocomposite, resulting in the imaging-guided transport of the payload at defined sites. This review in detail addresses the recent advancements in the design and mechanism of internal breakdown processes of the functional moiety from stimuli-responsive systems in response to a range of stimuli coupled with metal nanoparticles. Also, it provides a thorough understanding of SRHMNs, enabling non-invasive interventional therapy by resolving several difficulties in cancer theranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A medium- and long-term perspective is required in human resource development to ensure that future needs and demands for oral healthcare are met by the most appropriate health professionals. This paper presents a case study of the Sultanate of Oman, one of the Gulf States with a current population of 3.8 million, which has initiated dental training through the creation of a dental college. Objectives: The objectives of this paper are first to describe trends in the dental workforce in Oman from 1990 to date and compare the dental workforce with its medical counterparts in Oman and with other countries, and second, to consider future dental workforce in the Sultanate. Methods: Data were collected from published sources, including the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Manpower (MoM), and Ministry of National Economy (MoNE)-Sultanate of Oman; the World Health Organization (WHO); World Bank; and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Dentist-to-population ratios were compared nationally, regionally and globally for medicine and dentistry. Dental graduate outputs were mapped onto the local supply. Future trends were examined using population growth predictions, exploring the expected impact in relation to global, regional and European workforce densities. Results: Population growth in Oman is increasing at a rate of over 2% per year. Oman has historically been dependent upon an expatriate dental workforce with only 24% of the dentist workforce Omani in 2010 (n = 160). Subsequent to Oman Dental College (ODC) starting to qualify dental (BDS) graduates in 2012, there is an increase in the annual growth of the dentist workforce. On the assumption that all future dental graduates from ODC have an opportunity to practise in Oman, ODC graduates will boost the annual Omani dentist growth rate starting at 28% per annum from 2012 onwards, building capacity towards global (n = 1711) and regional levels (Gulf State: n = 2167) in the medium term. Conclusion: The output of dental graduates from Oman Dental College is improving the dentist-to-population ratio and helping the Sultanate to realize its aim of developing an Omani-majority dental workforce. The implications for retention of dentists and team training are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Ultrasound cavitation induced POME treatment. [•] Triple frequency ultrasound cavitation reactor was used to check the frequency effects. [•] Role of H2O2 in avoiding the fluctuating pattern of COD has been noted. [•] Promising and a fruitful green process engineering technique for POME treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effect of acoustic cavitation on the carboxylation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at room temperature was studied and compared with the conventional reflux process. Due to the dispersion caused by the shockwave and jet damage from the collapse of microbubbles, and the energy imparted by intense local temperature and pressure, a positive correlation between the amount of attached functional groups and sonication time was observed. The use of ultrasonication for the carboxylation of CNTs demonstrated merits over the conventional reflux method in the form of significantly higher and easier recovery of reacted samples, improved carboxylation yield with simpler equipment setup. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ABSTRACT Curcumin, a yellow pigment extracted from the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa, found to have significant pharmaceutical activities. However, the bioavailability of curcumin after administration is always low because of its extremely poor solubility in water. To improve the absorption rate of curcumin in vivo, curcumin-loaded micelles have been developed by using GRAS surfactants, namely Brij 56 and Span 20, and by the application of ultrasonic cavitation. To investigate the interaction between different factors and to optimize the formulation conditions, Response Surface Methodology has been adopted. Both Central Composite Design and Box-Behnken Design (BBD) have been attempted in this study, and a better fitted quadric polynomial equation has been obtained from BBD that resulted into the coefficient of determination ( R2) of 0.9894 and 0.9574 for the zeta-average and polydispersity index of the formulation, respectively. In contrast, Analysis of Variance suggested a coefficient of determination ( R2) for Central Composite Design plots that is 0.9172 for particle size response surface and 0.8246 for the polydispersity response surface. Optimization based on BBD model suggested 28 possible solutions, for which the generated solution with the highest desirability (0.764) predicted the curcumin-loaded micelle formulation with 19.99 nm particle size and with 0.267 polydispersity index, when the formulation hydrophilic-lipophilic balance number is 9.46, curcumin-to-water weight ratio is 0.7 and surfactant-to-water weight ratio is 0.11. The whole investigation clearly supports the potential of ultrasonic cavitation in the generation of curcumin-loaded micelles. © 2012 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present study, response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD) was employed to investigate the influence of main emulsion composition variables, namely drug loading, oil content, emulsifier content as well as the effect of the ultrasonic operating parameters such as pre-mixing time, ultrasonic amplitude, and irradiation time on the properties of aspirin-loaded nanoemulsions. The two main emulsion properties studied as response variables were: mean droplet size and polydispersity index. The ultimate goal of the present work was to determine the optimum level of the six independent variables in which an optimal aspirin nanoemulsion with desirable properties could be produced. The response surface analysis results clearly showed that the variability of two responses could be depicted as a linear function of the content of main emulsion compositions and ultrasonic processing variables. In the present investigation, it is evidently shown that ultrasound cavitation is a powerful yet promising approach in the controlled production of aspirin nanoemulsions with smaller average droplet size in a range of 200–300nm and with a polydispersity index (PDI) of about 0.30. This study proved that the use of low frequency ultrasound is of considerable importance in the controlled production of pharmaceutical nanoemulsions in the drug delivery system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new ultrasound assisted emulsion (consisting of rapeseed oil and aqueous solution of Zn2and Fe2acetates) and evaporation protocol has been developed for the synthesis of zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) nanoparticles with narrow size distribution. The as-synthesized sample consisted of crystalline zinc ferrite particles with an average diameter of ∼4 nm, whereas the average size of the heat-treated ferrite particles increases to ∼12 nm. To remove the small amount of oil present on the surface of the as-synthesized ferrite sample, heat treatment was carried out at 350 °C for 3 h. The as-synthesized and heat-treated ferrites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), TGA/DTA, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) techniques. Magnetic measurements show that the nanocrystalline ZnFe2O4, prepared through this technique, is either at par with those obtained in other cases or even more improved. Both the as-synthesized and heat-treated samples reveal relaxation of magnetization. Our study also shows that one can tailor the magnetization and relaxation pattern by suitably controlling the particle size of the nanocrystalline ZnFe2O4. The key features of this method are avoiding (a) the cumbersome conditions that exist in the conventional methods, (b) the usage of necessary additive components (stabilizers or surfactants, precipitants), and (c) calcination requirements. In addition, rapeseed oil has replaced organic nonpolar solvents used in earlier studies. As a whole, this simple straightforward sonochemical approach results in a better pure phase system of nanoferrite with improved magnetic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent decades have seen an increase in using self‐healing technology in fabricating multifunctional rubber materials, which incorporate intrinsic mechanisms. However, achieving commendable self‐healing efficiency while maintaining strength in thin rubber films remains challenging. Herewith, the preparation of self‐healing carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber thin films is presented with 0.40 ± 0.05 mm thickness, reinforced with sustainable TEMPO‐oxidized cellulose nanofibers. The thin films are fabricated using wet mixing and casting methods and translated to prototype fabrication via dipping. The study involves the effect of varying zinc stearate and filler concentrations on healing efficiency via ionic mechanisms alongside other characterization techniques, such as chemical composition, surface morphology, cross‐link density, and thermal stability. The fabricated thin films exhibited a tensile strength of 5.38 MPa and an elongation‐at‐break of 518%. After undergoing a temperature‐induced healing process at 100 °C for 1 h, the healing efficiency for both properties reached 72% and 90%, respectively. Moreover, these films demonstrates the ability to heal repeatedly at the same fracture site over multiple cycles, maintaining a healing efficiency of over 45% after the third cycle. A glove prototype is fabricated and tested using water and air leakage tests to prove the self‐healing technology's successful transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An effective ultrasound-assisted mechano-chemical cracking method has been proposed. • NMP is found to be a more effective polar solvent than water. • Ultrasonication promotes and propagates the self-repulsion of biochar layers. • 8–10% monolayer, up to 96% less than four layers GO produced from miscanthus. • Small amounts of graphene quantum dots were also observed during GO synthesis. Whilst graphene materials have become increasingly popular in recent years, the followed synthesis strategies face sustainability, environmental and quality challenges. This study proposes an effective, sustainable and scalable ultrasound-assisted mechano-chemical cracking method to produce graphene oxide (GO). A typical energy crop, miscanthus, was used as a carbon precursor and pyrolysed at 1200 °C before subjecting to edge-carboxylation via ball-milling in a CO 2 -induced environment. The resultant functionalised biochar was ultrasonically exfoliated in N -Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and water to form GOs. The intermediate and end-products were characterised via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses. Results show that the proposed synthesis route can produce good quality and uniform GOs (8–10% monolayer), with up to 96% of GOs having three layers or lesser when NMP is used. Ultrasonication proved to be effective in propagating the self-repulsion of negatively-charged functional groups. Moreover, small amounts of graphene quantum dots were observed, illustrating the potential of producing various graphene materials via a single-step method. Whilst this study has only investigated utilising miscanthus, the current findings are promising and could expand the potential of producing good quality graphene materials from renewable sources via green synthesis routes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a rising concern regarding the harmful impact of biotoxins, source of origin, and the determination of the specific type of toxin. With numerous reports on their extensive spread, biotoxins pose a critical challenge to figure out their parent groups, metabolites, and concentration. In that aspect, liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) based analysis paves the way for its accurate identification and quantification. The biotoxins are ideally categorized as phytotoxins, mycotoxins, shellfish‐toxins, ciguatoxins, cyanotoxins, and bacterial toxins such as tetrodotoxins. Considering the diverse nature of biotoxins, both low‐resolution mass spectrometry (LRMS) and high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) methods have been implemented for their detection. The sample preparation strategy for complex matrix usually includes "QuEChERS" extraction or solid‐phase extraction coupled with homogenization and centrifugation. For targeted analysis of biotoxins, the LRMS consisting of a tandem mass spectrometer operating in multiple reaction monitoring mode has been widely implemented. With the help of the reference standard, most of the toxins were accurately quantified. At the same time, the suspect screening and nontarget screening approach are facilitated by the HRMS platforms during the absence of reference standards. Significant progress has also been made in sampling device employment, utilizing novel sample preparation strategies, synthesizing toxin standards, employing hybrid MS platforms, and the associated data interpretation. This critical review attempts to elucidate the progress in LC‐MS based analysis in the determination of biotoxins while pointing out major challenges and suggestions for future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasound and Microchannel coupling for the generation of nanoemulsions. • Nanoemulsion was generated by coupling ultrasound and microchannel. • The implemented process intensification strategy led to creating a smaller monodispersed nanoemulsion system. • Microchannels of multiple dimensions were used to realize their impact. • Further controlling parameters were tested, accompanying with the stability of nanoemulsion. O/W nanoemulsions are isotropic colloidal systems constituted of oil droplets dispersed in continuous aqueous media and stabilised by surfactant molecules. Nanoemulsions hold applications in more widespread technological domains, more crucially in the pharmaceutical industry. Innovative nanoemulsion-based drug delivery system has been suggested as a powerful alternative strategy through the useful means of encapsulating, protecting, and delivering the poorly water-soluble bioactive components. Consequently, there is a need to generate an emulsion with small and consistent droplets. Diverse studies acknowledged that ultrasonic cavitation is a feasible and energy-efficient method in making pharmaceutical-grade nanoemulsions. This method offers more notable improvements in terms of stability with a lower Ostwald ripening rate. Meanwhile, a microstructured reactor, for instance, microchannel, has further been realised as an innovative technology that facilitates combinatorial approaches with the acceleration of reaction, analysis, and measurement. The recent breakthrough that has been achieved is the controlled generation of fine and monodispersed multiple emulsions through microstructured reactors. The small inner dimensions of microchannel display properties such as short diffusion paths and high specific interfacial areas, which increase the mass and heat transfer rates. Hence, the combination of ultrasonic cavitation with microstructures (microchannel) provides process intensification of creating a smaller monodispersed nanoemulsion system. This investigation is vital as it will then facilitate the creation of new nanoemulsion based drug delivery system continuously. Following this, the fabrication of microchannel and setup of its combination with ultrasound was conducted in the generation of O/W nanoemulsion, as well as optimisation to analyse the effect of varied operating parameters on the mean droplet diameter and dispersity of the nanoemulsion generated, besides monitoring the stability of the nanoemulsion. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images were also carried out for the droplet size measurements. In short, the outcomes of this study are encouraging, which necessitates further investigations to be carried out to advance a better understanding of coupling microchannel with ultrasound to produce pharmaceutical-grade nanoemulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing pollution of ecosystems by both biological and non-biological contaminants has recently fostered the rapid development of biosensors, thus opening a new investigation area in analytical sciences. Here, we review the applications of immunosensors in food safety, human health, environmental sciences, water pollution, and agriculture. We present the analysis of cancer markers, pathogens, antigens, antibiotics, pesticides, toxins, allergens, hormones, and phytohormones. Immunosensors comprise electrochemical, microgravimetric, optical, and thermometric immunosensors. Immunosensors have advantages such as enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, speed, and cost-effectiveness. In particular, antibody-based biosensors have outperformed traditional methods in identifying and analysing various compounds. Immunosensors are able to detect compounds at nanomolar to picomolar levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Evolution process of vortex and cavitation in an ARHCR was studied by CFD. • The "simplified flow field" strategy and the Q -criterion were utilized. • Flow instability caused by CGUs induces complex helical and vortex flows. • Stretching and dilatation terms dominate the vorticity transport process. • This work provides a reference value to understanding flow mechanism of ARHCRs. Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC), a promising technology for enhancing processes, has shown distinct effectiveness and versatility in various chemical and environmental applications. The recently developed advanced rotational hydrodynamic cavitation reactors (ARHCRs), employing cavitation generation units (CGUs) to induce cavitation, have demonstrated greater suitability for industrial-scale applications than conventional devices. However, the intricate interplay between vortex and cavitation, along with its spatial-temporal evolution in the complex flow field of ARHCRs, remains inadequately elucidated. This study investigated the interaction mechanism between cavitation and vortex in a representative interaction-type ARHCR for the first time using the "simplified flow field strategy" and the Q -criterion. The findings reveal that the flow instability caused by CGUs leads to intricate helical and vortex flows, subsequently giving rise to both sheet and vortex cavitation. Subsequently, utilizing the Q -criterion, the vortex structures are identified to be concentrated inside and at CGU edges with evolution process of mergence and separation. These vortex structures directly influence the shape and dimensions of cavities, establishing a complex interaction with cavitation. Lastly, the vorticity transport equation analysis uncovered that the stretching and dilatation terms dominate the vorticity transport process. Simultaneously, the baroclinic term focuses on the vapor-liquid interface, characterized by significant alterations in density and pressure gradients. These findings contribute to a better comprehension of the cavitation-vortex interaction in ARHCRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pickering emulsions (PEs) have garnered wide attention due to their high physical stability as bioactive carrier agents in the food industry. PEs are highly stable against coalescence due to the irreversible adsorption of particles forming a physical barrier at the oil-water interface between the droplets. As a sustainable alternative to conventional emulsifiers, there is an increasing interest in developing food-grade colloidal particles by forming PEs. Cellulose-based nanoparticles have proven to be efficient materials due to their renewable, biodegradable, non-toxic and controllable surface-active characteristics. Nanocellulose can be modified by various topochemical functionalization to modulate wettability and stimuli-responsive behaviour, endowing its vast potential as Pickering stabilisers for food applications. This review highlights the recent studies of protein functionalized nanocellulose for stabilising food PEs. We hope this review will assist in improving the performance and development of nanocellulose in PEs, which is vital for developing new functional foods and delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of the 21st century, natural food products and functional food ingredients have been heavily marketed as additives to improve human health and well-being. Although the early iterations were chemically synthesized, more emphasis on natural raw materials for pharmaceutical products shifted the focus towards microorganisms such as algae Algae are known to contain a wide range of functional components, such as carotenoids, chlorophyll, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and astaxanthin. These components possess numerous benefits for value-added food applications and are widely sought after in the current market. Due to the high expenditure related to the production of these nutraceutical items, researchers are looking towards enhancing the yield with the help of nanotechnology. Algae also proved to be a safe and cheaper alternative in the production of nanoparticles (NPs), which demonstrate a range of antimicrobial properties. Additionally, algae secrete various important biomolecules and bioactive components upon exposure to nanoparticles which can be utilized in the pharmaceutical industry. Further research focused on improving biomolecules secretion and sustainable NPs production is necessary for the exponential growth of this sector in the industrial world. This review highlights the studies conducted in the field of nanotechnology mediated with algae to enhance the generation of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. • Nanoparticles (NPs) can be sustainably synthesized by a biological source like algae. • Nanoparticles also induce the accumulation of bioactive components in algae. • The pharmaceutical sector could be benefitted from the algal biosynthesis of NPs. • Commercialization of algal nanotechnology will contribute to sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutathione (GSH) is a useful biomarker in the development, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. However, most of the reported GSH biosensors are expensive, time-consuming and often require complex sample treatment, which limit its biological applications. Herein, a nanobiosensor for the detection of GSH using folic acid-functionalized reduced graphene oxide-modified BSA gold nanoclusters (FA-rGO-BSA/AuNCs) based on the fluorescence quenching interactions is presented. Firstly, a facile and optimized protocol for the fabrication of BSA/AuNCs is developed. Functionalization of rGO with folic acid is performed using EDC/NHS cross-linking reagents, and their interaction after loading with BSA/AuNCs is demonstrated. The formation of FA-rGO, BSA/AuNCs and FA-rGO-BSA/AuNCs are confirmed by the state-of-art characterization techniques. Finally, a fluorescence turn-off sensing strategy is developed using the as-synthesized FA-rGO-BSA/AuNCs for the detection of GSH. The nanobiosensor revealed an excellent sensing performance for the detection of GSH with high sensitivity and desirable selectivity over other potential interfering species. The fluorescence quenching is linearly proportional to the concentration of GSH between 0 and 1.75 µM, with a limit of detection of 0.1 µM under the physiological pH conditions (pH 7.4). Such a sensitive nanobiosensor paves the way to fabricate a "turn-on" or "turn-off" fluorescent sensor for important biomarkers in cancer cells, presenting potential nanotheranostic applications in biological detection and clinical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A stable palm oil-based water-in-oil nano-emulsion was formulated using ultrasound. • Lipid peroxidation did not occur for the processed water-in-oil nano-emulsion. • Ultrasound is found to be more energy-efficient than microfluidizer for producing nano-emulsion. • Viscosity of water-in-oil nano-emulsion influences sedimentation and droplets size. • NaCl improves nano-emulsion stability through electrostatic and steric repulsions. Abstract This study aimed to formulate a stable palm oil-based water-in-oil (W/O) nano-emulsion. Emphasis was placed on the effects of polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR), medium chain triglyceride (MCT), lecithin and sodium chloride (NaCl) addition towards the stability of nano-emulsion. Among the performed analyses were mean droplet diameter (MDD), dispersity index (DI), critical micelle concentration (CMC), lipid peroxidation, viscosity, sedimentation index (SI) and surface morphology. The most stable optimized palm oil-based W/O nano-emulsion was produced using 61.25 wt% of palm oil, 26.25 wt% of MCT, 2.5 wt% of PGPR and 10 wt% of water (0.5 M of NaCl). The MDD and DI of the obtained W/O nano-emulsion were 143.1 ± 8.8 and 0.131 ± 0.094, respectively. After 2 weeks, no sedimentation was observed in W/O nano-emulsion with MDD and DI were 151.2 ± 6.5 nm and 0.156 ± 0.025 respectively. This study clearly found that polyricinoleate non-polar fatty acids of PGPR bound to non-polar fatty acids of palm oil through van der Waals intermolecular forces. While, polyglycerol polar head of PGPR interacts with water molecules through hydrogen bonding, as well as by the bound glyceride units of palm oil. The addition of NaCl further reduced MDD by 70 nm and improved the stability of nano-emulsion through electrostatic and steric repulsions attributed to the dissociation of Na+ and Cl− ions. This study aids to widen the knowledge and interest on the utilization of palm oil for the generation of W/O nano-emulsion, as well as to better understand the interaction between palm oil and PGPR/NaCl in producing nano-emulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Prospects of ultrasound in hydroxylating graphene. • Prospects of ultrasound in hydroxylating Buckminsterfullerene. • Design aspects for large-scale sonochemical hydroxylation. • Statistical approach to optimize sonochemical variables. Abstract The main objective of this review is to derive the salient features of previously developed ultrasound-assisted methods for hydroxylating graphene and Buckminsterfullerene (C 60). The pros and cons associated to ultrasound-assisted synthesis of hydroxy-carbon nanomaterials in designing the strategical methods for the industrial bulk production are also discussed. A guideline on the statistical methods has also been considered to further provide the scopes towards the application of the previously reported methods. Irrespective of many useful methods that have been developed in order to functionalize C 60 and graphene by diverse oxygenated functional groups e.g. epoxide, hydroxyl, carboxyl as well as metal/metal oxide via a combination of organic chemistry and sonochemistry, there is no report dealing exclusively on the application of ultrasonic cavitation particularly to synthesising polyhydroxylated carbon nanomaterials. On this context, this review emphasizes in investigating the critical aspects of sono-nanochemistry and the statistical approaches to optimize the variables in the sonochemical process towards a large-scale synthesis of polyhydroxylated graphene and C 60. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basal stem rot (BSR) infection of oil palm, caused by Ganoderma boninense , is one of the key constraining components in palm oil production causing considerable economic losses around the world. Although it was reported a century before, till date no effective controller has been identified, the alteration of lignin content in oil palm can control the BSR is one of the hypothesis. Since the degradation of lignin is the rate limiting step in the infection process of BSR disease. Two naturally occurring phenolic compounds such as benzoic acid and salicylic acid are known to play a key role in the plant defence as well as in the lignin synthesis. The goal of this research is to evaluate the effect of these two naturally occurring phenolic compounds against G. boninense . In this study, oil palm seedlings were immunized with various concentrations (1–15 mM) of benzoic acid and salicylic acid, prior to G. boninense inoculation. After challenging the oil palm seedlings with G. boninense , BSR progression along with the changes in defence enzymes (Phenylalanine ammonia lyase, Peroxidase, and Polyphenol oxidase), and the total lignin contents were examined and evaluated. The exogenous application of the phenolic compounds have not only suppressed the BSR infection but also promoted the plant growth significantly (P ≤ 0.01). The disease suppression was due to the increased production of defence enzymes particularly polyphenol oxidase which had increased lignin content in the seedlings. An absolute disease reduction was registered in seedlings treated 10 and 15 mM benzoic acid with a significant (P ≤ 0.01) increment in the production of lignin along with the defence enzymes. Whereas the salicylic acid exhibited an ambivalent behavior, at 1 mM salicylic acid induced the disease by 60% however as the concentration had increased to 5 mM suppression in the BSR was observed. The efficiency of phenolic compounds as an agent of disease reduction is found to be concentration dependent. The outcome of this study has found that benzoic acid at 15 mM concentration is a superior controller for the BSR disease suppression in oil palm. This study would pave the way towards a new management strategy to replace the chemical controls by naturally occurring phenolic compounds to control BSR effectively in oil palm ranches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Replace of natural foods with biosynthesis compounds for nutraceuticals production. • Microalgae-produced nutraceuticals provide better health treatment effects. • Review of application of nanotechnology on microalgae for enhanced production. • Nanotechnology improves harvesting efficiency to 90% and above. • High concentration of nanoparticles provides side effects to the microalgal cells. Nutraceutical supplements provide health benefits, such as fulfilling the lack of nutrients in the human body or being utilized to treat or cure certain diseases. As the world population is growing, certain countries are experiencing food crisis challenges, causing natural foods are not sustainable to be used for nutraceutical production because it will require large-scale of food supply to produce enriched nutraceutics. The high demand for abundant nutritional compounds has made microalgae a reliable source as they can synthesize high-value molecules through photosynthetic activities. However, some microalgae species are limited in growth and unable to accumulate a significant amount of biomass due to several factors related to environmental conditions. Therefore, adding nanoparticles (NPs) as a photocatalyst is considered to enhance the yield rate of microalgae in an energy-saving and economical way. This review focuses on the composition of microalgal biomass for nutraceutical production, the health perspectives of nutritional compounds on humans, and the application of nanotechnology on microalgae for improved production and harvesting. The results obtained show that microalgal-based compounds indeed have better nutrients content than natural foods. However, nanotechnology must be further comprehended to make them non-hazardous and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Nowadays, fruits are gaining high demand due to their promising advantages on human health. Astonishingly, their by-products, that is, seeds and peels, account for 10–35% of fruit weight and are usually thrown as waste after consumption or processing. But it is neglected that fruit seeds also have functional properties and nutritional value, and thus could be utilized for dietary and therapeutic purposes, ultimately reducing the waste burden on the environment. Owing to these benefits, researchers have started to assess the nutritional value of different fruits seeds, in addition to the chemical composition in various bioactive constituents, like carotenoids (lycopene), flavonoids, proteins (bioactive peptides), vitamins, etc., that have substantial health benefits and can be used in formulating different types of food products with noteworthy functional and nutraceutical potential. The current review aims to comprehend the known information of nutritional and phytochemical profiling of non-edible fruits seeds, viz. apple, apricot, avocado, cherry, date, jamun, litchi, longan, mango, and papaya. Additionally, clinical studies conducted on these selected non-edible fruit seed extracts, their safety issues and their enrichment in food products as well as animal feed has also been discussed. This review aims to highlight the potential applications of the non-edible fruit seeds in developing new food products and also provide a viable alternative to reduce the waste disposal issue faced by agro-based industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the chemical industry, 1,4-diethylene dioxide, commonly called dioxane, is widely used as a solvent as well as a stabilizing agent for chlorinated solvents. Due to its high miscibility, dioxane is a ubiquitous water contaminant. This study investigates the effectiveness of catalyst- and ultrasound (US)-assisted persulfate (PS) activation with regard to degrading dioxane. As a first step, a composite catalyst was prepared using zeolite. A sonochemical dispersion and reduction method was used to dope zeolite with iron nanoparticles (FeNP/Z). In the subsequent study, the reaction kinetics of dioxane degradation following the single-stage and two-stage addition of PS was examined in the presence of a catalyst. Using GC-MS analysis, intermediate compounds formed from dioxane degradation were identified, and plausible reaction pathways were described. Upon 120 min of sonication in the presence of a catalyst with a two-stage injection of PS, 95% 100 mg/L dioxane was degraded. Finally, the estimated cost of treatment is also reported in this study. Sonolytically activated PS combined with a FeNP/Z catalyst synergizes the remediation of biorefractory micropollutants such as dioxane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the importance of antler-type fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum , in this study, the impact of main growth parameters such as ventilation and light on the development of antler-type fruiting bodies has been investigated together with the determination of physico-chemical properties of antler fruiting bodies. For this, the primordia bags of G. lucidum were kept under controlled ventilation to adjust the CO 2 produced by the mushrooms owing to its respiration under light and dark conditions. The bioactive compounds such as phenolics, flavonoids, water-soluble polysaccharides and ganoderic acid showed a two-fold increase in the antler-type fruiting bodies as compared to normal kidney-shaped fruiting bodies. It is assumed from this study that the antler type fruiting bodies are developed due to restricted ventilation which causes an increase in the level of CO 2 gas in the air as a result of respiration of mushroom. The shape and colour of antler fruiting bodies again dependent on the light provided in the growth chamber. This study also proves that with the manipulation of light and ventilation antler-type fruiting bodies of G. lucidum could be developed with higher quantity of bioactive compounds and with higher antioxidant potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel, with its nature of clean, biodegradability, and renewability, is an ideal substitute for fossil diesel. This critical review focuses on the advances in process intensification of biodiesel production by the emerging hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) technology. The recent progress in HC reactors and HC-assisted biodiesel production are summarized and discussed. Several key operating factors (i.e., reactor structure, cavitation intensity, temperature, molar ratio of alcohol to oil, catalyst, and duration) and the economic feasibility are analyzed. It is found that HC can effectively enhance acid- and alkali-catalyzed production processes by using various edible and non-edible oils (e.g., waste cooking oil) as feedstocks, and have economic practicability for industrialization. HC can achieve as high as over 99% yields in a short time, and the quality of the high-purity products meets EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 standards. Although the process simulation and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) validated that the economics of HC process is far superior to that of conventional mechanical stirring at large scales, the experimental research at pilot or industrial scales is absent, and the amplification effect of both the reactor and process is unclear. Moreover, the investigations on the cavitation flow mechanism, structural optimization and design of HCRs, and feasibility (e.g., life cycle analysis (LCA), LCCA, and LCA-LCCA), have to be focused on in the future. At last, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the HC process are evaluated by a SWOT matrix, which may hopefully provide some inspiration for the future development of this novel technology. [Display omitted] • High yield/conversion can be achieved by HC from edible and non-edible oils. • Rotational-type reactors demonstrate considerably high effectiveness and economics. • Continuous HC process is found to be available on laboratory scales. • LCCA indicates the cost of industrial-scale HC process is reasonable. • Feasibility of HC process is comprehensively assessed by a SWOT matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Emerging green technologies have increased interest in "Cavitation Processing" for protein extraction. • Cavitation is a non-invasive, non-ionizing and non-polluting technique. • Sustainable technology platform to produce high-quality protein products from renewable resources. • Limitations of the current investigations provide an integrated view for commercial product formulation. Increasing protein demands directly require additional resources to those presently and recurrently available. Emerging green technologies have witnessed an escalating interest in "Cavitation Processing" (CP) to ensure a non-invasive, non-ionizing and non-polluting extraction. The main intent of this review is to present an integrated summary of cavitation extraction methods specifically applied to food protein sources. Along with a comparative assessment carried out for each type of cavitation model, protein extraction yield and implications on the extracted protein's structural and functional properties. The basic principle of cavitation is due to the pressure shift in the liquid flow within milliseconds. Hence, cavitation emerges similar to boiling; however, unlike boiling (temperature change), cavitation occurs due to pressure change. Characterization and classification of sample type is also a prime candidate when considering the applications of cavitation models in food processing. Generally, acoustic and hydrodynamic cavitation is applied in food applications including extraction, brewing, microbial cell disruption, dairy processing, emulsification, fermentation, waste processing, crystallisation, mass transfer and production of bioactive peptides. Micro structural studies indicate that shear stress causes disintegration of hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals interactions result in the unfolding of the protein's secondary and/or tertiary structures. A change in the structure is not targeted but rather holistic and affects the physicochemical, functional, and nutritional properties. Cavitation assisted extraction of protein is typically studied at a laboratory scale. This highlights limitations against the application at an industrial scale to obtain potential commercial gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physicochemical properties of blackberry cell walls under air drying with and without contact ultrasonication were analysed, and their ability to bind soluble phenolics was evaluated. Compared to air drying alone, ultrasound promoted cell wall shrinkage and reduced their specific surface area and water binding capacity. Meanwhile, the in-process ultrasound further increased the amount of water soluble pectin (WSP) and decreased protopectin. After drying, the cell walls of ultrasound-dried samples contained 11.6% less protopectin (PP) than air-dried samples. Pectins in ultrasound-dried samples were also more aggregated with a reduced branching degree of Rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I). Most of these ultrasonic modifications of blackberry cell walls hindered their phenolics acquirement. The equilibrium adsorption capacities of cell walls from ultrasound-dried blackberries for 1 h were 33.5% (for catechin) and 21.8% (for phloretic acid) lower than the counterparts from air-dried samples for 8 h. Although the soluble phenolics absorbed by dried blackberry cell walls were more thermal-stable than those adsorbed by fresh blackberry cell walls, the overall protection provided by cell walls was still regarded as attenuated with drying due to the decline in the adsorption ability. Besides, it is believed that the higher retention of soluble phenolics in ultrasound dried samples is ascribed to the shortened thermal-drying time rather than the cell walls-phenolics interactions. These findings provide an in-depth understanding of the effect of ultrasound drying on phenolic stability. [Display omitted] • Ultrasound reduced specific surface area and water binding capacity of cell walls. • Ultrasound increased the amount of water soluble pectin and decreased protopectin. • The ultrasound-intensified drying decreased the branching degree of RG-I pectin. • The ability of cell walls to absorb soluble phenolics was reduced after sonication. • The protections on soluble phenolics provided by cell walls weakened with drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation, sisal fibres were treated with the combination of alkali and high intensity ultrasound (HIU) and their effects on the morphology, thermal properties of fibres and mechanical properties of their reinforced PP composites were studied. FTIR and FE-SEM results confirmed the removal of amorphous materials such as hemicellulose, lignin and other waxy materials after the combined treatments of alkali and ultrasound. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed an increase in the crystallinity of sisal fibres with an increase in the concentration of alkali. Thermogravimetric results revealed that the thermal stability of sisal fibres obtained with the combination of both alkali and ultrasound treatment was increased by 38.5 °C as compared to the untreated fibres. Morphology of sisal fibre reinforced composites showed good interfacial interaction between fibres and matrix after the combined treatment. Tensile properties were increased for the combined treated sisal fibres reinforced PP composites as compared to the untreated and pure PP. Tensile modulus and strength increased by more than 50% and 10% respectively as compared to the untreated sisal fibre reinforced composite. It has been found that the combined treatment of alkali and ultrasound is effective and useful to remove the amorphous materials and hence to improve the mechanical and thermal properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation, halloysite (Hal) nanotubes were surface modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to enhance the surface interaction of Hal nanotubes with polylactide or poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and to achieve good dispersion of Hal nanotubes across the PLA matrix. Unmodified and silane modified Hal nanotubes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption, FTIR and TGA analysis results were confirmed the successful modification of Hal nanotubes surface with APTES. The different wt% of unmodified and APTES modified Hal nanotubes reinforced PLA polymer composites were prepared by using a laboratory scale melt mixer. The resultant Hal-PLA nanocomposites were characterized for their morphology, thermal, mechanical and dynamic-mechanical properties. Tensile strength increased to 62.6 MPa with the addition of 4 wt% of APTES modified Hal-PLA nanocomposites which is 26.5% higher than pure PLA and 15% higher than unmodified (4 wt%) Hal-PLA nanocomposites. Impact strength of 4 wt% APTES modified Hal-PLA nanocomposites was 29.8 MPa, which is 20% higher than the unmodified Hal-PLA nanocomposites and 40% higher than pure PLA. Thermal stability also increased by 17 °C with the addition of 4 wt% of APTES modified Hal nanotubes and 10 °C for the unmodified Hal nanotubes onto PLA. Storage modulus increased > 10% with the addition of 4 wt% of APTES modified Hal nanotubes as compared to pure PLA and tan delta values were decreased for the modified Hal nanotubes due to an increase in the compatibilisation between filler and matrix phase. Based on these results, APTES is one of the best choices for the functionalisation of inorganic surface such as Hal nanotubes. The mechanical and thermal properties significantly improved with the addition of a small quantity (4 wt%) of APTES modified Hal nanotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Three probiotics were combined to ferment blueberry juice. • Regrssion modeling and genetic algorithm were used to optimize inoculation proportion. • The combined L. plantarum and L. fermentum at 0.5:0.5 enriched phenolics best. • Mixed fermented juices had highest rutin and quercetin-3-rhamnoside contents. • Mixed fermentation produced more alcohols and ketones than L. fermentum fermentation. Three strains, including L. fermentum , L. plantarum and S. thermophilus, were combined to ferment blueberry juice. Through the sequential simplex lattice mixture design, regression modeling and genetic algorithm optimization, it was found that the combination of S. thermophilus with either L. fermentum or L. plantarum weakened the capacity of Lactobacillus strains to enrich phenolics, and the combinations of these strains had no synergistic effect of synthesizing lactic acid. The resulting optimal inoculation proportion to enrich phenolics was the mixed L. fermentum and L. plantarum at 0.5:0.5. After fermentation for 48 h, total phenolic, ferulic acid, rutin, and quercetin-3-rhamnoside of mixed fermented samples were 82.19 %, 15.22 %, 79.08 % and 98.59 % higher than the unfermented juice, and their contents were all highest among the fermented samples. Moreover, the samples fermented by mixed strains possessed higher amounts of 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-heptanone and 2-pentanone than samples fermented by L. fermentum , S. thermophilus and unfermented samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its discovery in 2004, graphene is increasingly applied in various fields owing to its unique properties. Graphene application in the biomedical domain is promising and intriguing as an emerging 2D material with a high surface area, good mechanical properties, and unrivalled electronic and physical properties. This review summarizes six typical synthesis methods to fabricate pristine graphene (p‐G), graphene oxide (GO), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), followed by characterization techniques to examine the obtained graphene materials. As bare graphene is generally undesirable in vivo and in vitro, functionalization methods to reduce toxicity, increase biocompatibility, and provide more functionalities are demonstrated. Subsequently, in vivo and in vitro behaviors of various bare and functionalized graphene materials are discussed to evaluate the functionalization effects. Reasonable control of dose (<20 mg kg−1), sizes (50–1000 nm), and functionalization methods for in vivo application are advantageous. Then, the key biomedical applications based on graphene materials are discussed, coupled with the current challenges and outlooks of this growing field. In a broader sense, this review provides a comprehensive discussion on the synthesis, characterization, functionalization, evaluation, and application of p‐G, GO, and rGO in the biomedical field, highlighting their recent advances and potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular diffusion of phenolics inside walnut pellicle fiber particles under solid-liquid extraction enhanced by ultrasound (US), orbital agitation (OA), impeller agitation (IA), and the combined microwave and impeller agitation (MW-IA) were explored. Numerical modeling considering the temperature-dependent diffusivity revealed that the internal diffusivity of phenolics was the highest under MW-IA and the lowest under OA. At 35 °C, IA (126.246 mg/g, t = 10 min) was more effective to strengthen the phenolic diffusivity than the US-39W (95.538 mg/g, t = 10 min). Due to the simultaneous enhancement of internal diffusivity and external dissolution, the MW-IA extraction reached equilibrium within 16 min, reaching the highest yield among all the treatments (176.944 mg/g). The extraction was then divided into the increasing and falling driving force periods. The comparison of phenolic diffusivity among MW-IA and IA roughly indicated that the proportion of non-thermal effect of microwave at 315 W was 889% higher than 189 W at the extraction equilibrium. Moreover, some soluble polyphenols, i.e. quercitrin and syringic acid, could be adsorbed by the cell wall after equilibrium. The correlations between any two soluble phenolics varied with the phenolic type, deducing that soluble phenolics may interact with each other either positively or negatively. Besides, the mining of phenolic data also indicated that intensive impeller agitation is a good substitution for ultrasonication to extract phenolics effectively. [Display omitted] • Solid-liquid extraction was modeled by a diffusion model with a temperature factor. • Diffusion was divided into the increasing and falling driving force periods. • Non-thermal effect of microwave at 315 W was 889% higher than 189 W at equilibrium. • Impeller agitation at a high temperature can be a substitute for ultrasound extraction. • Soluble polyphenols interact with each other either positively or negatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drying is important in many processes for material preservation, operation optimisation, and easy handling. Various dryers have been developed to ensure controllable drying performance and enhance efficiency. Since traditional mechanical dryers depend heavily upon fossil fuels, ongoing studies have been conducted on solar dryers, focusing on offering alternative sustainable drying methods and utilising local materials in a more sustainable manner. This review features recent work and development on solar dryers from the material and technical perspectives, emphasising the component conceptions and ameliorations, material utilisations, and drying fluid thermodynamics. The overall drying performances, advantages, and current drawbacks of different solar dryer designs are critically discussed. Applications of various solar dryers in different sectors are also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The delivery of drugs via transdermal routes is an attractive approach due to ease of administration, bypassing of the first-pass metabolism, and the large skin surface area. However, a major drawback is an inability to surmount the skin's stratum corneum (SC) layer. Therefore, techniques reversibly modifying the stratum corneum have been a classical approach. Surmounting the significant barrier properties of the skin in a well-organised, momentary, and harmless approach is still challenging. Chemical permeation enhancers (CPEs) with higher activity are associated with certain side effects restricting their advancement in transdermal drug delivery. Furthermore, complexity in the interaction of CPEs with the skin has led to difficulty in elucidating the mechanism of action. Nevertheless, CPEs-aided transdermal drug delivery will accomplish its full potential due to advancements in analytical techniques, synthetic chemistry, and combinatorial studies. This review focused on techniques such as drug–vehicle interaction, vesicles and their analogues, and novel CPEs such as lipid synthesis inhibitors (LSIs), cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), and ionic liquids (ILs). In addition, different types of microneedles, including 3D-printed microneedles, have been focused on in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) are popular in different research fields due to their unique physical and chemical properties and superior antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, larvicidal, and catalytic potentials. Although conventional wet methods like colloidal synthesis, calcination, and spark ablation for synthesizing MNPs are effective, their synthesis uses an array of reducing and stabilizing agents and gases, making the process tedious. Additionally, metal nanoparticles induce oxidative stress through reactive oxygen species (ROS), showing high toxicity. Research and development in green chemistry have gained momentum and massive attention because of being efficient, clean, economical, environment-friendly, and free of hazardous byproducts. Recently, seed extracts in-lieu of chemical stabilizers and reducing agents have become popular because of the single-step green synthesis of MNPs. Seeds provide the researchers with a cost-effective alternate to other biological methods due to low maintenance costs, culture/growth independence for biomass, and diversity of phytochemicals as reducing and capping agents. Thus, effective green synthesis approaches are considered sustainable for MNP synthesis. This review depicts the literature on the challenges associated with metal and metal oxide nanoparticles and discusses their synthesis using seed extracts. The application section of the review discusses the antimicrobial, anticancer, and larvicidal activities of seed extracted-synthesized metallic nanoparticles. Furthermore, insights into the different biological potentials of the synthesized green MNPs have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioactive compounds of Ganoderma lucidum are used for various human ailments resulting in a high demand for G. lucidum across the globe. The cultivation and isolation of bioactive compounds is not sufficient to balance the supply and current demand. Therefore, this study aims to increase the amount of bioactive compounds by subjecting this mushroom to one of the abiotic elicitors, ozone. The fresh fruiting bodies were exposed to ozone gas at different concentrations (1, 5 and 9 μL L −1 ) and time intervals (1, 12, 24 and 48 h) to evaluate the physical as well as the chemical changes induced to the fruiting bodies. Physical parameters of the study include colour, weight, and firmness of fruiting bodies, whereas the chemical measures include detection of total phenolic content, flavonoids, water-soluble polysaccharides, and crude ganoderic acids. The antioxidant properties of fruiting bodies were determined by DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article "A Facile Scalable Strategy for Constructing Novel Robust Self-Healing Glove Utilizing Nanoreinforced Thermoreversible Carboxylated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber," the authors present a method for creating a self-healing glove using nanoreinforced XNBR. The glove is able to regain its bonding and strength through ionic interactions, making it highly durable. The authors successfully demonstrate the fabrication of a prototype for the self-healing glove. [Extracted from the article]

Neoterically, food packaging systems designed solely for prolonging shelf life or monitoring freshness could not fulfil the dynamic demands of consumers. In this current investigation, using the solvent casting method, a versatile halochromic indicator was created by integrating black currant anthocyanin and cinnamon essential oil-loaded Pickering emulsion into a starch/gelatin matrix. The resulting indicator film underwent scrutiny for its structural, pH-sensitive, antioxidant, and antimicrobial attributes. Unexpectedly, the amalgamation of anthocyanin and essential oil led to decreased antioxidant activity, dropping from 73.23 ± 2.17 to 28.87 ± 2.50 mg Trolox equivalent/g sample. Additionally, no discernible antimicrobial properties were detected in the composite film sample against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Fourier transform infrared analyses unveiled robust intermolecular interactions among the film-forming components, providing insights into the observed antagonistic effect. The indicator film displayed distinctive colour changes corresponding to the fresh (greyish-brown), onset of decomposition (khaki), and spoiled (dark green) stages of the stored fish sample. This highlights its promising potential for providing real-time indications of food spoilage. These findings are important for the efficient design of composite films incorporating anthocyanins and essential oils. They serve as a guide towards their potential use as multifunctional packaging materials in the food industry. [Display omitted] • Encapsulation of essential oil with nanocellulose enhances its physical stability. • Blending of anthocyanin and essential oil reduces functional properties. • Strong intermolecular interactions explain the observed antagonistic effect. • Addition of essential oil enhances the colour stability of indicator film. • Resultant colorimetric film provides accurate real-time detection of fish freshness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Reducing decreasing JPCR's area ratio, HC intensity can be effectively enhanced. • A greater area ratio in JPCRs extends the operating range with a higher limit ratio. • In disinfection and algae control field, JPCR has a broad application prospect. Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) has emerged as a promising technology for water disinfection. Interestingly, when subjected to specific cavitation pressures, jet pump cavitation reactors (JPCRs) exhibit effective water treatment capabilities. This study investigated the cavitation flow and vorticty transport in a JPCR with various area ratios by utilizing computational fluid dynamics. The results reveal that cavitation is more likely to occur within the JPCR as the area ratio becomes smaller. While as the area ratio decreases, the limit flow ratio also decreases, leading to a reduced operational range for the JPCR. During the cavitation inception stage, only a few bubbles with limited travel distances are generated at the throat inlet. A stable cavitation layer developed between the throat and downstream wall during the limited cavitation stage. In this phase, the primary flow carried the bubbles towards the outlet. In addition, it was found that the vortex stretching, compression expansion, and baroclinic torque terms primarily influence the vorticity transport equation in this context. This work may provide a reference value to the design of JPCRs for water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]