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Background: Pregnant women are a vulnerable population to COVID-19 given an increased susceptibility to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and pregnancy complications. However, few SARS-CoV-2 serological surveys have been performed among this population to assess the extent of the infection in sub-Saharan countries. The objectives of this study were to determine SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among Beninese pregnant women, to identify spatial seropositivity clusters and to analyse factors associated with the infection. Methods: A cross-sectional study including women in their third trimester of pregnancy attending the antenatal care (ANC) clinics at Allada (south Benin) and Natitingou (north Benin) was conducted. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) for detection of IgG/IgM against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were performed using capillary blood. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and associations between SARS-CoV-2 serostatus and maternal characteristics were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Spatial analyses were performed using the spatial scan statistics to identify spatial clusters of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: A total of 861 pregnant women were enrolled between May 4 and June 29, 2022. 58/861 (6.7%) participants reported having received COVID-19 vaccine. None of the participants had been diagnosed with COVID-19 during their pregnancy. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 607/802 (75.7%; 95% CI 72.56%–78.62%) of unvaccinated participants. Several urban and rural spatial clusters of SARS-CoV-2 cases were identified in Allada and one urban spatial cluster was identified in Natitingou. Unvaccinated participants from Allada with at least one previous morbidity were at a three-times higher risk of presenting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (OR = 2.89; 95%CI 1.19%-7.00%). Conclusion: Three out of four pregnant women had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, suggesting a high virus circulation among pregnant women in Benin, while COVID-19 vaccination coverage was low. Pregnant women with comorbidities may be at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This population should be prioritized for COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination in order to prevent its deleterious effects. Trial registration: NCT06170320 (retrospectively registered on December 21, 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of invasive infections in newborns. The prevention of GBS neonatal disease relies on the administration of an intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis to GBS-colonized women. In recent years, rapid intrapartum detection of GBS vaginal colonization using real-time nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) emerged as an alternative to antenatal culture screening methods. Methods: We compared the performances of two loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests, the Ampliflash® GBS and the PlusLife® GBS tests, to standard culture for GBS detection in vaginal specimens from pregnant women. The study was conducted from April to July 2023 in a French hospital of the Paris area. Results: A total of 303 samples were analyzed, including 85 culture-positive samples (28.1%). The Ampliflash® GBS test and the PlusLife® GBS tests gave a result for 100% and 96.3% tests, respectively. The performances of the tests were as follows: sensitivity 87.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 78.3–92.6) and 98.7% (95% CI 93.0-99.8), specificity 99.1% (95% CI 96.7–99.8), and 91.9% (95% CI 87.3–95.0), respectively. False negative results of the Ampliflash® GBS test correlated with low-density GBS cultures. Time-to-results correlated with GBS culture density only for the PlusLife® GBS test (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Both techniques provide excellent analytical performances with high sensitivity and specificity together with a short turnaround time and results available in 10 to 35 min. Their potential to further reduce the burden of GBS neonatal disease compared with antenatal culture screening needs to be assessed in future clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their chemical and physical properties, rare earth elements (REEs) are essential in modern applications such as energy conversion or IT technology. The increasing demand for these elements leads to strong incentives for REE recovery and induces the exploration of new, alternative sources for REEs. Accessing REEs from clay minerals, in our case kaolinite, by an elution process is a promising method. The present study investigates the potential application of REE recovery through elution with different mineral acids (HNO3, H2SO4, and HCl) in a microwave process. The material used in this study—residues from an industrial kaolin production process—contained 2.47 g/kg REEs which is a significant amount for REE recovery. The ability of various mineral acids to solubilize metals was studied to assess the REE content of this residual resource. Around 1.87 g/kg of REEs was eluted from industrial kaolinite residues in hydrochloric acid, 1.71 g/kg in sulfuric acid, and 1.13 g/kg in nitric acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Pregnant women are a vulnerable population to COVID-19 given an increased susceptibility to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and pregnancy complications. However, few SARS-CoV-2 serological surveys have been performed among this population to assess the extent of the infection in sub-Saharan countries. The objectives of this study were to determine SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among Beninese pregnant women, to identify spatial seropositivity clusters and to analyse factors associated with the infection. Methods A cross-sectional study including women in their third trimester of pregnancy attending the antenatal care (ANC) clinics at Allada (south Benin) and Natitingou (north Benin) was conducted. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) for detection of IgG/IgM against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were performed using capillary blood. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and associations between SARS-CoV-2 serostatus and maternal characteristics were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Spatial analyses were performed using the spatial scan statistics to identify spatial clusters of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results A total of 861 pregnant women were enrolled between May 4 and June 29, 2022. 58/861 (6.7%) participants reported having received COVID-19 vaccine. None of the participants had been diagnosed with COVID-19 during their pregnancy. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 607/802 (75.7%; 95% CI 72.56%–78.62%) of unvaccinated participants. Several urban and rural spatial clusters of SARS-CoV-2 cases were identified in Allada and one urban spatial cluster was identified in Natitingou. Unvaccinated participants from Allada with at least one previous morbidity were at a three-times higher risk of presenting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (OR = 2.89; 95%CI 1.19%-7.00%). Conclusion Three out of four pregnant women had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, suggesting a high virus circulation among pregnant women in Benin, while COVID-19 vaccination coverage was low. Pregnant women with comorbidities may be at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This population should be prioritized for COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination in order to prevent its deleterious effects. Trial registration NCT06170320 (retrospectively registered on December 21, 2023).

Abstract Purpose Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of invasive infections in newborns. The prevention of GBS neonatal disease relies on the administration of an intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis to GBS-colonized women. In recent years, rapid intrapartum detection of GBS vaginal colonization using real-time nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) emerged as an alternative to antenatal culture screening methods. Methods We compared the performances of two loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests, the Ampliflash® GBS and the PlusLife® GBS tests, to standard culture for GBS detection in vaginal specimens from pregnant women. The study was conducted from April to July 2023 in a French hospital of the Paris area. Results A total of 303 samples were analyzed, including 85 culture-positive samples (28.1%). The Ampliflash® GBS test and the PlusLife® GBS tests gave a result for 100% and 96.3% tests, respectively. The performances of the tests were as follows: sensitivity 87.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 78.3–92.6) and 98.7% (95% CI 93.0-99.8), specificity 99.1% (95% CI 96.7–99.8), and 91.9% (95% CI 87.3–95.0), respectively. False negative results of the Ampliflash® GBS test correlated with low-density GBS cultures. Time-to-results correlated with GBS culture density only for the PlusLife® GBS test (p

Herein, the nanolignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNF)-enabled ratiometric fluorescent bio-nanocomposite film is developed. Interestingly, the inclusion of LCNF in the cellulose-based film enhances the detecting performance of food freshness, such as high sensitivity to biogenic amines (BAs) (limit of detection (LOD) of up to 1.83 ppm) and ultrahigh discernible fluorescence color difference (ΔE = 113.11). The underlying mechanisms are the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), π - π interaction, and cation - π interaction between LCNF and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), as well as the increased hydrophobicity due to lignin, which increases the interactions of amines with FITC. Its color stability (up to 28 days) and mechanical property (49.4 Mpa) are simultaneously improved. Furthermore, a smartphone based detecting platform is developed to achieve access to food safety. This work presents a novel technology, which can have a great potential in the field of food packaging and safety., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest It is the original work of the authors. All the authors mutually agree that it should be submitted to Food Chemistry The manuscript has not been published or presented elsewhere in part or in entirety and is not under consideration by another journal. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests. There is no research involving Human Participants and/or Animals., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Janus fabrics designed for personal moisture/thermal regulation have garnered significant attention for their potential to enhance human comfort. However, the development of smart and dynamic fabrics capable of managing personal moisture/thermal comfort in response to changing external environments remains a challenge. Herein, a smart cellulose-based Janus fabric was designed to dynamically manage personal moisture/heat. The cotton fabric was grafted with N-isopropylacrylamide to construct a temperature-stimulated transport channel. Subsequently, hydrophobic ethyl cellulose and hydrophilic cellulose nanofiber were sprayed on the bottom and top sides of the fabric to obtain wettability gradient. The fabric exhibits anti-gravity directional liquid transportation from hydrophobic side to hydrophilic side, and can dynamically and continuously control the transportation time in a wide range of 3-66 s as the temperature increases from 10 to 40 °C. This smart fabric can quickly dissipate heat at high temperatures, while at low temperatures, it can slow down the heat dissipation rate and prevent the human from becoming too cold. In addition, the fabric has UV shielding and photodynamic antibacterial properties through depositing graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets on the hydrophilic side. This smart fabric offers an innovative approach to maximizing personal comfort in environments with significant temperature variations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background and Aims: Alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is associated with very high mortality despite abstinence from alcohol; up to 40% of patients die within 6 months of diagnosis. Patients with AH are especially prone to infections, which can lead to multiorgan dysfunction and poorer prognosis., Approach and Results: We performed comprehensive serological profiling of the viral and bacterial infection history of 36 healthy controls, 48 patients with alcohol use disorder, and 224 patients with AH from 2 multicenter observational studies. We used systematic viral and bacterial epitope scanning by VirScan, a phage-display immunoprecipitation and sequencing technology that detects the peptides recognized by antibodies in patient sera, to comprehensively analyze antiviral and antibacterial antibodies and identify serologic biomarkers to predict patient outcomes. We found significant differences in the serological profiles of the 3 populations. The number of serum antibody epitopes in patients with alcohol use disorder during abstinence was increased compared with during active alcohol use. A decreased number and diversity of viral and bacterial antibody targets were detected in the sera of patients with AH, particularly those with a higher Child-Pugh score. In patients with AH, a decrease in the serum antiviral, but not antibacterial, antibody repertoire was associated with decompensation and mortality. Ninety-day mortality in AH could be predicted using a serum viral epitope signature., Conclusions: Abstinence from alcohol is associated with a significant increase in serum viral and bacterial antibody response. Decreased serum antiviral antibody repertoire is predictive of decompensation of liver disease and mortality in patients with AH., (Copyright © 2024 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.)

The electrode optimization and rational design are of great significance for the performance enhancement of self-powered electrochromic devices (ECDs). It can be effectively enhanced by developing interfacial properties of electrodes, which can promote the internal ion transport within functional components consisting of an electrode, electrochromic layer, and electrolyte layer and thus obtain performance improvement of fabricated devices. This work aims to construct the electrode of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) on different substrates and promote interface performance of the prepared electrodes via inheriting the surface topography of substrates. Besides, the prepared PEDOT:PSS electrodes as a dual-function layer including the electrochromic and electrode layer are employed to assemble the ECDs. It is found that the intrinsic roughness of the paper substrate can facilitate the electrochemical performance of the prepared PEDOT:PSS electrode on it effectively, thereby showing a superior electrochemical surface area and diffusion coefficient as well as a lower charge-transfer resistance of 13.56 Ω. Similarly, for the prepared self-powered ECD on the paper substrate, it also indicates a high light absorption property (0.413), well-defined electrochromic contrast (33.09), fast switching (τ c = 4.0 s, τ b = 6.8 s), high coloration efficiency (92.275 cm 2 C -1 ), high areal capacity (10.93 mAh m -2 ) at 0.01 mA cm -2 , and lower equivalent series resistance (176.2 Ω) in comparison to parallel ECDs on the PET and glass substrate. Leveraging the intrinsic roughness of the substrate is able to enhance the electrochemical performance of electrodes, which can also provide a new strategy for the construction of high-performance self-powered ECDs.

Diabetic wounds are prone to recurrent infections, often leading to delayed healing. To address this challenge, we developed a chitin-copper sulfide (CuS@CH) composite sponge, which combines bacterial trapping with near-infrared (NIR) activated phototherapy for treating infected diabetic wounds. CuS nanoparticles were synthesized and incorporated in situ within the sponge using a chitin assisted biomineralization strategy. The positively charged chitin surface effectively adhered bacteria, while NIR irradiation of CuS generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) heat and Cu 2+ to rapidly damage the trapped bacteria. This synergistic effect resulted in an exceptional antibacterial performance against E. coli (∼99.9%) and S. aureus (∼99.3%). The bactericidal mechanism involved NIR-induced glutathione oxidation, membrane lipid peroxidation, and increased membrane permeability. In diabetic mouse models, the CuS@CH sponge accelerated the wound healing of S. aureus infected wounds by facilitating collagen deposition and reducing inflammation. Furthermore, the sponge demonstrated good biocompatibility. This dual-functional platform integrating bacterial capture and NIR-triggered phototherapy shows promise as an antibacterial wound dressing to promote healing of infected diabetic wound.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered as promising energy storage systems due to the high energy density of 2600 W h kg -1 . However, the practical application of Li-S batteries is hindered by the inadequate conductivity of sulfur and Li 2 S, as well as the shuttle effect caused by polysulfides during the charge-discharge process. Introducing a conductive interlayer between the cathode and the separator to physically resist polysulfides represents an effective and straightforward approach to mitigate the shuttle effect in Li-S batteries. In this paper, an ultrathin (<1 μm) 2D-2D MXene-LDH interlayer with high polysulfide adsorption ability was introduced to Li-S batteries. The synergistic effect between MXene and layered double hydroxide greatly improved the adsorption effect of the interlayers: the conductive Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene chemically adsorbs polysulfides and promotes their fast transfer, and the NiCo-LDH alleviates the restack of MXene and facilitates Li + diffusion. After inserting the MXene-LDH interlayer, the Li-S batteries exhibit an enhanced specific capacity of 1137.6 mA h g -1 at 0.1 C and retain 622.6 mA h g -1 after 100 cycles. The ultrathin 2D-2D interlayer offers a feasible way for the development of highly efficient and lightweight interlayers in Li-S batteries.

Conductive hydrogels have been increasingly employed to construct wearable mechanosensors due to their excellent mechanical flexibility close to that of soft tissues. In this work, piezoelectric hydrogels are prepared through free radical copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) and acrylonitrile (AN) and further utilized in assembling flexible wearable mechanosensors. Introduction of the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) component in the copolymers endows the hydrogels with excellent piezoelectric properties. Meanwhile, significant enhancement of mechanical properties has been accessed by forming dipole-dipole interactions, which results in a tensile strength of 0.51 MPa. Flexible wearable mechanosensors are fabricated by utilizing piezoelectric hydrogels as key signal converting materials. Self-powered piezoelectric pressure sensors are assembled with a sensitivity ( S ) of 0.2 V kPa -1 . Additionally, resistive strain sensors (gauge factor (GF): 0.84, strain range: 0-250%) and capacitive pressure sensors ( S : 0.23 kPa -1 , pressure range: 0-8 kPa) are fabricated by utilizing such hydrogels. These flexible wearable mechanosensors can monitor diverse body movements such as joint bending, walking, running, and stair climbing. This work is anticipated to offer promising soft materials for efficient mechanical-to-electrical signal conversion and provides new insights into the development of various wearable mechanosensors.

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) have been widely used as a renewable emulsifier to stabilize two immiscible liquids due to their intrinsic amphiphilicity and excellent emulsifying ability. However, it remains challenging to fully understand the effects of carboxylate group content and surface charge density on the emulsifying ability of CNFs and the stability of Pickering emulsion. Herein, carboxymethylated CNFs were extracted from bleached kraft pulp using etherification reaction and high-pressure homogenization, allowing for easy surface charge density and size adjustment by changing sodium chloroacetate content and homogenization cycles. The optimizing CNFs possessed a high Zeta potential (-71.2 mV) and a suitable carboxylate group content (1.81 mmol/g), which enabled CNFs to irreversibly adsorb at the hydrophobic paraffin wax (PW) droplet surface and form interfacial steric barriers, providing large electrostatic repulsion between the PW droplets against coalescence. Thus, the CNF-stabilized PW emulsions could be stored for more than 6 months. Moreover, the phase change enthalpy of the freeze-dried emulsion is as high as 193.7 J/g, which provides the emulsion to reversibly store and release heat. This work provides a comprehensive insight into the interfacial stability mechanism of CNFs as stabilizers and facilitates the potential application in thermal energy storage., 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. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) loaded with silver nanoparticles have exhibited significant application potential in antibacterial and catalytic fields. However, the high solubility of LNPs in silver ammonia solution makes it difficult to achieve the reduction of Ag + and the adsorption of silver nanoparticles. In this study, a protecting agent, terephthalic aldehyde (TA) is used to block lignin condensation and introduce aldehyde groups onto the lignin molecular backbone during lignin extraction. Furthermore, the TA stabilized lignin (TASL) is cross-linked with bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) to enhance its alkali resistance performance and subsequently prepared into alkali-resistance BADGE- TASL hybrid LNPs (BADGE- TASL hy-LNPs) by anti-solvent precipitation and self-assembly. Because the presence of a large number of aldehyde groups in TASL compensates for the loss of phenolic hydroxyl groups caused by crosslinking reactions, a high loading of silver nanoparticles of 54.00% is obtained after redox reaction and adsorption in silver ammonia solution. When the BADGE-TASL hy-LNPs@Ag is used as an antibacterial agent, its inhibition efficiency reached ≈99%. Besides, the BADGE-TASL hy-LNPs@Ag can serve as a printing material for the preparation of conductive printing ink. Therefore, this study provides a strategy for lignin functionalization and application in printed electronics and antimicrobial fields., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Different forms of HCOOH in the depolymerization system play an important role in governing the monomeric products from lignin. We reported two strategies for the introduction of HCOOH to enrich the monophenols from kraft lignin by microwave-assisted depolymerization. The reaction of lignin models showed that HCOOH was in favor of the cleavage of C-O bonds (β-O-4 typically) and partial C-C bonds (C α -C β ). Subsequently, Microwave-assisted depolymerization of lignin with two strategies was conducted via a designed dynamic vapor flow reaction system. Strategy A with HCOOH as pretreatment solvent showed excellent monophenols enrichment with total mass yields of 193.71 mg/g (lignin basis). Strategy B using HCOOH as reforming solvent vapor significantly increased the monophenols selectivity. It presented unique reforming and upgrading performance by generating catechol (42.59 mg/g, lignin basis) and homovanillic acid (17.58 mg/g, lignin basis). This study provided potential strategies for the efficient conversion of kraft lignin into high-value platform chemicals., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Novel eco-friendly strength agent has inspired much attention of researchers. Herein, the PEI-KH560 prepared by PEI (polyethyleneimine) and KH560 (γ-glycidyl ether propyl trimethoxysilane) was added in the pulp suspension to enhance the paper performance. The results showed that the m(PEI):m(KH560) ratio and PEI's molecular weight were closely related with the paper strength and hydrophobicity. The SEM morphology of paper surface showed that the fiber-fiber crosslinking reached the tightest, at the optimal m(PEI):m(KH560) ratio and PEI's molecular weight. The results showed that when the M w (molecular weight) of PEI was 10,000 and the m(PEI):m(KH560) ratio was 1:2, the PEI-KH560 presented the best strengthening performance on the paper strength and hydrophobicity. Dry tensile index and wet tensile index could reach 29.9 N·m/g and 1.37 N·m/g after adding the PEI 10000 -KH560 in pulp suspension before the paper formation. Further, the effect of process conditions (temperature, time, the addition amount, and pulp concentration) on the strength and hydrophobicity of paper network structure was investigated, after adding PEI-KH560 into the pulp suspension. It was of great significance for studying the mechanism between the chemical structures of PEI-KH560 and paper performance, which provided valuable theoretical practice on the preparation of novel strength agent., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted much attention owing to their tuneable structures, high surface areas, and good functionalization. Nanoreactors derived from various MOFs are now widely used in heterogeneous catalysis, electrocatalysis and photocatalysis. The nanoarchitectures of MOFs and their derivatives have a great impact on mass and energy transfer pathways, thus affecting the activity and selectivity of the catalysts. In this review, we intend to provide a universal survey of reported methods to synthesize MOF-based core-satellite, core-shell, yolk-shell and hollow-shell structures or their derivatives in recent years and present a continuous evolution among them. We hope that this review could provide some perspectives for exploring new facile methods to prepare different hierarchical nanoarchitectures of MOFs or their derivatives.

There is a growing trend in incorporating biomass-based engineered nanomaterials into food products to enhance their quality and functionality. The zeta potential, droplet size, microstructure, and content of free fatty acid (FFA) release were determined to investigate the influence of a plant-derived particle stabilizer, i.e., lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs). Remarkable differences were observed during digestion stages, which were found to be correlated with the concentrations of LCNFs. The gradual FFA release in the small intestine stage from LCNF-coated lipid droplets was monitored over time, with a final lowest release of FFAs amounting to 26.3% in the emulsion containing 20.0% ( v / v ) of the dispersed phase stabilized by 3 mg/mL of LCNFs. This release can be attributed to the physical barrier at lipid droplet surfaces and the network effect created by the free LCNFs in the continuous phase. This work provides a foundation for the potential application of nature-derived LCNF materials in reducing fat absorbance.

Enhancing the antimicrobial activity of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters while maintaining filtration efficiency and pressure drop is currently an urgent issue for preventing the spread of pathogenic microorganisms. Herein, inspired by vines which can enwind fences to fix as well as decorate them, a flexible antimicrobial chitin nanofiber (ChNF@CuO x ) was fabricated and loaded onto the rigid glass fiber (GF) skeleton of a HEPA filter. Through the physical interaction, ChNF@CuO x was spontaneously enwound on GF, and ChNF@CuO x itself interweaved to form a new nanonetwork between the GF skeleton. The obtained antimicrobial air filter (ChNF@CuO x /GF) with a unique nanonetwork increased the filtration efficiency of the HEPA filter. Meanwhile, it possessed excellent inactivation ability against Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , and Candida albicans due to the urchin-like in situ grown CuO x on the ChNF. In particular, the oxygen vacancies generated unexpectedly in CuO x enabled it to produce reactive oxygen species. After eight cycles of antimicrobial assays, the antimicrobial rates of bacteria were higher than 99.5%, and those of fungi were greater than 98.3%. The successful synthesis of antimicrobial fibers and the construction of multidimensional nanoscale structures through a simple postprocessing method provide a new design mentality for antimicrobial functionalization for HEPA filters.

As millions of tons of kraft lignin are being wasted, a potential application is to use its crosslinking reactions to build thermosetting bio adhesives. However, the crosslinking reactions between lignin molecules are not fully understood. The present study aims to elucidate the crosslinking reactions of the model lignin compound guaiacylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether (GGE) via one-step hydroxymethylation/ amination with formaldehyde and diethylenetriamine (DETAM), or one-step glyoxylation/ amination with glyoxal and DETAM via liquid NMR techniques such as 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, 2D 1 H- 13 C, and 1 H- 15 N HSQC NMR. Specifically, the 2D 1 H- 13 C HSQC NMR spectra confirm the presence of -CH 2 -NH- with a chemical shift of 1 H 2.6-3.6/ 13 C 40-60 ppm, and the formation of methylene linkages via the crosslinking reaction. Also, the 2D 1 H- 15 N HSQC NMR spectra clearly detect the formation of amide and imine bonds at 1 H 7.8/ 15 N 110 and 1 H 8.07/ 15 N 121.5 ppm from the crosslinked GGE., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Circular bacteriocins are known for their structural stability and effective antimicrobial properties, positioning them as potential natural food preservatives. However, their widespread application is impeded by restricted availability. This research developed a total biosynthesis platform for circular bacteriocins, with a focus on AS-48 by involving recombinant production of the linear precursor in Escherichia coli , followed by enzymatic cyclization of the precursor into cyclic AS-48 using the ligase butelase-1 in vitro . An important discovery is that, aside from fusion tags, the C-terminal motif LE and LEKKK also could affect the expression yield of the precursor. This biosynthesis platform is both versatile and high-yielding, achieving yields of 10-20 mg/L of AS-48. Importantly, the biosynthetic AS-48 exhibited a secondary structure and antimicrobial activities comparable to those of the native molecules. As such, this work proposes an effective synthetic approach for circular bacteriocins, facilitating their advancement and application in the food industry.

Background: Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) is an ideal Pickering emulsion stabilizer because of its high aspect ratio and flexibility. CNF was hydrophobically modified by dodecenyl succinic anhydride and used to stabilize the simulated food emulsion system containing insect protein. The prepared dodecenyl succinate nanofiber (D-CNFs) was characterized by contact angle and laser particle size analyzer. The stability of the emulsion system under different conditions was characterized by zeta potential and appearance observation. Lastly, in vitro digestion simulation experiments were carried out to investigate whether the addition of D-CNFs had an effect on the digestion and absorption of oil., Results: The modification process for dodecenyl succinic anhydride to CNFs was that the system temperature was 40 °C, the system pH value was 8.5 and the reaction time was 6 h. The water contact angle of the modified CNFs increased to 83.2 ± 0.9°. D-CNFs were introduced into the simulated food emulsion system containing insect protein. The increase in the concentration of D-CNFs in the aqueous phase promoted the stability of the simulated emulsion system. Increasing the ratio of insect protein was not conducive to the stability of the emulsion. The final fat digestibility of the emulsion with D-CNFs was lower than that of the emulsion without D-CNFs., Conclusion: Overall, the analysis and characterization results show the potential of the modified CNF as a food simulant emulsion stabilizer containing insect protein, which can be used for the development of specific functional foods. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

High-strength, lightweight, ultrathin, and flexible electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with a high shielding effectiveness (SE) are essential for modern integrated electronics. Herein, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are employed to homogeneously disperse graphene nanoplates (GNPs) into an aramid nanofiber (ANF) network and silver nanowire (AgNW) network, respectively, producing high-performance nanopapers. These nanopapers, featuring nacre-mimetic microstructures and layered architectures, exhibited high tensile strength (601.11 MPa) and good toughness (103.56 MJ m -3 ) with a thickness of only 24.58 μm. Their specific tensile strength reaches 447.59 MPa·g -1 ·cm 3 , which is 1.74 times that of titanium alloys (257 MPa·g -1 ·cm 3 ). The AgNW/GNP composite conductive layers exhibit an electrical conductivity of 12010.00 S cm -1 , providing the nanopapers with great EMI shielding performance, achieving an EMI SE of 63.87 dB and an EMI SE/t of 25978.80 dB cm -1 . The nanopapers also show reliable durability, retaining a tensile strength of 500.96 MPa and an EMI SE of 57.59 dB after 120,000 folding cycles. Additionally, they have a good electrical heating performance with a fast response time, low driving voltage, effective deicing capability, and reliable heating capacity in water. This work presents a strategy to develop a high-performance nanopaper, showing great potential for applications in electromagnetic compatibility, national defense, smart electronics, and human health.

Metal-organic frameworks, a type of porous architecture, have caught wide attention for their pore-rich and special metal-active centres. However, the non-conductive MOFs show limitations in lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Herein, we first synthesized a lamellar nickel-based MOF and subsequently conducted pre-carbonization to attain a conductive Ni-carbon (Ni@C) catalyst. On account of the retained three-dimensional architecture and elevated conductivity, using Ni@C as the interlayer can realize polysulfide-regulated and kinetically promoted LSBs. This work offers a viable strategy to extend the implementation of MOFs in state-of-the-art LSB systems.

Utilizing advanced multiple channels for information encryption offers a powerful strategy to achieve high-capacity and highly secure data protection. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) offer a sustainable resource for developing information protection materials. In this study, we present an approach that is easy to implement and adapt for the covalent attachment of various fluorescence molecules onto the surface of CNCs using the Mannich reaction in aqueous-based medium. Through the use of the Mannich reaction-based surface modification technique, we successfully achieved multi-color fluorescence in the resulting CNCs. The resulting CNC derivatives were thoroughly characterized by two dimensional heteronuclear single quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance (2D HSQC NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy. Notably, the optical properties of CNCs were well maintained after modification, resulting in films exhibiting blue and red structural colors. This enables the engineering of highly programmable and securely encoded anti-counterfeit labels. Moreover, subsequent coating of the modified CNCs with MXene yielded a highly secure encrypted matrix, offering advanced security and encryption capabilities under ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths. This CNC surface-modification enables the development of multimodal security labels with potential applications across various practical scenarios., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Robust, conductive and flexible electrode materials have been the focus of attention in portable, wearable electronics. However, it is still a significant challenge to achieve synergistic development of multiple properties simultaneously. Herein, we propose a combination of microscale design and nanostructures strategy to prepare MXene/cellulose nanofiber-poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiphoenes):polystyrene sulfonate (Ti 3 C 2 T x /CNF-PEDOT:PSS, TC-P) hybrid film by a simple in-situ polymerization and vacuum filtration process. CNF serves as the supporting skeleton of PEDOT:PSS, effectively mitigating its self-aggregation and structural deformation due to the expansion/contraction of the polymer network. And the CNF-PEDOT:PSS composite is capable to open up the interlayer space of Ti 3 C 2 T x , which reduces the self-stacking of Ti 3 C 2 T x nanosheets. The strong interactions among the three components enable the hybrid film electrode to possess both flexibility and high electrochemical properties. As a result, the film electrode exhibits a remarkable tensile strength of 77.4 MPa and an excellent conductivity of 162.5 S cm -1 , as well as an outstanding areal specific capacitance of 896 mF cm -2 at 4 mA cm -2 . Moreover, the assembled symmetric supercapacitor (SSC) device displays a large areal energy density of 62 µWh cm -2 at a power density of 800 µW cm -2 and demonstrates a long cycle life with 85.1 % capacitance retention after 10,000 GCD cycles. This study provides an effective strategy to balance mechanical flexibility and electrochemical properties, providing an inspiration to prepare flexible electrodes that are widely applied in a new generation of portable, wearable electronics., 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.)

Chemical modification is a reliable and efficient strategy for designing cellulose-based functional materials. Herein, porous quaternized cellulose beads (QCBs) as cationic superabsorbent were fabricated by homogeneous in-situ chemical grafting cellulose molecular chains with glycidyl trimethylammonium chloride (GTAC) in tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH)/urea aqueous solution followed by acetic acid induced regeneration. The influence of GTAC dosage on the physicochemical-structural properties of cationic QCBs was deeply investigated. Results revealed that cotton liner could well-dissolved in TEAOH/urea aqueous solution, leading to a homogeneous and efficient quaternization medium for cellulose, thereby giving the high DS and positive charge density for quaternized cellulose. NMR results demonstrated the main substitution of GTAC groups at 2-OH and 6-OH positions of the cellulose chains during quaternization reaction. With increasing GTAC dosage, the network skeleton of QCBs gradually transformed from thick fibrils to thin aggregates, as well as enhanced pore volumes and hydrophilicity. Accordingly, QCBs-1.5 with high pore volume (99.70 cm 3 /g) exhibited excellent absorption capacity and efficiency, absorbing 122.32 g of water and 0.45 g of moisture per gram of the beads in 20 min. This work not only offers a simple strategy for the homogeneous quaternization modification of cellulose, but also provides a porous cellulose-based cationic superabsorbent material., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Due to the unsatisfactory mechanical properties of natural polymer-based conductive hydrogels, their applications are limited. Shaanxi Biangbiang noodles can be toughened by applying external mechanical forces through stretching and beating movements; this process provides inspiration for the preparation of high-strength hydrogels. In this paper, we propose a strategy for the preparation of ultrastrong and ultratough conductive hydrogels by directional prestretching and solvent exchange. Neatly arranged fiber bundles containing many intermolecular hydrogen bonds and metal ion coordination bonds are successfully constructed inside the prepared hydrogels. The hydrogel has exceptional mechanical properties, with a fracture stress exceeding 50 MPa, fracture strain approaching 105 %, fracture toughness exceeding 30 MJ m -3 , and high conductivity reaching 11.738 ± 0.06 mS m -1 . Impressively, the hydrogel can maintain its high mechanical properties after being frozen at an ultralow temperature of -80 °C for 7 days. Compared with other tough hydrogels, natural tendons and synthetic rubbers, the hydrogel exhibits excellent mechanical properties. The cellulose-based conductive hydrogel prepared in this study can be applied to robotic soft tissues (such as the Achilles tendon) that require high strength and are operated in extreme environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The green synthesis strategy for cellulose-containing hydrogel electrolytes is significant for effectively managing resources, energy, and environmental concerns in the contemporary world. Herein, we propose an all-green strategy using AlCl 3 /ZnCl 2 /H 2 O solvent to create cellulose/polyacrylamide-based hydrogel (AZ-Cel/PAM) with expanded hierarchical topologies. The aqueous AlCl 3 /ZnCl 2 facilitates the efficient dissolution of cellulose at room temperature, and the dispersed Al 3+ -Zn 2+ ions autocatalytic system catalyzes in-situ polymerization of acrylamide (AM) monomer. This expands the AM network within the cellulose framework, forming multiple bonding interactions and stable ion channels. The resulting hybrid hydrogel exhibits improved mechanical properties (tensile strength of 56.54 kPa and compressive strength of 359.43 kPa) and enhanced ionic conductivity (1.99 S/m). Furthermore, it also demonstrates excellent adhesion, freeze resistance (-45 °C), and water retention capabilities. Quantum simulations further clarify the mechanical composition and ion transport mechanism of AZ-Cel/PAM hydrogels. The assembled supercapacitor with the hydrogel electrolyte, demonstrates an ideal area-specific capacitance of 203.80 mF/cm 2 . This all-green strategy presents a novel approach to developing sustainable energy storage 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.)

The production of hydrogen through seawater electrolysis has recently garnered increasing concern. However, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by alkaline seawater electrocatalysis is severely impeded by the slow H 2 O adsorption and H* binding kinetics at industrial current densities. Herein, a face-centered cubic/hexagonal close packed (fcc/hcp) NiRu alloy heterojunction was fabricated on Ni foam (N doped NiRu-inf/NF) by a low-temperature nitrogen plasma activation. Simultaneously, nitrogen atoms are introduced into the alloy to facilitate d-p hybridization. When N doped NiRu-inf/NF is integrated into a dual-electrode cell for urea-assisted seawater electrolysis, it achieves 100 mA cm -2 with an ultra-low voltage of 1.36 V and excellent stability. Density functional theory (DFT) verifies that the robust d-p hybridization among Ni, Ru and N exhibits more energy level matching for H 2 O molecule adsorption at the Ru sites, while simultaneously reducing the interaction between H* and Ni sites in N-doped NiRu-inf., 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. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The pulp and paper industry generates vast quantities of paper sludge, posing significant environmental challenges due to its disposal in landfills or incineration. This study explores the potential of valorizing paper sludge by incorporating it into particleboard production. It aims to optimize sludge content and particle size to enhance board properties-a novel approach to waste management in the wood composites industry. Through systematic variation of sludge content (0-25%) and particle size (< 0.5 to > 2 mm), we assessed the mechanical and physical properties such as internal bond strength (IB), modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), water absorption (WA), and thickness swelling (TS). The findings indicate that incorporating paper sludge at moderate levels (5-15%) with optimized particle sizes (< 1 mm) significantly improves the mechanical properties of the particleboard, including increased IB, MOR, and MOE while reducing WA and TS. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) further supported these results, revealing that higher-density boards with enhanced mechanical properties absorb less water, highlighting the interrelationship between structural integrity and moisture resistance. The PCA also identified thickness swelling as an independent factor, suggesting that while mechanical properties can be optimized, additional strategies are needed to control swelling. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that up to 15% paper sludge can be effectively used in particleboard production without compromising quality, provided particle size is carefully controlled. This approach not only offers a sustainable solution for managing paper sludge but also contributes to the development of eco-friendly composite materials, aligning with circular economy principles., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibrous mats prepared by electrospinning serve as suitable packaging materials. However, their practical applications are limited by their weak mechanical properties, poor thermal stability, and high cost. In this study, green and low-cost lignin-containing cellulose nanocrystals (LCNCs) with different lignin contents were developed and employed as reinforced materials to synergistically enhance the thermal, mechanical, and hydrophobic properties of PLA electrospun nanofibrous mats. The presence of moderate lignin improved the interfacial compatibility between the LCNCs and PLA, resulting in excellent mechanical properties of the nanofibrous mats. Compared to pure PLA mats, the tensile strength of the composites reached up to 21.0 MPa, representing a 6.6-fold increase. Its toughness was synchronously enhanced by 16 times, reaching a maximum of 3.6 MJ/m 3 . The maximum decomposition temperature of PLA/LCNCs electrospun nanofibrous mats increased from 339 °C to 365 °C. Furthermore, the increase in lignin in the LCNCs positively contributed to improving the hydrophobicity of the PLA/LCNCs electrospun nanofibrous mats. This bio-based strategy of LCNCs employed in the enhancement of fully bio-based PLA nanofibrous mats offers a viable approach for the advancement of packaging films., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence this work, there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hypothesis: Nonpolar solvents with added charge control agents are widely used in various applications, such as E-paper displays. In spite of previous work, the mechanisms governing charge generation in nonpolar liquids, particularly those induced by electrochemical reactions at the liquid-solid interface, are not completely understood. We hypothesize that a physics-based model, according to the modified Butler-Volmer equation, can be used to quantitatively predict the injection of charges and the corresponding currents, in nonpolar solvents with surfactants., Simulation and Experiments: We propose a model to describe the migration and charge generation of inverse micelles. In addition to the mechanisms of electromigration, diffusion and charge generation via disproportionation that were introduced in earlier models, we include charge generation via electron injection at the electrodes using a microscopically justified expression as opposed to the previously used semi-empirical approaches. To validate our model, we compare its results to experimental current measurements in a simplified, effectively 1D, geometry., Findings: We find that the incorporation of both bulk and electrochemical reaction mechanisms in the model can effectively explain the experimental steady-state currents in a wide range of concentrations, voltages (0.5 V-5 V), and cell thicknesses. These numerical results of currents at longer time scales show a steady-state current only when both bulk and electrochemical reactions are taken into account. Moreover, we have observed in our simulation that at low applied voltages, the electric field in the bulk is fully shielded, and the steady-state current in this low-voltage regime is governed by the charge injection at the electrodes. Conversely, when the voltage is high enough and the electric field remains partially unscreened, the bulk disproportionation mechanism dominates the current generation. This also explains why we observe a non-Ohmic behavior where the steady-state currents at high voltages are independent of applied voltage. Hence, by elucidating the physical processes underlying the experimental observations, our model offers a more profound comprehension of charge transport in these systems, which could facilitate advancements in the design of enhanced E-ink displays and smart windows., 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 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Good dispersion of carbon fibers is important for the carbon paper production, which is usually achieved using low carbon fiber concentrations and disposable dispersants. In this study, we developed carbomer as a recyclable and high-efficiency dispersant for carbon fibers. When the carbon fiber concentration was 0.1 wt%, carbon fiber suspension showed improved dispersion performance as increasing the carbomer dosage. It exhibited low Turbiscan Stability Index (TSI) of 0.41 and small change of delta backscattering between -0.5 to 0.8 % when using 0.5 wt% carbomer. However, the good dispersibility fade away when increasing the concentration of carbon fibers. Subsequently, the pH of the carbon fiber suspension was adjusted to 7.0 to improve the dispersibility by increasing the viscosity, but causing a worse flowability. Then the pH was further adjusted to 13.0 to ensure good flowability in the wet-forming process and good dispersibility at carbon fiber concentration of 0.5 wt%. More importantly, the dispersant was successfully recycled and still exhibited excellent dispersion effects for carbon fibers after 5 cycles. Notably, the high-efficiency dispersion of carbon fibers and the recyclability of dispersant were achieved simultaneously for the first time, which is suitable for the eco-friendly and sustainable production of carbon paper., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influences our work. There is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A new Candida parapsilosis ACCC 20221 ( C. parapsilosis ACCC 20221) whole-cell catalyst with a high phenolic glycoside esters synthesis activity and large biomass was obtained after culture with glucose. The possible mechanisms were revealed by using comparative proteomics. It found the expression of proteins involved in post-translational modification, protein turnover, and chaperone, and RNA processing and modification was upregulated, which ensured the metabolic balance and accurate translation, correct folding, and post-translational modification of proteins, thus enhancing the production of lipases in C. parapsilosis ACCC 20221 cultured with glucose. Moreover, the glycolysis pathway, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and fatty acids synthesis were enhanced, while the β-oxidation of fatty acids was weakened in C. parapsilosis ACCC 20221 cells cultured with glucose, which led to an increase in energy generation and cell membrane synthesis; thus, large biomass was obtained. In addition, CCE40476.1 and CAC86400.1, which were likely to exert arbutin esters synthesis activity in C. parapsilosis ACCC 20221, were screened, and it was found that vinyl propionate could easily enter the catalytic pocket of CCE40476.1 and form hydrogen bonding interactions with Leu191 and Ser266.

Due to the heterogeneity of recycled paper materials and the production conditions, pollutants in papermaking wastewater fluctuate sharply over time. Quality control of the papermaking wastewater treatment process (PWTP) is challenging and costly. As regulations are also growing about the environmental effects of the PWTP on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, energy consumption, etc., the PWTP formulates a complex multiobjective optimization problem. This research established a multiagent deep reinforcement learning framework to simultaneously optimize process cost, energy consumption, and GHG emission in the PWTP, subjected to the effluent quality, to realize economic, energy, and environmental (3E) goals. The biological treatment process of wastewater in paper mills was simulated using benchmark simulation model no. 1 (BSM1). The data generated based on the BSM manual was utilized for model training, and real data acquired from a local papermaking factory was used to estimate the model performance. The results show that the proposed method outperforms conventional techniques in identifying the best control strategies for multiple targets.

Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBM) have emerged as useful tools for a wide range of tasks, including the use as purification tags or for cellulose fiber modification. For this purpose, the CBM needs to be attached to a target protein leading to large constructs. We investigated if short peptides from the carbohydrate binding site of CBMs can bind in a similar way as native, full-length CBMs to nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) or cotton linter paper. We designed our cellulose-binding peptides to be less hydrophobic and shorter than those previously reported. Starting from the binding site of Cel7A-CBM1, we incorporated the essential amino acids involved in cellulose binding into our peptides. These peptides, as well as control peptides with scrambled sequences or a lack of essential amino acids, bound to cellulose with similar affinity as CBM regardless of their secondary structure, sequence, or hydrophobicity. This unspecific mode of cellulose binding displayed by the presented peptides may be exploited to functionalize cellulose-based biomaterials by means of peptide-conjugates.

Compared to traditional lithium metal batteries, anode-free lithium metal batteries use bare current collectors as an anode instead of Li metal, making them highly promising for mass production and achieving high-energy density. The current collector, as the sole component of the anode, is crucial in lithium deposition-stripping behavior and greatly impacts the rate of Li depletion from the cathode. In this study, to investigate the lithiophilicity effect of the current collector on the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film construction and cycling performance of anode-free lithium batteries, various lightweight paper-based current collectors were prepared by electroless plating Cu and lipophilic Ag on low-dust paper (LDP). The areal densities of the as-prepared LDP@Cu, LDP@Cu-Ag, and LDP@Ag were approximately 0.33 mg cm -2 . The use of lipophilic Ag-coated collectors with varying loadings allowed for the regulation of lipophilicity. The impacts of these collectors on the distribution of SEI components and Li depletion rate in common electrolytes were investigated. The findings suggest that higher loadings of lipophilic materials, such as Ag, on the current collector increase its lipophilicity but also lead to significant Li depletion during the cycling process in full-cell anode-free Li metal batteries. Thus, moderately lithiophilic current collectors, such as LDP@Cu-Ag, show more potential for Li deposition and striping and stable SEI with a low speed of Li depletion.

In recent years, flexible sensors constructed mainly from hydrogels have received increasing attention. However, conventional hydrogels need to be prepared by high-temperature or radiation-induced polymerization reactions, which limits their practical applications due to their suboptimal electrical conductivity and weak mechanical properties. In this paper, using sodium lignosulfonate as the raw material, a dynamic catechol-quinone redox system formed by lignin‑zinc ions was constructed to initiate rapid free radical polymerization of acrylamide (AM) monomer at room temperature. In addition, Deep eutectic solvent (DES) can form a strong hydrogen bonding network within the molecules and between the molecules of the hydrogel, resulting in a hydrogel with good tensile properties (hydrogel elongation at break of 727.19 %, breaking strength of 84.09 kPa), and provides the hydrogel with high electrical conductivity, anti-dehydration, anti-freezing, and anti-bacterial properties. Meanwhile, the addition of lignin also improved the adhesion and UV resistance of the hydrogel. This hydrogel assembled into a flexible sensor can sense various small and large amplitude movements such as nodding, smiling, frowning, etc., and has a wide range of applications in flexible sensors., 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. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The rapid emergence of microfluidic paper-based devices as point-of-care testing (POCT) tools for early disease diagnosis and health monitoring, particularly in resource-limited areas, holds immense potential for enhancing healthcare accessibility. Leveraging the numerous advantages of paper, such as capillary-driven flow, porous structure, hydrophilic functional groups, biodegradability, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility, it has become a pivotal choice for microfluidic substrates. The repertoire of microfluidic paper-based devices includes one-dimensional lateral flow assays (1D LFAs), two-dimensional microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (2D μPADs), and three-dimensional (3D) μPADs. In this comprehensive review, we provide and examine crucial information related to paper substrates, design strategies, and detection methods in multi-dimensional microfluidic paper-based devices. We also investigate potential applications of microfluidic paper-based devices for detecting viruses, metabolites and hormones in non-invasive samples such as human saliva, sweat and urine. Additionally, we delve into capillary-driven flow alternative theoretical models of fluids within the paper to provide guidance. Finally, we critically examine the potential for future developments and address challenges for multi-dimensional microfluidic paper-based devices in advancing noninvasive early diagnosis and health monitoring. This article showcases their transformative impact on healthcare, paving the way for enhanced medical services worldwide., 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.)

Lignin, an abundant natural resource, has not been effectively utilized. In this study, the functionality of lignin was enhanced through amination to produce amine-crosslinked lignin, and its adsorption behavior toward cationic and anionic dyes was investigated. Chemical structure analysis confirmed the successful introduction of amine groups, thereby improving the molecular weight and thermal stability of the optimized amine-crosslinked lignin. Additionally, the amine-crosslinked lignin exhibited a larger specific surface area than kraft lignin, as well as excellent adsorption capacity for both anionic and cationic dyes. Furthermore, it selectively adsorbed anionic and cationic dyes depending on pH conditions. The adsorption kinetics were described using a pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption isotherms for congo red and methyl green were determined using the Langmuir and Freundlich equations, respectively. Additionally, the reusability and adsorption efficiency of the optimized amine-crosslinked lignin were evaluated, confirming its stable and repeatable adsorption efficiency for congo red and methyl green even after five repeated cycles. The assumed adsorption mechanism was attributed to electrostatic interactions. Therefore, the successful synthesis and excellent adsorption properties of amine-crosslinked lignin suggest its promising potential for environmentally friendly and efficient removal of both cationic and anionic dyes, thereby offering a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment and remediation., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2024 The Authors.)

This study focuses on the sustainable production of bio-jet fuel through the catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of isoeugenol (IE). Properties of two spraying synthesis methods (in situ and ex situ metal doping) with different platinum (Pt) loading percentages. The catalyst was characterised using various techniques such as XAS, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and thermogravimetric analysis. The HRTEM and FESEM results show the successful preparation of a spherical nanoparticle doped over activated carbon, and Pt was dispersed on the outer shell of the particles. The catalytic HDO of IE showed a high yield and conversion as follows: IE conversion of 100%, liquid-phase mass balance of 95.92%, dihydroeugenol conversion of 99.32%, propylcyclohexane yield of 88.94% and HYD yield of 76.19%. Moreover, the catalyst exhibited high reusability with low metal leaching and high coke resistance for 10 cycles. The catalyst was evaluated in a continuous flow reactor for 100 h at different reaction temperatures, and interestingly, the catalyst showed low deactivation with a high half-time., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Thermosets are well known for their advantages such as high stability and chemical resistance. However, developing sustainable thermosets with degradability and recyclability faces several principal challenges, including reconciling the desired characteristics during service with the recycling and reprocessing properties required at the end of life, establishing efficient methods for large-scale synthesis, and aligning with current manufacturing process. Here a general strategy is presented for the on-demand degradation and recycling of thermosets under mild conditions utilizing dynamic precursors with dual-factor-controlled reversibility. Specifically, dynamic triazine crosslinkers are introduced through dynamic nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S N Ar) into the precursor polyols used in polyurethane (PU) synthesis. Upon removal of the catalyst and alcohol, the reversibility of S N Ar is deactivated, allowing for the use of standard PU polymerization techniques such as injection molding, casting, and foaming. The resulting cyanurate-crosslinked PUs maintain high stability and diverse mechanical properties of traditional crosslinked PUs, yet offer the advantage of easy on-demand depolymerization for recycling by activating the reversibility of S N Ar under specific but mild conditions-a combination of base, alcohol, and mild heat. It is envisioned that this approach, involving the pre-installation of dual-factor-controlled dynamic crosslinkers, can be broadly applied to current thermosetting plastic manufacturing processes, introducing enhanced sustainability., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Castor stalk from hemp plants is an attractive lignocellulosic feedstock for biomass refining valorization due to its similar chemical composition to hardwoods. In this study, the castor stalk fibers were pretreated with efficient dual-functional ethanolamine to achieve delignification and swelling of the cellulosic fibers, followed by cellulase enzymatic digestion for biomass conversion. Experimental results showed that ethanolamine pretreatment at 160 °C for 1 h effectively removed 69.20 % of lignin and 43.18 % of hemicellulose. In addition to efficient delignification and removal of hemicellulose, the study also revealed that supramolecular structure of cellulose was another major factor affecting enzymatic hydrolysis performance. The lowered crystallinity (60-70 %) and swelled crystal sizes (2.95-3.04 nm) promoted enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency during the heterogeneous reaction process. Under optimal conditions (160 °C, 1 h; enzyme loading: 15 FPU/g substrate), promoted yields of 100 % glucose and over 90 % xylose were achieved, which were significantly higher than those obtained from untreated castor stalk. These findings highlighted the effectiveness of the dual-functional ethanolamine pretreatment strategy for efficient bioconversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the development of new strategies for the efficient utilization of biomass resources, which is essential for the sustainable development of our society., 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. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Porphyromonas gingivalis causes various health issues through oral infections. This study investigates the antibacterial activities of food-derived dihydrochalcone flavonoids against Porphyromonas gingivalis and their mechanisms of antibacterial action through comparative transcriptome profiling. Susceptibility tests showed that two typical dihydrochalcone flavonoids (phloretin and phlorizin) had much lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (12.5 μg mL -1 and 50 μg mL -1 , respectively) than the common flavanone naringenin (100 μg mL -1 ). SEM observations and the LDH activity assay indicated obvious anomalies in cell morphology and increased cell membrane permeability, indicating the destructive effect of those compounds on the cell structure. These compounds might also induce apoptosis in P. gingivalis , as shown by the CLSM fluorescence images. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the flavonoid treatment impacted DNA function and oxidative damage. These flavonoids may activate antioxidant-related pathways that are lethal to anaerobic bacteria like P. gingivalis . Additionally, the compounds resulted in the silencing of transposition-related genes, potentially inhibiting resistance-gene acquisition and expression. Phloretin regulated fatty acid metabolism pathways, which are related to the construction and maintenance of the cell membrane. This suggests a relationship between the structure and antibacterial activities of the tested compounds that share a flavonoid skeleton but differ in the C-ring and glucose moiety. This is the first report of the antibacterial activities and mechanisms of action of food-derived dihydrochalcone flavonoids at the transcriptome level, offering a promising approach for the development of new antibacterial agents from natural products and enhancing their applicability in treating diseases associated with oral pathogens as a substitute for antibiotics.

Concern about food safety triggers demand on rapid, accurate and on-site detection of foodborne pathogens. Among various fluorescent probes for detection, carbon dots (CDs) prepared by carbonization of carbon-rich raw materials show extraordinary performance for their excellent and tailorable photoluminescence property, as well as their facilely gained specificity by surface customization and modification. CDs-based fluorescent probes play a crucial role in many pathogenic bacteria sensing systems. In addition, microfluidic technology with characteristics of portability and functional integration is expected to combine with CDs-based fluorescent probes for point-of-care testing (POCT), which can further enhance the detection property of CDs-based fluorescent probes. Here, this paper reviews CDs-based bacterial detection methods and systems, including the structural modulation of fluorescent probes and pathogenic bacteria detection mechanisms, and describes the potential of combining CDs with microfluidic technology, providing reference for the development of novel rapid detection technology for pathogenic bacteria in food., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)