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Highlights: [•] The solubility of tetrabromothiophene in (ethanol+trichloromethane) binary solvent mixtures was investigated. [•] The two variants of the CNIBS/R–K equation and the Jouyban–Acree equation. [•] The solution process of tetrabromothiophene in (ethanol+trichloromethane) binary solvent mixtures was an endothermic process. [•] Ethanol could be used as effective anti-solvent in the crystallization process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The use of different available chlorine concentrations (ACCs) of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW; 0.5 to 30 mg/liter), different treatment times, and different temperatures for inactivating Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated. The morphology of both pathogens also was analyzed with transmission electron microscopy. A 3-min treatment with SAEW (pH 6.0 to 6.5) at ACCs of 2 mg/liter for E. coli O157:H7 and 8 mg/liter for S. aureus resulted in 100% inactivation of two cultures (7.92- to 8.75-log reduction) at 25°C. The bactericidal activity of SAEW was independent of the treatment time and temperature at a higher ACC (P > 0.05). E. coli O157:H7 was much more sensitive than S. aureus to SAEW. The morphological damage to E. coli O157:H7 cells by SAEW was significantly greater than that to S. aureus cells. At an ACC as high as 30 mg/liter, E. coli O157:H7 cells were damaged, but S. aureus cells retained their structure and no cell wall damage or shrinkage was observed. SAEW with a near neutral pH may be a promising disinfectant for inactivation of foodborne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new type of biocomposite of nano aptite (NAP)/poly(1,4-phenylene sulfide)–poly (2,4-phenylene sulfide acid) (PPS–PPSA) copolymer (NAP/PPS–PPSA) was prepared by polycondensation in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The NAP particles with a size of about 40–60nm in diameter and 60–80nm in length uniformly distributed in the composite. The presence of 2,4-phenylene sulfide acid in copolymer increased the copolymer affinity to NAP. Duo to some strong combinations of calcium ion (Ca2+), carboxyl (–COO−) and phosphate radicals ion () in the composite, interfacial chemical binding exists between copolymer and NAP. The NAP/PPS–PPSA biocomposite not only had good homogeneity but also had high NAP content of 60%, which was a potential bioactive material to be used as load-bearing implants or fixation in bone repair. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Human osteoblast-like cells SaOS-2 (ATCC HTB85) were seeded onto three kinds of hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramics sintered at different temperature (1200°C, 1000°C and 800°C). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted to detect the surface microstructure. Cells were cultured on these substrates for 6 and 12 days and cell proliferation rate and mRNA expression for osteocalcin, osteonectin, type I collagen and alkaline phosphatase and protein production for osteocalcin, bone sialoprotein and osteonectin were detected with quantitative in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry techniques. SEM revealed that crystal particle size was affected by sintering temperature. Result showed that cell proliferation rate on HA ceramics sintered at 1200°C was the highest. Osteonectin and type I collagen mRNA expression was not altered by sintering temperature. After 12 days in culture, bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin and osteonectin proteins levels were significantly (p<0.05) higher when SaOS-2 cells were cultured on HA sintered at 1200°C, compared to the other two surfaces, suggesting that HA sintered at high temperature may be a better candidate for in vivo implantation. This result provides valuable information concerning the clinic application of HA ceramics sintered at different temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Calcium phosphate ceramics with different hydroxyapatite (HA) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ratios have different chemical properties. Does the difference in phase composition affect osteoblast behavior? In this study, osteoblasts were cultured on 4 kinds of calcium phosphate ceramics, i.e. pure (HA), HT1 (HA/TCP, 70/30), HT2 (HA/TCP, 35/65), and pure TCP. Cell proliferation of SaOS-2 cells together with bone-related genes’ mRNA expression and protein production in osteoblasts cultured on different calcium phosphate ceramics were detected at different time points. Data suggested that cell proliferation rate on TCP ceramics was lower than that on the other substrates tested. Generally, mRNA expressions for ostenectin and osteocalcin were similar among the four kinds of ceramics in most circumstances, whereas at six days, alkaline phosphatase mRNA expression was higher on HA and HT1 surfaces than on the other two materials. Collagen I mRNA expression was also affected by the phase composition of substrates. Osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein production in SaOS-2 cells was very similar no matter which ceramic surface the cells were grown upon. This study revealed that calcium phosphate ceramics substrate could support osteoblast growth and bone-related gene expression and its gene expression pattern explained the basis of the biocompatibility and bioactivity for calcium phosphate ceramics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study introduces a highly sensitive temperature sensor based on long-period fiber grating (LPFG). The sensor is composed of a long period fiber grating covered by a higher RI (RI) layer of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and a lower RI layer of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The PVA layer enables the sensor to operate in the mode transition region with high sensitivity, and the PDMS layer further enhances the temperature sensitivity owing to its high thermos-optic coefficient. In addition, the sensor can mitigate the influence of humidity due to the hydrophobic properties of PDMS. Experimental results show that the temperature sensitivity can achieve to 1232.3 pm/℃ within the range of 20℃-100℃ for an LPFG with a period of 363 μm coated with a 265 nm PVA layer and a 20 μm PDMS layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a predominant technology for treating biowaste and producing clean energy in the field of renewable and sustainable development. Conventional single stage AD is limited by its low energy recovery efficiency, unstable operational performances, and vulnerability to operational conditions. Stage-separated AD was proposed as a promising strategy and increased biomethane production by 5.8%–65.5% and energy recovery by 9.8%–65.5%, respectively. However, the limited information and understanding of stage separation posed technical challenges in the design and applications of stage-separated AD. Thermodynamic and kinetic analysis in the present study suggests that the principles of stage-separated AD are the separation of biochemical reactions and functional microbes. On this basis, inoculum preselection, pH gradient, organic loading regulation, and temperature control were adopted to accelerate the stage separation. Stage-separated AD systems could adopt physically separated or integrated reactor designs. Integrated systems exhibited advantages in operational simplicity, reduced footprint (ca. 30%), and automated stage separation, compared to physically separated AD configurations. Moreover, the pilot and full-scale stage-separated AD setups have emerged, bridging the transition from research to commercial implementation. However, addressing the complexity of feedstock and practical application scenarios remains a big challenge. This study proposed a strategy that takes full account of feedstock characteristics, reactor/compartment configurations, and operational modes for the design of stage-separated AD systems. The comprehensive review in this study identifies promising directions for the design and operation of stage-separated AD, and helps to further unlock its potential for efficient renewable energy (biomethane and biohydrogen) production and biowaste valorization. [Display omitted] • Stage separation is achieved by separating biochemical reactions and microbes. • Stage separation can be promoted by controlling inoculum, pH, HRT, OLR, and temperature. • Pilot/full-scale application of stage-separated AD is still in its infancy. • The design strategy considers feedstock, reactor, and operational characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Milli-magnetite significantly promoted dark fermentation of potato peels. • Activity of dehydrogenase and hydrogenase were enhanced with addition of magnetite. • Magnetite suppressed the propionate production and improved the ethanol production. • Magnetite could markedly enrich Enterobacteriaceae , Clostridium , and Lactococcus. Iron-based additives hold a wide and promising application potential for promoting biohydrogen production from biowaste. Nano-magnetite has been widely investigated, but their applications are clouded with high economic input, cell toxicity, and limited promotion. Whereas milli-magnetite holds the characteristics of cheap, biocompatible, recovery, and easily available. Hence, this study aimed to verify the effect of milli-magnetite on hydrogen production of potato peels. Compared with control, supplementary magnetite 800 mg/L resulted in a 3.20-fold increase in hydrogen production. The related mechanisms of promoted DF with adding milli-magnetite were further explored. Fe2+/Fe3+ produced by the dissolution and corrosion of milli-magnetite could participate in the synthesis of dehydrogenase and hydrogenase. Which stimulated the activity of dehydrogenase (increased by 62.01%) and hydrogenase (increased by 110.55%) with the addition of 800 mg/L compared with the control group. Correspondingly, both the hydrolysis of potato peels and hydrogen production were markedly improved. Further, metabolic pathway shifted from hydrogen-consuming reactions (propionate-type fermentation) to hydrogen-producing ones (butyrate- and ethanol-type) with milli-magnetite addition. In addition, the butyrate- and ethanol-type fermentation could alleviate acidification and keep the pH of environment within a suitable range for hydrogen production. Lastly, the Clostridium (electroactive microbes) and Lactococcus (with flagellum structures) were enriched with the addition of milli-magnetite, which may improve the electron transfer during hydrogen production. The threshold of milli-magnetite (800 mg/L) is higher than nano-magnetite (<300 mg/L), which may facilitate the scale-up application in DF without the concern of side effects. Overall, this study indicated that milli-magnetite could significantly improve the biohydrogen production of potato peels, which hopefully provided a cheap, biocompatibility, easily available, recovery, and effective additive alternative for further commercial application of DF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]