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The use of membrane-forming curing compounds on fresh concrete has been widely adopted by many States' Departments of Transportation as it is feasible where there is a deficiency of water, on sloping surfaces where curing with water is challenging, and in cases where large areas like pavement have to be cured. However, the evaluation of the curing compound application effectiveness is difficult because most of the evaluation test methods are not performed during the early age of the concrete. Moreover, the ASTM C156 standards test of water retention for the qualification of curing compounds has met criticism as the moisture retention is performed only on the mortar specimens, with a fixed application rate and curing condition. Therefore, in this study, the embedded resistance technique was used as a test replacement for the moisture retention test to assess concrete curing. The findings from this study showed that a correlation can be found between the moisture retention test and the embedded resistance test. Based on the findings, the embedded resistance test could be a suitable replacement for the moisture loss test, because the test is much simpler and quicker to be performed both in the lab and in the field.

High-grade heavy metal elements in copper slag (CS) are worth recovering. Unfortunately, the high viscosity of leaching solution, low leaching efficiency, difficult filtration and low separation efficiency of valuable components exist in the traditional sulfuric acid leaching process. In this study, the above problems are solved by sulfuric acid pretreatment + curing + water leaching. Moreover, iron, cobalt and copper ions in solution are separated by stepwise precipitation. The final iron, cobalt, copper and silicon recoveries are 99.01 %, 98.45 %, 93.13 % and 99.52 %, respectively. Thermodynamic calculations show that H 4 SiO 4 can be converted to insoluble SiO 2 to improve filtration properties under curing conditions of sulfur dioxide partial pressures of 10 -20 ∼0 atm, oxygen partial pressures of 10 -20 ∼0 atm and 400-600k. Simulation studies of the phase equilibria of the components of the leach solution by Visual MINTEQ showed that the oxidation of Fe 2+ to Fe 3+ is necessary for the removal of Fe 2+ from the solution by precipitation. This study provides a new idea for the efficient utilization of CS., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The cure kinetics of various epoxy resin mixtures, comprising a bisphenol epoxy, two epoxy modifiers, and two hardening agents derived from cardanol technology, were investigated through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The development of these mixtures aimed to achieve epoxy materials with a substantial bio-content up to 50% for potential automotive applications, aligning with the 2019 European Regulation on climate neutrality and CO 2 emission. The Friedman isoconversional method was employed to determine key kinetic parameters, such as activation energy and pre-exponential factor, providing insights into the cross-linking process and the Kamal-Sourour model was used to describe and predict the kinetics of the chemical reactions. This empirical approach was implemented to forecast the curing process for the specific oven curing cycle utilised. Additionally, tensile tests revealed promising results showcasing materials' viability against conventional counterparts. Overall, this investigation offers a comprehensive understanding of the cure kinetics, mechanical behaviour, and thermal properties of the novel epoxy-novolac blends, contributing to the development of high-performance materials for sustainable automotive applications.

This study investigated the potential of Chinese cabbage and radish powders as natural sources of nitrite in ground pork sausages. Four vegetable powders from Chinese cabbage and radish, depending on the processing method, were prepared for evaluation: filtered Chinese cabbage juice powder (FCJP), crushed Chinese cabbage powder (CCP), filtered radish juice powder (FRJP), and crushed radish powder (CRP). Both FCJP and FRJP from filtered juice of Chinese cabbages and radishes had higher total soluble solids and water soluble index compared to CCP and CRP from crushed Chinese cabbages and radishes. Additionally, FRJP and CRP showed a higher nitrate content than CCP and FCJP. The evaluation of vegetable powders against products containing sodium nitrite (control) or commercial vegetable powder in ground pork sausages showed that the use of FRJP and CRP resulted in similar levels of CIE a* compared to the control, whereas those cured with FCJP or CCP resulted in lower CIE a* values. However, regardless of the type and processing method of vegetables, all sausages treated with vegetable powders were similar in terms of cured pigment, total pigment, curing efficiency, and lipid oxidation compared with the control. Although lower hardness was observed in sausages treated with FRJP, no other treatments affected textural attributes. These results indicate that FRJP and CRP have great potential as natural curing agents for replacing nitrite in cured sausages. The use of powders obtained from filtered juices may provide extended utility as vegetable-based curing methods for other meat products., Competing Interests: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest., (© Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources.)

Traditional cement solidifying or stabilizing heavy metal-contaminated sites often face issues like alkalinity loss, cracking, and poor long-term performance. Therefore, bentonite-supported nano-zero-valent iron (B-nZVI) was introduced to optimize the remediation effect of cement in this paper. The effects of B-nZVI, ordinary Portland cement (OPC), and B-nZVI + OPC on the chemical stability of heavy metals and the physical strength of lead-contaminated soil were compared using semi-dynamic leaching methods, BCR tests, unconfined strength analysis, and micro-assisted analysis. Results demonstrated that the addition of B-nZVI effectively enhanced the remediation efficacy of OPC on lead-contaminated soil. The combination of B-nZVI and OPC exhibited a synergistic repair effect, offering superior physical strength and chemical stability for lead remediation. B-nZVI facilitated the adsorption and enrichment of Pb 2+ , thereby reducing oxidizable lead and enhancing short-term stabilization. Meanwhile, OPC precipitation and silicate gelling stabilized exchangeable lead into the residual form, necessitating repeated hydration gelling. Additionally, B-nZVI's sealing effect via water absorption delayed the leaching of exchangeable lead, thereby reducing lead migration. Even with only 1% B-nZVI added to the 12% OPC base, the leaching amount of Pb 2+ decreased significantly from 67.6 to 6.59 mg/kg after 7 d of curing. The unconfined strength of contaminated soil treated with the composite solidifying agent for 7 d was 12.87% higher than that of OPC alone, and for 28 d, it was 36.48% higher. This optimization scheme presents a promising approach for effective and sustainable remediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

In this study, polyacrylic acid hydrogels were prepared by modulating the cross-linking agent mass ratio using UV and heat curing methods. The structures and properties of the hydrogels were characterized and analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the hydrogels prepared through UV curing were better than those prepared through heat curing. The maximum mechanical tensile strength of 139 kPa was achieved at a cross-linking agent mass ratio of 3.85% with 20 min of UV curing, and the maximum mechanical compressive strength of 0.16 MPa was achieved at a cross-linking agent mass ratio of 2.91% with 20 min of UV curing. However, the hydrogels prepared by heat curing had a higher tensile strength than those prepared using the heat curing method. In addition, the thermally cured hydrogels had higher water absorption and adsorption properties. Moreover, the PAA hydrogels prepared at cross-linking agent mass ratios of 1.91 and 2.91% with 2 h of the heat curing method had the best swelling properties. Moreover, the increase in the cross-linker mass concentration led to a decrease in the pore size and porosity and to a more compact structure.

Heat-resistant chocolate is of much interest to confectionery companies for marketing in tropical areas. Methods exist to produce heat-resistant chocolate by exposing the product to high relative humidity (RH) and increased temperatures. The overall objective of this research project was to explore the curing of white chocolate (30% whole milk powder, 44% sucrose, and 26% cocoa butter) to make it heat resistant and able to be picked up at 33 and 55°C. The curing involved storing solid chocolate samples at 83% RH at 29°C for 1 week. Moisture content before and after curing was measured using the Karl Fischer technique. Force required to penetrate (hardness) was measured at 29°C using a texturometer. Curing samples of white chocolate bars at a lower relative humidity (50% RH at 18°C for 12 weeks or 50% RH at 29°C for 12 weeks) also resulted in a heat-resistant chocolate that exhibited internal structure, as monitored by SEM. The moisture content in heat-resistant milk chocolate increased from an average value of 0.84% to 4.6% during the curing process. Curing increased the penetration force, indicating the development of internal structure. This study showed that heat resistance in white chocolate can be achieved by curing solid chocolate samples at controlled humidity and temperature conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Tobacco, a crop of significant economic importance, was greatly influenced in leaf quality by protein content. However, current processing parameters fail to adequately meet the requirements for protein degradation. Microorganisms possess potential advantages for degrading proteins and enhancing the quality of tobacco leaves, and hold substantial potential in the process of curing. To effectively reduce the protein content in tobacco leaves, thereby improving the quality and safety of the tobacco leaves. In this study, tobacco leaf were used as experimental material. From these, the BSP1 strain capable of effectively degrading proteins was isolated and identified as Bacillus subtilis by 16S rDNA analysis. Furthermore, the mechanisms were analyzed by integrating microbiome, transcriptome, and metabolome. Before curing, BSP1 was applied to the surface of tobacco leaves. The results indicated that BSP1 effectively improves the activity of key enzymes and the content of related substances, thereby enhancing protein degradation. Additionally, protein degradation was achieved by regulating the diversity of the microbial community on the surface of the tobacco leaves and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. This study provided new strategies for extracting and utilizing functional strains from tobacco leaves, opening new avenues for enhancing the quality of tobacco leaves., Competing Interests: DK, MY, SC, CY, ZW, JJ, CZ, and NZ were employed by Shandong China Tobacco Industry Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Jiang, Kong, Li, Sun, Chen, Yang, Cao, Yu, Wang, Jiang, Zhu, Zhang, Sun and Zhang.)

The stamping technique, a pivotal process, has undergone significant advancements with the integration of composites. Traditionally, direct or indirect restorative cements, e.g., amalgam or composite resin, have been used to restore teeth, often presenting challenges in achieving optimal fit, esthetics, and durability. This process begins with creating an accurate impression of the prepared tooth, which serves as a blueprint for crafting the restoration. In contrast, the stamp technique, also known as the indirect restoration technique, offers several distinct advantages. The stamping technique enables the use of advanced materials that offer superior esthetics and durability. Composite resins used in stamp restorations can be shade-matched to the patient's natural teeth, resulting in seamless integration with the smile. These materials also exhibit excellent strength and wear resistance, ensuring restorations that last longer and are capable of withstanding stresses without fracture., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Manik et al.)

Background: Antimicrobial resistance among Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), a leading cause of nosocomial infections worldwide, is escalating. This study investigated the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) among 104 P. aeruginosa clinical isolates from Alexandria Main University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt., Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using agar dilution technique, or broth microdilution method in case of colistin. ESBL and MBL prevalence was assessed phenotypically and genotypically using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The role of plasmids in mediating resistance to extended-spectrum β-lactams was studied via transformation technique using plasmids isolated from ceftazidime-resistant isolates., Results: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed alarming resistance rates to carbapenems, cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolones. Using PCR as the gold standard, phenotypic methods underestimated ESBL production while overestimating MBL production. Eighty-five isolates (81.7%) possessed only ESBL encoding genes, among which 69 isolates harbored a single ESBL gene [bla OXA-10 (n = 67) and bla PER (n = 2)]. Four ESBL-genotype combinations were detected: bla PER + bla OXA-10 (n = 8), bla VEB-1  + bla OXA-10 (n = 6), bla PSE + bla OXA-10 (n = 1), and bla PER  + bla VEB-1  + bla OXA-10 (n = 1). Three isolates (2.9%) possessed only the MBL encoding gene bla VIM . Three ESBL + MBL- genotype combinations: bla OXA-10  + bla AIM , bla OXA-10  + bla VIM , and bla PER  + bla OXA-10  + bla AIM were detected in 2, 1 and 1 isolate(s), respectively. Five plasmid preparations harboring bla VEB-1 and bla OXA-10 were successfully transformed into chemically competent Escherichia coli DH5α with transformation efficiencies ranging between 6.8 × 10 3 and 3.7 × 10 4    CFU/μg DNA plasmid. Selected tested transformants were ceftazidime-resistant and harbored plasmids carrying bla OXA-10 ., Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of the expeditious characterization of ESBLs and MBLs using genotypic methods among P. aeruginosa clinical isolates to hinder the development and dissemination of multidrug resistant strains., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Little information is available on α- and β-amylase activity and their associations with starch, sugars and other culinary qualities in sweetpotato. The present study aimed to assess sweetpotato storage root α- and β-amylase activity in relation to starch, sugars, β-carotene content and storage root flesh color., Results: α- and β-amylase activity (α-AA and β-AA) were assayed from a Tanzania (T) × Beauregard (B) genetic mapping population in their uncured (raw), cured and stored (approximately 11 weeks) forms during 2016 and 2017. Ceralpha and Betamyl methods, with modifications to suit a high-throughput microplate assay format, were used to quantify α-AA and β-AA, respectively. Storage root dry matter, starch, glucose, fructose, sucrose and β-carotene content were predicted using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. There was little relationship (r 2  = 0.02-0.08, P ≤ 0.05 in 2016 and r 2  = 0.05-0.11, P ≤ 0.05 in 2017) between α-AA and β-AA. We observed negative linear associations between α-AA and dry matter content and generally no correlations between β-AA and dry matter content. β-AA and sugars were weakly positively correlated. β-AA and β-carotene content were positively correlated (r = 0.3-0.4 in 2016 and 0.3-0.5 in 2017)., Conclusion: Generally, the correlation coefficient for amylase enzyme activity and sugar components of storage roots at harvest increased after curing and during post-harvest storage. The present study is a major step forward in sweetpotato breeding in terms of providing a better understanding of how α- and β-amylase activity are inter-associated with several culinary quality attributes. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

The textile industry uses sodium chloride and sodium sulphate during the dyeing process to improve the fixation of dyes on fabrics. After wastewater treatment, the reject stream is dried resulting in mixed salts as solid wastes that are not reused. The leather industry also uses a vast quantity of salt for temporary preservation of skins/hides and as swelling-suppressing agent during the pickling (acidification) process. Thus, an attempt was made to utilize the mixed salt obtained from the textile industry to replace sodium chloride in leather processing. It was found that a 40% w/w offer of ATFD salt was able to preserve the skins for 3 months, which was on par with the preservation carried out using a similar quantity of sodium chloride in conventional preservation process. Likewise, for the pickling process, an offer of 10% w/w ATFD salt provided sufficient deswelling action when compared to conventionally used sodium chloride. However, the residual colour of the mixed salts affected the quality of the leather obtained. To overcome this, an electro-oxidation treatment was carried out to obtain decolourized salts. The COD measurements showed that the 1% solution of ATFD-3 salt reduced from 471 ± 25 to 88 ± 16 ppm. A similar trend was also seen in BOD reduction from 80 ± 12 to 18 ± 10 ppm. These results confirmed that the colour removal could be due to the degradation of the organic contaminants present in the ATFD salt. Thus, the treated ATFD salt can be reused for leather processing without affecting leather quality, thus promoting the concept of circular economy.

Objectives: to assess the impact of universal adhesives, cured with single-peak and polywave LEDs, on the metabolic activity and cytokine release of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). In addition, analyze the degree of conversion (DC) of the adhesives cured with the different LEDs., Methods: Discs (5 mm diameter, 1 mm thick) were prepared using three universal adhesives: Single Bond Universal (SBU, 3 M ESPE), Optibond Universal (OBU, Kerr), and Zipbond Universal (ZBU, SDI). These discs were cured for 40 s using a single-peak (DeepCure, 3 M ESPE) or a polywave light-emmiting diode (LED) curing unit (Valo Grand, Ultradent). After 24 h, the specimens were placed in 24-well culture plates, each containing 1 mL of culture medium for 24 h. hDPSCs (1.8 ×10 4 ) were seeded in 96-well plates and allowed to grow for 24 h. Subsequently, the cells were exposed to the extracts (culture medium containing eluates from the adhesive discs) for an additional 24 h. Cells not exposed to the extracts were used as a control group. The mitochondrial metabolism was assessed using the MTT assay and the cytokine release evaluated through MAGPIX. The degree of conversion of the adhesives was analyzed using FTIR (n = 5). The results were analyzed by ANOVA two-way and Tukey's test., Results: OBU and ZBU eluates caused a statistically significant reduction in mitochondrial metabolism, regardless of the LED used, indicating their cytotoxicity. In contrast, SBU did not significantly affect the MTT results, resembling the control group. A higher release of cytokines IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α were found in association to ZBU. SBU, on the other hand, increased the release of IL-8. OBU did not influenced the cytokine release. SBU presented the higher DC, while OBU and ZBU had similar DC, lower than SBU., Significance: In conclusion, universal adhesives exhibit toxicity towards hDPSCs, but the extent of toxicity varies depending on the adhesive material. ZBU was associated with increased cytokine release, particularly pro-inflammatory mediators, from hDPSCs. The different LEDs did not influenced the cytotoxicity of the evaluated adhesives., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In this research, new injectable and in situ photocurable elastomeric nanohybrids have been fabricated from polyalphaolefin (PAO) resins and halloysite nanofiller. In this regard, the co-oligomerization of long α-olefin monomers (C6, C8 and C10) with alkenol counterparts was carried out via a simple cationic route to provide OH-functionalized PAOs. The newly formed PAO type copolymer resins as well as halloysite nanoclay were then equipped with photocurable CC bonds containing an acrylate moiety. After the characterization of the final chemical substances and also of the intermediate structures, experimentally and computationally by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, the neat treated PAO and PAO/halloysite nanohybrids were subjected to a curing process by visible light irradiation (λ ∼ 475 nm, blue light). The crosslinking efficiency of the neat resins and the formed nanohybrid was evaluated using shrinkage strain-time curves and equilibrium swelling method. The suggested nanohybrid is not only biocompatible (96 % in the MTT assay), and hydrophilic (with a water contact angle of 61°), but also exhibits an easy, fast and robust curing process with great potential for coating and sealing technologies for medical devices., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We used atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) and nanomechanical mapping (AFM-NM) to image the surface of a vitrimer, specifically dicarboxylic acid-cured diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), to assess the curing process of a surface layer and compared this to the process in the bulk. We identified the β-hydroxy esters with various functionalities that are the key to form the cross-links for a system, including difunctional DGEBA and carboxylic acids. The IR peaks of the carbonyl group in generated ester groups are distinguished clearly from those in acids, allowing us to quantitatively assess the curing process at the surface and in the bulk. The initial curing at the surface exhibits a gradual cross-linking and is found to be lower than a rapid cross-linking in the bulk due to a relatively lower concentration of the β-hydroxy esters with high functionalities. This curing process leads to a smaller chemically and mechanically heterogeneous nanostructure at the surface relative to the bulk. After multiple reprocessings, a substantial number of esters lacking dynamic exchange capability form in the bulk, which decrease the flowability and reprocessability of the vitrimers and therefore the mechanical properties.

Addressing the substantial yearly production of waste dredged slurry with high water content, it is imperative to adopt effective technical treatments for sustainable development. This paper establishes that the curing-flocculation-vacuum filtration (C-F-VF) method efficiently converts high-water content dredged slurry into back-fill soil, achieving rapid dewatering. The study delves into the mechanism facilitating swift dewatering and the heightened mechanical properties of the dewatered soil. The synergy of curing, flocculation, and vacuum filtration expedites the dewatering process. The pre-addition of a curing agent reduces the zeta potential of the slurry, enhancing its efficiency in subsequent flocculation and vacuum filtration. Although the curing agent experiences some loss during vacuum filtration, over 91.22% remains in the dewatered soil, fortifying its strength. Soil strength correlates with the water content post-vacuum filtration and the amount of cement added pre-filtration, with a proposed relevant strength prediction formula., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

During vanilla bean curing, the cell arrangement derived from the killing technique applied to start bean ripening is essential to obtain the characteristic aroma and flavor of vanilla. Hence, killing is an important step to release the enzymes and compounds required for vanillin production. In this work, high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) at 100-400 MPa for 5 min, using water at 7 °C as the pressure-transmitting medium, was applied as the killing method, and its effect on the microstructural changes in vanilla beans during different curing cycles (C 0 -C 20 ) was evaluated and compared with that observed after scalding by using water at 100 °C for 8 s. Microstructural changes in the cross-sectioned beans were analyzed using a stereomicroscope (SM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). The vanilla beans were cross-sectioned and three main sectors were analyzed: the total, annular, and core. The morphometric descriptors, namely, area, Feret's diameter, and circularity, were quantified via digital image analysis (DIA), from which a shrinkage ratio was calculated. The results show that the total area in the beans presented a maximum decrease in the C 16 of curing. The core area was most affected by the HHP treatment, mainly at 400 MPa, rather than scalding. CSLM observations revealed the autofluorescence of the compounds inside the beans. In conclusion, the use of microscopy techniques and DIA allowed us to determine the microstructural changes in the HHP-treated pods, which were found to be more numerous than those found in the scalded beans.

Structural adhesives characterized a turning point in the post-connection of structural elements due to their excellent performances and ability to transfer stress without losing their integrity. These materials are typically particle-reinforced composites made by a thermoset polymer matrix and fillers. During the in-situ application of this material, the thermal activation of the polymer is typically not possible, leading to an undefined degree of cure and therefore to a variation of the mechanical performance over time. This altering means that after applying a sustained load on a bonded anchor system installed at regular temperature, the adhesive changes material properties. Ample studies convince that the progressive increase of the degree of cure of the thermosetting polymer leads to higher strength and stiffness. However, limited studies have been dedicated to the post-curing effects on the long-term behavior. The main goal of this work is to investigate the tensile and shear creep behavior of two commercially available structural adhesives and the influence of curing conditions on their long-term performances. An extensive experimental campaign comprising short and long-term characterizations has been carried out on specimens subjected to three different curing and post-curing protocols, with the scope of imitating relevant in-situ conditions. The results demonstrate that structural adhesives cured at higher temperatures are less subjected to creep deformations. As a material equation, the generalized Kelvin model is utilized to fit the tensile and shear creep data, and two continuous creep spectra have been selected to represent the creep behavior and facilitate extrapolations to the long-term behavior., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestThe authors declare no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Stabilization and solidification (S/S) is known to improve the structural properties of sediment and reduce contaminant mobility, enabling the utilization of dredged contaminated sediment. Further reduction of contaminants (e.g., tributyltin (TBT) and metals) can be done using electrochemical treatment prior to S/S and could potentially minimize contaminant leaching. This is the first study on how electrochemical pretreatment affects the strength and leaching properties of stabilized sediments. It also investigates how salinity and organic carbon in the curing liquid affect the stabilized sediment.The results showed that the electrolysis reduced the content of TBT by 22% and zinc by 44% in the sediment. The electrolyzed stabilized samples met the requirements for compression strength and had a reduced surface leaching of zinc. Curing in saline water was beneficial for strength development and reduced the leaching of TBT compared to curing in fresh water. The results indicate that pretreatment prior to stabilization could be beneficial in reducing contaminant leaching and recovering metals from the sediment. The conclusion is that a better understanding of the changes in the sediment caused by electrochemical treatment and how these changes interact with stabilization reactions is needed. In addition, it is recommended to investigate the strength and leaching behavior in environments similar to the intended in situ conditions., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This review aimed to present different varieties of long-matured cured meats, such as cold cuts, sausages, and hams produced in Poland, and compare them with similar European products. Moreover, we briefly presented the impact of meat products on human health. Due to its significant production in Poland, most meat products are made of pork. Polish long-matured, cured meats are nutritious, provide essential amino acids and micronutrients, and are a balanced source of monosaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). We suggest choosing cured Polish meat products matured with probiotics to provide pro-health benefits. Although long-matured sausages are essential and valuable meat products in Poland, they should be consumed moderately as an element of a balanced, diverse diet., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

In this work, a comprehensive shrinkage and tensile strength characterization of unsaturated polyester (UPE-8340) and vinyl ester (VE-922) epoxy matrices and composites reinforced with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was conducted. The aspect ratio of UPE and VE with methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) was kept at 1:16.6; however, the weight of the MWCNTs was varied from 0.03 to 0.3 gm for the doping of the reinforced nanocomposites. Using a dumbbell-shaped mold, samples of the epoxy matrix without MWCNTs and with reinforced UPE/MWCNT and VE/MWCNT nanocomposites were made. The samples were then cured in a typical ambient chamber with air and an inner gas (carbon dioxide). The effect of the MWCNTs on UPE- and VE-reinforced composites was studied by observing the curing kinetics, shrinkage, and tensile properties, as well as the surface free energy of each reinforced sample in confined saline water. The CO 2 curing results reveal that the absence of O 2 shows a significantly lower shrinkage rate and higher tensile strength and flexural modulus of UPE- and VE-reinforced nanocomposite samples compared with air-cured reinforced nanocomposites. The construction that was air- and CO 2 -cured produced results in the shape of a dumbbell, and a flawless surface was seen. The results also show that smaller quantities of MWCNTs made the UPET- and VE-reinforced nanocomposites more stable when they were absorbed and adsorbed in concentrated salt water. Perhaps, compared to air-cured nanocomposites, CO 2 -cured UPE and VE nanocomposites were better at reducing shrinkage, having important mechanical properties, absorbing water, and being resistant to seawater.

This study investigates the effects of CO 2 curing on oriented cement-bonded boards. The boards comprised 35% and 45% (by mass) of strand-type particles of Eucalyptus spp. (8 × 2 × 0.1 cm) and 65% and 55% (by mass) of early high-strength Portland cement. To fabricate the boards, three layers of strands were arranged perpendicular to the previous layer, aiming for a target density of 1250 kg/m 3 , and the dimensions of the boards were 40 × 40 × 1 cm. The oriented cement-bonded boards underwent three different curing conditions: control, CO 2 curing for 6 h, and 12 h, followed by curing in a saturated environment until the 28th day. The results indicated that CO 2 curing increased the CaCO 3 content in the boards, particularly when the curing period was longer (12 h). The physical and mechanical performance of the CO 2 -cured boards surpassed that of the control boards, with the modulus of rupture (MOR) increasing by 80% (6 h) and 84% (12 h) compared to the control. Scanning electron microscope investigations revealed that CO 2 curing produced a denser matrix, leading to an improved bond between the strands and the matrix, resulting in enhanced technical performance. Based on these findings, this study suggests that CO 2 curing can enhance the physical and mechanical properties of oriented cement-bonded boards, and a longer curing time (12 h) yielded superior performance., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The number of novel mycoviruses is increasing at a high pace due to advancements in sequencing technologies. As a result, an uncountable number of mycoviral sequences are available in public sequence repositories. However, only genomic information is not sufficient to understand the impact of mycoviruses on their host biology. Biological characterization is required to determine the nature of mycoviruses (cryptic, hypervirulent, or hypovirulent) and to search for mycoviruses with biocontrol and therapeutic potential. Currently, no particular selective method is used as the gold standard against these mycoviral infections. Given the importance of curing, we present an overview of procedures used in preparation of isogenic lines, along with their benefits and drawbacks. We concluded that a combination of single-spore isolation and hyphal tipping is the best fit for preparation of isogenic lines. Furthermore, recent bioinformatic approaches should be introduced in the field of mycovirology to predict virus-specific antivirals to get robust results., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

This paper offers a short overview of epoxy resins, encompassing their diverse characteristics, variants, chemical modifications, curing processes, and intriguing electrical properties. Epoxies, valued for their multifunctional attributes, serve as fundamental materials across industries. In the realm of dielectric strength, epoxy resins play a crucial role in electrical insulation. This paper discusses the mechanisms governing dielectric breakdown, strategies to enhance dielectric strength, and the impact of various fillers and additives on insulation performance. Through an exploration of recent research and advancements, this paper delves into the spectrum of epoxy properties, the array of subspecies and variants, their chemical adaptability, and the intricacies of curing. The examination of electrical resistance and conductivity, with a focus on their frequency-dependent behavior, forms a pivotal aspect of the discussion. By shedding light on these dimensions, this review provides a concise yet holistic understanding of epoxies and their role in shaping modern materials science.

In this work, the possibility of preparation of copolymers of three-dimensional crosslinked structure based on polypropylene glycol fumarate and acrylic acid is shown. The initial reagent polypropylene glycol fumarate has been synthesized by polycondensation reaction of fumaric acid and propylene glycol. The curing process of polypropylene glycol fumarate and acrylic acid at various mole concentrations was studied using DSC method at isothermal and dynamic regimens. Curing in isothermal condition was carried out at temperatures of 60 °C, 70 °C, and 80 °C. Residual reactivity was evaluated at a dynamic regimen within the temperature range from 30 °C to 200 °C at a constant heating rate. On the basis of calorimetric studies, the thermal effects and kinetic parameters of the reaction (conversion, reaction rate, activation energy) have been determined. Thermal behavior of cured samples of p-PGF-AA was estimated using dynamic thermogravimetry (TGA). According to TGA data, the process of decomposition of the studied copolymers proceeds in several stages. Based on the results obtained, the activation energies of thermal decomposition were calculated using the iso-conversional methods of Kissinger-Akakhira-Sunose and Friedman.

Studies on the atmospheric pressure cold plasma (ACP) exposure of meat and meat products mainly determine microbial inactivation, lipid oxidation, and meat color. Some studies include sensory evaluation, but only a few determine the changes in volatile composition due to ACP treatment. The results of sensory evaluation are inconclusive and range from "improvement" to "off-odor". This could be due to differences in the food matrix, especially in processed foods, or different experimental settings, including inadvertent effects such as sample heating. The few studies analyzing volatile composition report changes in alcohols, esters, aldehydes, and other compounds, but not necessarily changes that are novel for meat and meat products. Most studies do not actually measure the formation of reactive species, although this is needed to determine the exact reactions taking place in the meat during ACP treatment. This is a prerequisite for an adjustment of the plasma conditions to achieve antimicrobial effects without compromising sensory quality. Likewise, such knowledge is necessary to clarify if ACP-exposed meat and products thereof require regulatory approval.

This article presents a study on the synthesis and catalytic properties of copper complex (TPhTz) 2 [CuBr 4 ] (here TPhTz is 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium). The obtained complex was characterized by various spectroscopic methods. The catalytic properties of the complex were evaluated in the curing of an epoxy vinyl ester system and their effectiveness was compared with that of cobalt octoate (its synonyms are known as Co(Oct) 2 , cobalt(II) 2-ethylhexanoate, cobalt isocaprylate, etc.). The catalyst was added at an amount of 2 w.%. The results showed that a 8 w.% solution of the complex provides catalytic properties with an activation energy of 54.7 kJ/mol, which is 25.2 kJ/mol higher than a standard curing system with Co(Oct) 2 . Thus, the solution of (TPhTz) 2 [CuBr 4 ] in THF/DMSO accelerates the initiator decay process at room temperature, but for a longer time. The authors suggest that the curing mechanism may be accelerated by the appearance of (TPhTz) 2 [Cu I Br 3 ] and free bromine in the system. A strength test of fiberglass-reinforced plastic revealed that the addition of this complex did not lead to a decrease in flexural strength and hardness. Thus, use of the complex allowed for the production of polymer composite products using vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding where an extended injection time was needed.

To develop a lower-cost, excellent-performance, and environmentally friendly phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin, soybean meal was used to modify PF resin, and soybean meal-phenol-formaldehyde (SMPF) resins were prepared. This reveals the effect of soybean meal on the structural, bonding, and curing properties of PF resin, which are very important for its applications in the wood industry. The resins' physicochemical properties and curing performance were investigated, showing that SMPF resins have higher curing temperatures than PF resin. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results indicated that a cross-linking reaction occurred between the amino groups of soybean protein and the hydroxymethyl phenol. Moreover, with the addition of soybean meal, the viscosity of SMPF increased while the gel time decreased. It is worth mentioning that SMPF-2 resin has favorable viscosity, short gel time, low curing temperature (135.78 °C), and high water resistance and bonding strength (1.01 MPa). Finally, all the plywoods bonded with SMPF resins have good water resistance and bonding strength, which could meet the standard (GB/T 17657-2013, type I) for plywood. The optimized SMPF resins showed the potential for application to partially replace PF resin in the wood industry.

The yeast Sup35 protein misfolds into the infectious [ PSI + ] prion, which is then propagated by the severing activity of the molecular chaperone, Hsp104. Unlike other yeast prions, this prion is unique in that it is efficiently cured by the overexpression as well as the inactivation of Hsp104. However, it is controversial whether curing by overexpression is due to the dissolution of the prion seeds by the trimming activity of Hsp104 or the asymmetric segregation of the prion seeds between mother and daughter cells which requires cell division. To answer this question, we conducted experiments and found no difference in the extent of curing between mother and daughter cells when half of the cells were cured by Hsp104 overexpression in one generation. Furthermore, curing was not affected by the lack of Sir2 expression, which was reported to be required for asymmetric segregation of the [ PSI + ] seeds. More importantly, when either hydroxyurea or ethanol were used to inhibit cell division, the extent of curing by Hsp104 overexpression was not significantly reduced. Therefore, the curing of [ PSI + ] by Hsp104 overexpression is not due to asymmetric segregation of the prion seeds, but rather their dissolution by Hsp104.

Desulfurized manganese residue (DMR) is an industrial solid residue produced by high-temperature and high-pressure desulfurization calcination of electrolytic manganese residue (EMR). DMR not only occupies land resources but also easily causes heavy metal pollution in soil, surface water, and groundwater. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the DMR safely and effectively so that it can be used as a resource. In this paper, Ordinary Portland cement (P.O 42.5) was used as a curing agent to treat DMR harmlessly. The effects of cement content and DMR particle size on flexural strength, compressive strength, and leaching toxicity of a cement-DMR solidified body were studied. The phase composition and microscopic morphology of the solidified body were analyzed by XRD, SEM, and EDS, and the mechanism of cement-DMR solidification was discussed. The results show that the flexural strength and compressive strength of a cement-DMR solidified body can be significantly improved by increasing the cement content to 80 mesh particle size. When the cement content is 30%, the DMR particle size has a great influence on the strength of the solidified body. When the DMR particle size is 4 mesh, the DMR particles will form stress concentration points in the solidified body and reduce its strength. In the DMR leaching solution, the leaching concentration of Mn is 2.8 mg/L, and the solidification rate of Mn in the cement-DMR solidified body with 10% cement content can reach 99.8%. The results of XRD, SEM, and EDS showed that quartz (SiO 2 ) and gypsum dihydrate (CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O) were the main phases in the raw slag. Quartz and gypsum dihydrate could form ettringite (AFt) in the alkaline environment provided by cement. Mn was finally solidified by MnO 2 , and Mn could be solidified in C-S-H gel by isomorphic replacement.

The purpose of this study is to improve the oxidation resistance of graphite blocks after graphitization at 2800 °C by introducing a curing process of phenolic resin, used as a binder to control the pore size. Using the methylene index obtained from FTIR, the curing temperature was set to 150 °C, the temperature at which cross-linking most highly occurs. Graphite blocks that had undergone curing, and were carbonized with a slow heating rate, showed increased mechanical and electrical properties. Microstructural observation confirmed that the curing process inhibited the formation of large pores in the graphite block. Therefore, the cured graphite block showed better oxidation resistance in air than a non-cured graphite block. Oxidation of the graphite block was caused by pores created by pyrolysis of the phenolic resin binder, which acted as active sites.

The process of curing the acrylic oligomers for rapid thermal curing coatings in the presence of hexa(methoxymethyl)melamine (HMMM), tetra(butoxymethyl)glycoluril (TBMG), and tetra(methoxymethyl)glycoluril (TMMG) has been studied. When HMMM is used as a hardener, the content of hydroxyl groups in the terpolymer and also the crosslinking agent concentration have little effect on the initial cure rate. It has been established that during the curing of the TMMG composition, the amount of the network polymer and the initial curing rate decrease at short curing times only. It has also been revealed that the use of butoxy groups instead of methoxy groups as blocking agents leads both to a decrease in the initial cure rate and the gel fraction limiting value from 98 to 80%. When it comes to TBMG-containing compositions, a decrease in the part of hydroxyl groups in the copolymer leads to a significant fall in the initial curing rate and also in the gel fraction content. Regardless of the crosslinking agent used, an acceleration of the curing process is observed with an increase in the catalyst content in the compositions.

To address the increasing demand for biobased materials, lignin-derived ferulic acid (FA) is a promising candidate. In this study, an FA-derived styrene-like monomer, referred to as 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (MVP), was used as the platform to prepare functional monomers for radical polymerizations. Hydrophobic biobased monomers derived from MVP were polymerized via solution and emulsion polymerization resulting in homo- and copolymers with a wide range of thermal properties, thus showcasing their potential in thermoplastic applications. Moreover, divinylbenzene (DVB)-like monomers were prepared from MVP by varying the aliphatic chain length between the MVP units. These biobased monomers were thermally crosslinked with thiol-bearing reagents to produce thermosets with different crosslinking densities in order to demonstrate their thermosetting applications. The results of this study expand the scope of MVP-derived monomers that can be used in free-radical polymerizations toward the preparation of new biobased and functional materials from lignin.

Background: Urinary tract Infections caused by multidrug resistant uropathogens have become a significant global public health problem with Nigeria being no exception., Objective: This study is aimed at profiling and curing the plasmids of selected multidrug resistant uropathogens isolated from patients with urinary tract infection in a tertiary hospital in Calabar, Nigeria., Methodology: Isolates were obtained from urine samples of patients using standard microbiological techniques. Multidrug resistant bacterial isolates were then selected for plasmid DNA analysis and curing., Results: The study revealed that E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis were resistant to the antibiotics tested. The extracted plasmid DNA showed the presence of TEM, SHV and CTX-M genes in the isolates with sizes of 400-600bp, 300bp and 500-800bp, respectively. All isolates possessed the SHV genes while few had TEM and CTX-M genes. Cells were subjected to curing and plasmid curing was achieved at 200-300µl of ethidium bromide., Conclusion: The reduction in percentage resistance due to plasmid curing observed in this study suggests that the resistance of the isolates to antibiotics were plasmid-mediated. Antibiogram and monitoring of plasmid mediated resistance are necessary for proper management of urinary tract infections., Competing Interests: Authors of this article disclose no conflict of interest in this study and its publication., (© 2023 Iheanacho JN et al.)

In order to investigate the formation mechanism of the residual stress and residual strain in a nitrate ester plasticized polyether (NEPE) propellant grain during the curing and cooling process, the temperature, curing degree and stress/strain of the NEPE propellant grain during the curing and cooling process were analyzed via ABAQUS finite element software. The results indicate that there is a temperature gradient in the NEPE propellant grain during curing at 50 °C. The maximum temperature difference is about 5 °C and the maximum temperature is located on the center of propellant grain. At the end of curing, the temperature in the interior of the grain tends to be uniform. The curing degree in the NEPE propellant grain during the curing process has the same trend as temperature. The residual stress/strain of the NEPE propellant grain during the curing and cooling down processes are mainly composed of curing shrinkage stress/strain in the curing process and thermal stress/strain in the cooling down process. The curing shrinkage stress and strain in the curing process account for 19% and 31% of the whole process, respectively. The thermal stress and thermal strain in cooling down process account for 75% and 69% of the whole process, respectively. The thermal stress and thermal strain in the curing process can nearly be ignored. The residual stress and residual strain calculated by the traditional method is larger than that obtained in this paper. The maximum deviation of the residual stress and residual strain are about 8% and 17%, respectively.

Recycled construction cementitious materials (RCCM) and red mud (RM) could be considered a type of discarded material with potential cementitious properties. Generally, landfilling and stacking are utilized to dispose of this type of solid waste, which can be detrimental to the environment and sustainability of the construction sector. Accordingly, a productive process for making eco-efficient alkali-activated slag-based samples with the inclusion of RCCM and red mud is studied in this paper. Dehydrated cement powder (DCP) is attained through the high-temperature treatment of RCCM, and red mud can be obtained from the alumina industry. Subsequently, DCP and RM are utilized as a partial substitute for granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) in alkali-activated mixtures. Two different batches were designed; the first batch had only DCP at a dosage of 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% as a partial substitute for GBFS, and the second batch had both DCP and RM at 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% as a partial substitute for GBFS. Different strength and durability characteristics were assessed. The findings show that when both dehydrated cement powder and red mud are utilized in high quantities, the strength and durability of the specimens were enhanced, with compressive strength improving by 42.2% at 28 days. Such improvement was obtained when 7.5% each of DCP and RM were added. The results revealed that DCP and RM have a negative effect on workability, whilst they had a positive impact on the drying shrinkage as well as the mechanical strength. X-ray diffraction and micro-structural analysis showed that when the amount of DCP and RM is increased, a smaller number of reactive products forms, and the microstructure was denser than in the case of the samples made with DCP alone. It was also confirmed that when DCP and RM are used at optimized dosages, they can be a potential sustainable binder substitute; thus, valorizing wastes and inhibiting their negative environmental footprint.

The use of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is fast becoming an emerging curing technology in the meat industry. The aim of this study was to assess CAP-assisted curing of beef meat roasted by charcoal (CR) and superheated steam (SR) in terms of flavor quality and heterocyclic amines (HAs) using electronic nose, GC-MS and UPLC-MS-MS. The CAP-assisted curing increased redness value by 46% and 8% in SR and CR meat respectively. Although CAP-assisted curing had little influence on the odor profile of SR meat, it influenced the odor profile of CR meat. Lipid oxidation-derived off-flavors in CR meat were not significantly (P > 0.05) changed after CAP treatment. However, these off-flavors were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in SR meat. In addition, CAP-assisted curing did not increase the HAs contents in SR meat. CAP-assisted curing of SR meat improved flavor and did not increase toxic risk of SR meat., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: The Curing Coma Campaign (CCC) was launched by the Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) in 2019, with the purpose to bring together a diverse group of coma scientists, neurointensivists, and neurorehabilitationists., Methods: The aim of this campaign is to move beyond the limitations imposed by current definitions of coma and identify mechanisms to improve prognostication, identify test therapies, and impact outcomes. At the moment, whole approach of the CCC appears ambitiously challenging., Results: This could be true only for the Western world, such as the North America, Europe, and few developed countries. However, the whole concept of CCC may face potential challenges in the lower-middle income countries. India has several stumbling blocks that need to and can be addressed in the future, for a meaningful outcome, as envisaged in the CCC., Conclusion: India has several potential challenges, which we aim to discuss in this article., How to Cite This Article: Kapoor I, Mahajan C, Zirpe KG, Samavedam S, Sahoo TK, Sapra H, et al . The Curing Coma Campaign®: Concerns in the Indian Subcontinent. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(2):89-92., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: Dr Srinivas Samavedam, Dr Kapil Gangadhar Zirpe and Dr Jigeeshu V Divatia are associated as the Editorial board members of this journal and this manuscript was subjected to this journal's standard review procedures, with this peer review handled independently of these Editorial board members and their research group., (Copyright © 2023; The Author(s).)

As thermoset polymers find frequent implementation in engineering design, their application in structural engineering is rather limited. One key reason relies on the ongoing curing process in typical applications such as post-installed adhesive anchors, joints by structural elements or surface-mounted laminates glued by adhesive polymers. Mechanochemistry including curing and aging under thermal as well as mechanical loading causes a multiphysics problem to be discussed. For restricting the variety of material models based on empirical observations, we aim at a thermodynamically sound strategy for modeling thermosets. By providing a careful analysis and clearly identifying the assumptions and simplifications, we present the general framework for modeling and computational implementation of thermo-mechano-chemical processes by using open-source codes., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

To clarify the influence of the traditional curing method on metabolites and the relationship between nonvolatile metabolites and volatile substances. Untargeted metabolomics based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) were used to analyze the metabolites and volatile compounds in cured and noncured duck meat. A total of 973 non-volatile metabolites and 57 volatile compounds were identified. Lipids and lipid-like molecules and organic acids and derivatives accounted for 71.27% of all of the metabolites. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that 173 nonvolatile metabolites and most of the volatile compounds were significantly affected. Curing affected the contents of the individual amino acids, peptides, and analogs, but the total content showed no significant difference. Curing has a significant impact on lipid degradation. Partial least squares regression showed 78 differential metabolites related to volatile compounds, including 31 positive correlations and 47 negative correlations. The production of volatile compounds is related to a variety of nonmetabolites., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Calcium lignosulfonate in the amount 30 phr was incorporated into rubber compounds based on pure NBR and an NBR carbon black batch, in which the content of carbon black was 25 phr. Glycerine, as a cheap and environmentally friendly plasticizer, was applied into both types of rubber formulations in a concentration scale ranging from 5 to 20 phr. For the cross-linking of rubber compounds, a sulfur-based curing system was used. The work was aimed at the investigation of glycerine content on the curing process and rheological properties of rubber compounds, cross-link density, morphology and physical-mechanical properties of vulcanizates. The results show that glycerine influences the shapes of curing isotherms and results in a significant decrease between the maximum and minimum torque. This points to the strong plasticizing effect of glycerine on rubber compounds, which was also confirmed from rheological measurements. The application of glycerine resulted in better homogeneity of the rubber compounds and in the better dispersion and distribution of lignosulfonate within the rubber matrix, which was subsequently reflected in the significant improvement of tensile characteristics of vulcanizates. A higher cross-link density as well as better physical-mechanical properties were exhibited by the vulcanizates based on the carbon black batch due to the presence of a reinforcing filler.

The state of cure and the vulcanizate properties of a conventional accelerated sulfur (CV) cured 50/50 blend of natural rubber (NR) and bromobutyl rubber (BIIR) were inferior. However, this blend exhibits a higher extent of cure with remarkable improvements in its mechanical properties, particularly the tensile strength, modulus and hardness after curing with a combination of accelerated sulfur and three parts per hundred rubber (phr) of a bismaleimide (MF 3 ). Moreover, with the use of 0.25 phr of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) along with the CV/MF 3 system, the compression set property of the CV-only cured blend could be reduced from 68% to 15%. The enhanced compatibility between NR and BIIR with the aid of bismaleimide via the Diels-Alder reaction was identified as the primary reason for the improved cure state and the mechanical properties. However, the incorporation of a certain amount of bismaleimide as a crosslink in the NR phase of the blend, via a radical initiated crosslinking process by the action of DCP, is responsible for the improved compression set properties.

In this study, we unravel the atomic structure of a covalent resin near boundaries such as surfaces and composite constituents. For this, a molecular simulation analysis of epoxy resin hardening under various boundary conditions was performed. On the atomic level of detail, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to study crosslinking reactions and self-organization of the polymer network within nm scale slab models. The resulting structures were then coarsened into a graph theoretical description for connectivity analysis of the nodes and combined with characterization of the node-to-node vector orientation. On this basis, we show that the local bonding of epoxy resins near interfaces tends to avoid under-coordinated linker sites. For both epoxy-vacuum surface models and epoxy-silica/epoxy cellulose interfaces, we find almost fully cured polymer networks. These feature a local increase in network linking lateral to the surface/interface, rather than the dangling of unreacted epoxy groups. Consequently, interface tension is low (as compared to the work of separating bulk epoxy), and the reactivity of the resin surface appears negligible.

Resin-based composites (RBCs) have transformed restorative dentistry and its procedures. However, the characteristics of RBCs have been modified over the years to enhance the physical and chemical properties of the materials. This context raises the need for studies that evaluate whether the properties of the RBCs that are commercially available are clinically adequate with different curing modes. This study aimed to evaluate the mechanical behavior of commercial RBCs after undergoing different curing modes. Twenty-three RBCs of different classes were evaluated. For curing the specimens, a microwave (BMS45, Brastemp) (for 3 min at 450 W) and three LED units were used: an Emitter A Fit (Schuster (second generation)) (light-curing for 15 s with an irradiance of 1250 mW/cm2), VALO (Ultradent (third generation)) (light-curing for 15 s with an irradiance of 1100 mW/cm2), and Emitter Now Duo (Schuster (second generation)) (light-curing for 15 s with an irradiance of 1100 mW/cm2). A total of 670 RBC specimens of 8 mm in diameter and 1 mm in depth were obtained. Afterward, a biaxial flexure strength test was performed until the failure of the specimens, using a universal testing machine set at a speed of 0.5 mm/min. The same specimens were subjected to infrared spectroscopy for evaluating the degree of conversion. Tukey’s test was used for multiple comparisons at a significance level of 5%. The light-curing mode did not affect the flexure strength of the RBCs (p > 0.05), but the type and shade of RBCs did so (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the type of RBC directly interferes with the mechanical behavior of the material. However, the curing modes within the same RBC did not change the mechanical properties.

A method for the synthesis of an amine-containing epoxy resin curing agent by dissolving hexakis-[(4-formyl)phenoxy]cyclotriphosphazene in an excess of isophoronediamine was developed. The curing agent was characterized via NMR and IR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and its rheological characteristics were studied. Compositions based on DER-354 epoxy resin and the synthesized curing agent with different amounts of phosphazene content were obtained. The rheological characteristics of these compositions were studied, followed by their curing. An improvement in several thermal (DSC), mechanical (compression, tension, and adhesion), and physicochemical (water absorption and water solubility) characteristics, as well as the fire resistance of the obtained materials modified with phosphazene, was observed, compared with unmodified samples. In particular, there was an improvement in adhesive characteristics and fire resistance. Thus, compositions based on a curing agent containing a 30% modifier were shown to fulfill the V-1 fire resistance category. The developed compositions can be processed by contact molding, winding, and resin transfer molding (RTM), and the resulting material is suitable for use in aircraft, automotive products, design applications, and home repairs.

In recent years, cannabis ( Cannabis sativa L.) has been legalized by many countries for production, processing, and use considering its tremendous medical and industrial applications. Cannabis contains more than a hundred biomolecules (cannabinoids) which have the potentiality to cure different chronic diseases. After harvesting, cannabis undergoes different postharvest operations including drying, curing, storage, etc. Presently, the cannabis industry relies on different traditional postharvest operations, which may result in an inconsistent quality of products. In this review, we aimed to describe the biosynthesis process of major cannabinoids, postharvest operations used by the cannabis industry, and the consequences of postharvest operations on the cannabinoid profile. As drying is the most important post-harvest operation of cannabis, the attributes associated with drying (water activity, equilibrium moisture content, sorption isotherms, etc.) and the significance of novel pre-treatments (microwave heating, cold plasma, ultrasound, pulse electric, irradiation, etc.) for improvement of the process are thoroughly discussed. Additionally, other operations, such as trimming, curing, packaging and storage, are discussed, and the effect of the different postharvest operations on the cannabinoid yield is summarized. A critical investigation of the factors involved in each postharvest operation is indeed key for obtaining quality products and for the sustainable development of the cannabis industry., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Aims: Tissue adhesives (TAs) are a commonly used adjunct to traditional surgical wound closures. However, TAs must be allowed to dry before application of a surgical dressing, increasing operating time and reducing intraoperative efficiency. The goal of this study is to identify a practical method for decreasing the curing time for TAs., Methods: Six techniques were tested to determine which one resulted in the quickest drying time for 2-octyle cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) skin adhesive. These were nothing (control), fanning with a hand (Fanning), covering with a hand (Covering), bringing operating room lights close (OR Lights), ultraviolet lights (UV Light), or prewarming the TA applicator in a hot water bath (Hot Water Bath). Equal amounts of TA were applied to a reproducible plexiglass surface and allowed to dry while undergoing one of the six techniques. The time to complete dryness was recorded for ten specimens for each of the six techniques., Results: Use of the Covering, OR Lights, and Hot Water Bath techniques were associated with a 25- (p = 0.042), 27- (p = 0.023), and 30-second (p = 0.009) reduction in drying time, respectively, when compared to controls. The UV Light (p = 0.404) and Fanning (p = 1.000) methods had no effect on drying time., Conclusion: Use of the Covering, OR Lights, and Hot Water Bath techniques present a means for reducing overall operating time for surgeons using TA for closure augmentation, which can increase intraoperative efficiency. Further studies are needed to validate this in vivo.Cite this article: Bone Jt Open  2022;3(8):607-610.

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam) is an economically important crop that is cultivated for its storage roots. Storage roots provide a source of valuable nutrients, processed foods, animal feeds, and pigments. Sweetpotato storage roots spoil during post-harvest handling because of wounding, which makes them more susceptible to disease-causing microorganisms. Curing to promote wound healing is a common method to control microbial spoilage during post-harvest storage. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the process of curing in sweetpotato storage roots are unknown. To better understand the biology behind curing, the transcriptome of the sweetpotato cultivar, Pungwonmi, was studied using RNA-seq. Storage roots of sweetpotato were treated at 33 °C (Curing) and 13 °C (Control) for 3 days. RNA-seq data identified 78,781 unigenes and 3,366 differentially expressed genes by over log2 fold change (FC) > 2 and <-2. During curing, DEGs encoded genes related to drought/salt stress responses, phyto-hormones (e.g., auxin, ethylene and jasmonic acid), and proteolysis, were up-regulated, whereas those related to redox state, phyto-hormones (e.g., salicylic acid and brassinosteroids), and lignin and flavonoid biosynthesis were down-regulated. Additionally, among the candidate genes, DEGs encoded genes related to proteolysis and pathogen defense, such as protease inhibitors and lipid transfer proteins, were highly up-regulated during curing and storage. This study provides a valuable resource to further understand the molecular basis of curing-mediated wound healing in sweetpotato storage roots. Moreover, genes revealed in this work could present targets for the development of sweetpotato varieties with improved post-harvest storage characteristics., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Sulfur vulcanization is the most used method for curing of natural and synthetic rubbers. The crosslinking degree achieved is usually controlled by adding proper quantities of accelerants, activators, co-activators, retardants, and inhibitors, and influences the hardness, elasticity, hysteresis of elastomers and, consequently, the properties and behavior of the materials that incorporate them. Despite the fine tuning pursued over the years, sulfur crosslinking is still difficult to control both in terms of degree and homogeneity of cross-link. Addition of thermally activable bifunctional reagents able to crosslink the polymer matrix through covalent bonds could be a strategy to modulate and control finely the reticulation grade of elastomers. Tetrazoles can form highly reactive nitrilimines by thermal treatment at appropriate temperature, which can react with the vinyl double bonds present in the rubber. In this work a set of bis-tetrazoles were synthesized and those with the right activation temperatures were used for the curing of styrene-butadiene rubber, acting both as single crosslinkers and together with classic sulfur-based ones. The addition of bistetrazoles simplified and made more efficient the compounding process, allowing to prolong the mixing until optimum dispersion and homogeneity were obtained. Moreover, they led to an improvement in the hysteretic properties of the compound and to the reduction of the non-linearity of the dynamic behavior (Payne effect).

Even though there are many photocurable compositions that are cured by cationic photopolymerization mechanisms, UV curing generally consists of the formation of cross-linking covalent bonds between a resin and monomers via a photoinitiated free radical polymerization reaction, obtaining a three-dimensional polymer network. One of its many applications is in the refinish coatings market, where putties, primers and clear coats can be cured faster and more efficiently than with traditional curing. All these products contain the same essential components, which are resin, monomers and photoinitiators, the latter being the source of free radicals. They may also include additives used to achieve a certain consistency, but always taking into account the avoidance of damage to the UV curing-for example, by removing light from the innermost layers. Surface curing also has its challenges since it can be easily inhibited by oxygen, although this can be solved by adding scavengers such as amines or thiols, able to react with the otherwise inactive peroxy radicals and continue the propagation of the polymerization reaction. In this review article, we cover a broad analysis from the organic point of view to the industrial applications of this line of research, with a wide current and future range of uses.