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Purpose: To analyze the effect of disinfectants on the roughness and mechanical properties of CAD/CAM polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) dentures. Materials and Methods: Two groups of denture base resins were tested--heat-polymerized and milled blocks. For each resin, 120 specimens were produced for flexural strength (FS) and flexural modulus (FM) analyses (total: 240 specimens), and 40 were produced for microhardness and surface roughness evaluations (total: 80 specimens). They were categorized into the following groups based on immersion: control (deionized water); H1 (1% sodium hypochlorite); H05 (0.5% sodium hypochlorite); and C2 (2% chlorhexidine) groups. The immersion periods were 0 (T0), 130 (T1), and 260 (T2) cycles. Statistical analyses were performed for flexural properties using threeway ANOVA. Microhardness (KHN) and surface roughness (Ra) were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. A significance level of 5% was set. Results: CAD/CAM PMMA showed higher FS (P = .001) and FM (P < .001) than conventional PMMA. The KHN value was superior to the conventional PMMA (P < .001). The chemical solution affected the surface roughness of both resins (P = .007). The CAD/CAM PMMA block showed increased Ra values when H1 was used. Cycling separately increased the FS of conventional PMMA (T1 vs baseline; P < .05). However, the FM of CAD/CAM PMMA was higher (T1 and T2 vs baseline; P < .05). The time factor increased the microhardness of both resins (T2 vs baseline; P < .05). Conclusions: The CAD/CAM resin showed higher values compared to conventional PMMA in all tests, regardless of the chemical solution used; however, the values obtained for both resins were clinically acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have become a powerful tool for investigating electrical double layers (EDLs), which play a crucial role in various electrochemical devices. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the techniques used in MD simulations for EDL studies, with a particular focus on methods for describing electrode polarization, and examine the principle behind these methods and their varying applicability. The applications of these approaches in supercapacitors, capacitive deionization, batteries, and electric double-layer transistors are explored, highlighting recent advancements and insights in each field. Finally, we emphasize the challenges and potential directions for future developments in MD simulations of EDLs, such as considering movable electrodes, improving electrode property representation, incorporating chemical reactions, and enhancing computational efficiency to deepen our understanding of complex electrochemical processes and contribute to the progress in the field involving EDLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For reducing the amount and fully utilizing the active sites of CuO, a microscale CuO coated melamine–cyanuric acid supramolecular assembly (CuO/MCSA) was developed in situ and employed as an efficient peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator for water decontamination. The characteristics of CuO/MCSA were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, TEM and BET. CuO/MCSA showed strong catalytic ability to activate PMS for tetracycline (TC) degradation. Under the conditions of pH ≈ 7 and a PMS dosage of 0.5 mmol L−1, 1 g L−1 of CuO/MCSA including less than 3.0 wt% CuO can remove about 70% of 20 mg L−1 TC within 5 min. After five consecutive cycles, the degradation rate of CuO/MCSA was still around 52.6%. The PMS dosage, reaction temperature, initial pH value, and co-existing anions and small molecule acids all affected the performance of the CuO/MCSA/PMS system in TC degradation. According to quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) testing, 1O2 played the most important role in TC degradation in the CuO/MCSA/PMS system. In addition, the CuO/MCSA/PMS system exhibited wide applicability, and can effectively remove TC in different water bodies (deionized water, tap water and lake water) and various pollutants (TC, methylene orange and methyl blue). Overall, this work provided an effective strategy to enhance the efficient utilization of a catalyst for PMS activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish a low-cost and environment-friendly method for producing blue fluorescent materials and their thin films, we investigated the conditions for synthesizing graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) powder from urea and melamine. We found that urea can be used to synthesize g-C3N4 at lower annealing temperatures than melamine. The synthesized g-C3N4 powder showed good dispersibility in deionized water and methanol, and it was found that relatively uniform g-C3N4 thin films could be obtained by low-speed spin-coating, especially with highly volatile methanol dispersions. These results indicate that blue fluorescent thin films can be fabricated using a wet process at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diblock copolymers consisting of higher hydrophobic styrene and hydrophilic N-hydroxyethylacrylamide (HEAAm) segments were successfully synthesized via direct two-step atom transfer radical polymerization. Polystyrene (PS) homopolymers were synthesized using methyl 4-(bromo-methyl) benzoate initiator in N,N′- dimethylformamide (DMF) in the presence of Cu(I)Br/pentamethyldiethylene tetramine (PMDETA) catalyst system at 90 and 110 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. PS was used as macro-initiator for the synthesis of PS-b-PHEAAm polymer. Block copolymerizations were carried out in pure DMF in the presence of the same catalyst system at 110 °C while argon was used for deoxygenation and inert environment. Block copolymer was purified through dialysis into deionized water using a dialysis tubing (MWCO 3500, cellulose membrane). The number average molecular weight of PS polymers (Mn = 2240, 3250 and 10,800 Da) was determined by size exclusion chromatography using tetrahydrofuran (THF) as eluent. The chemical structures, functional groups and actual compositions of copolymer were determined using instrumental data, c.f. elemental analysis, attenuated total reflectance infra-red and proton—nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy analysis. Thermo-gravimetric analysis confirms that diblock copolymer has higher thermal stability than PS homopolymer. Co-solvent effect on particle formation was investigated by regulating dielectric constant. It is revealed that THF/DMF (9:1) provides susceptible environment for the formation of smallest size (13 ± 4 nm) particle. This synthetic route would establish a direct synthesis of diblock copolymer with antagonistic segments for advanced technological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI) emerges as a burgeoning electrochemical desalination technology due to the utilization of profitable pseudocapacitive reactions. Although tunable organic compounds are potential faradaic electrode materials, their insufficient active sites and high water‐solubility restrict practical HCDI applications. Herein, a pseudocapacitive organic polymer (PNDS) is proposed with diverse redox‐active sites for electrochemical deionization. The pronounced molecular aromaticity and strong π‐electron delocalization not only endow PNDS polymer with framework rigidity, but refine its electronic structure to bolster redox activity and electron affinity. As an electrode material, the PNDS polymer demonstrates a substantial pseudocapacitive capacitance of 390 F g−1 and sustains long‐term stability at 96.3% after 5000 cycles, surpassing reported Na+‐capturing organic electrodes. In‐operando monitoring techniques and theoretical calculations reveal efficient Na+ capture at the C═N and C═O redox‐active sites within the PNDS electrode during repeated electrosorption processes. As a conceptual demonstration, a high‐performance HCDI device equipped with the PNDS electrode exhibits an impressive salt removal capacity (66.4 mg g−1), a rapid removal rate (2.2 mg g−1 min−1) and stable regeneration property. More importantly, an integrated desalination system is engineered to rapidly and repeatedly treat saltwater resources for human consumption and agricultural irrigation, highlighting its promising prospects for high‐efficiency desalination applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of histology slides is a critical step in histopathology, and poor-quality histology slides with weak adhesion of tissue sections to the substrate often affect diagnostic accuracy and sometimes lead to diagnostic failure due to tissue section detachment. This issue has been of concern and some methods have been proposed to enhance tissue-substrate adhesion. Unfortunately, quantitative analysis of the adhesion between tissue sections and glass slides is still challenging. In this work, the adhesion of mouse brain tissue sections on gold-coated glass slides was analyzed using a laboratory-fabricated hyperspectral surface plasmon resonance microscopy (HSPRM) system that enabled single-pixel spectral SPR sensing and provided two-dimensional (2D) distribution of resonance wavelengths (RWs). The existence of the nanoscale water gap between the tissue section and the substrate was verified by fitting the RW measured in each pixel using the five-layer Fresnel reflection model. In addition, a 2D image of the tissue-substrate adhesion distance (AD) was obtained from the measured 2D distribution of RWs. The results showed that tissue-substrate AD was 20–35 nm in deionized water and 4–24 nm in saline solution. The HSPRM system used in this work has a wide wavelength range of 400–1000 nm and can perform highly sensitive and label-free detection over a large dynamic detection range with high spectral and spatial resolutions, showing significant potential applications in stain-free tissue imaging, quantitative analysis of tissue-substrate adhesion, accurate identification of tumor cells, and rapid histopathological diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free‐standing gallium nitride has been prepared using various methods; however, the removal of the original substrate is still challenging with low success rates. In this work, 2‐inch free‐standing GaN films are obtained by direct growth on a fluoro phlogopite mica by hydride vapor‐phase epitaxy. Depending on the van der Waals (vdW) interaction between GaN and mica, the effect of the significant lattice mismatch is effectively reduced; thus, enabling the production of a high‐quality wafer‐scale GaN film on mica. The vdW‐induced cracks at GaN–mica interface are found to be initiated near the interface so that GaN can easily separate from mica during rapid cooling. Owing to the hydrophilic nature of mica, the residual GaN on the mica can be lifted off by following deionized water treatment, and the mica substrate can be repeatedly used to grow free‐standing GaN films. The self‐separated GaN films grown on both pristine and used mica substrates are single crystallinity and strain‐free. Additionally, a fully functional ultraviolet light‐emitting diode is demonstrated to show that the self‐separated GaN films are of device quality. The proposed approach achieves epitaxial growth of wafer‐scale single‐crystalline GaN on 2D materials and provides a new substrate option in the technology of III‐V materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to overcome the shortcomings of slow adsorption rate and poor selectivity for gallium adsorption, this study successfully developed a novel gallium-imprinted resin composite electrode material. This material was prepared by using gallium-imprinted resin as an adsorbent and activated carbon as a conductive agent through a binder. Using capacitive deionization technology, the composite electrode material can effectively adsorb gallium from a strongly basic sodium aluminate solution. The material's innovative design not only provides a larger specific surface area and optimal pore size distribution but also demonstrates coordinated adsorption with gallium ions through functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino groups. The experimental results confirm that the material achieves an adsorption capacity of 11.22 mg g−1 at 1 V within 90 minutes, fitting the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model, with a saturated adsorption capacity of 22.56 mg g−1. Moreover, the material exhibits excellent cycle stability and reusability, retaining 88.9% of its original adsorption capacity after five adsorption–desorption cycles. These findings highlight the potential of this composite electrode material for efficient and sustainable gallium recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to improve the mechanical strength of hydrogels via a simplified method, involving the creation of a nanocomposite hydrogel using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) incorporated with un‐modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (um‐MWCNTs). Departing from conventional freezing–thawing cycles, our research employs a facile approach, in which high‐shear mixing along with solvent exchange with deionized water was utilized. Morphological analysis unveiled a compact and dense microstructure within the nanocomposite hydrogel in correlation with MWCNT concentration. Attenuated total reflection‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR) elucidated the chemical structure of PVA/um‐MWCNTs hydrogel nanocomposite. Rheological studies on the viscoelastic properties indicated the formation of more "solid‐like" structure in the developed hydrogel nanocomposite. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy revealed alterations in dielectric properties of the fabricated PVA/um‐MWCNTs hydrogel nanocomposite corresponding to MWCNTs content in the PVA matrix. This comprehensive investigation highlights the impact of minimal MWCNTs concentration on the rheology, mechanical, and dielectric properties of developed PVA/um‐MWCNTs hydrogel nanocomposite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objectives were to determine the effect of UF of skim milk at 7°C and 50°C on UF processing, lactose removal, mineral partitioning, and skim milk retentate physical, chemical, and sensory properties at 3 (3.4%, 7.5%, and 10.5%) protein concentration with 2 different heat processing treatments (HTST pasteurization and autoclave). Pasteurized skim milk was split into 2 portions, and the 7°C UF processing run was done on one day and the 50°C UF processing run was done on the next day. Skim milk was UF and diafiltered at 7°C and 50°C, and as permeate was removed, deionized water at 7°C or 50°C was added in an equal amount by weight, as permeate was removed to maintain constant protein concentration in the retentate during UF until 98% or more of lactose, and low-molecular-weight soluble milk components were removed. All skim milk-based beverage bases from the 7°C and 50°C UF of skim milk were HTST (78°C for 15 s) processed or autoclaved (116°C for 6 min). The physical, chemical, and sensory properties of all treatments were measured. This process was replicated twice with a new batch of pasteurized skim milk in a different week with the 7°C and 50°C UF processing runs done in reverse order. Overall, lactose-free skim milk at 3.4%, 7.5%, and 10.5% protein produced by UF with diafiltration (DF), was more bland, more white, and less heat stable (i.e., stable to retorting but not direct steam injection at 142°C for 2–3 s) than skim milk, based on both sensory scores and instrumental measures. A 98% to 99% removal of lactose from skim milk was achieved (final lactose concentration <0.06 g/100g) with a diafiltration ratio of water to milk of about 4 to 1 was used at both 7°C and 50°C. The processing time to achieve that lactose removal from the same starting weight of milk was about twice as long when filtering at 7°C than 50°C because of the lower flux (23 vs. 48 kg/m2 per hour). The continuous DF at constant protein concentration maintained constant flux for a processing time of 4 and 8 h at 50°C and 7°C, respectively. The final freezing point of the lactose and soluble mineral reduced milk was close to that of water (−0.015°C vs. −0.525°C for skim milk) and the pH of the lactose-free milk at 20°C increased from about 6.5 for skim to about 7.33 and 7.46 for UF with continuous DF of skim milk at 7°C and 50°C, respectively. Removal of compounds that absorb light (in the range of 360 to 500 nm) from milk in the permeate, increased light reflectance and whiteness and decreased yellowness relative to the starting skim milk. The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrylamide, a probable human carcinogen present in heat-processed foods and environmental contaminants, requires sample extraction and preconcentration before chromatographic analysis. The method developed in this study employed derivatization with xanthydrol and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction utilizing low-density anisole. Durian or potato chips were combined with deionized water, defatted with hexane, and subjected to precipitation of soluble carbohydrates and proteins using clarification reagents. Water samples were filtered through a membrane filter. Acrylamide was derivatized by introducing an acidic methanolic solution of xanthydrol at 50 °C. The derivatized acrylamide was extracted with 70 µL of anisole and vortexed, with the methanol from the xanthydrol solution serving as the disperser solvent. The anisole layer was analyzed using gas chromatography with both flame ionization and mass spectrometric detection. Linear calibration plots exhibited coefficients of determination >0.9997. The precision was measured at <10% RSD, and recoveries ranged from 84% to 107%. The quantitation limit varied from 2 to 10 µg kg−1 for processed chips and from 0.05 to 0.10 µg L−1 for water samples. Acrylamide was detected in all processed chip samples, with some concentrations exceeding the benchmark value of 750 μg kg−1. However, no acrylamide was identified in any of the water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution by metals is increasing. An electrode material, copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF), for capacitive deionization (CDI) to remove Co2+ from wastewater was developed. The asymmetric electrode structure of the CDI overcomes the limitations of traditional activated carbon electrodes (low ion removal capacity, ion removal rate, and charge efficiency). The specific capacitance of the CuHCF electrode (216.7 F g−1) at 1 mV s−1 was higher than that of a traditional electrode (92.0 F g−1), and its deionization capacity was 156.85 mg g−1 in 50 mg L−1 aqueous Co2+ (charge efficiency = 68.4%). CuHCF is a high-performance electrode material for wastewater remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofluids play an important role in machining processes for lubrication and cooling action. However, conventional fluids put the environment and operator health in risk due to its hazardous nature. This paper attempts to develop and characterize a novel sustainable and eco-friendly nanofluids for machining applications. In this study, deionized water-based Al2O3, TiO2 and MWCNT nanoparticles dispersed nanofluids and its hybrids Al2O3–TiO2 (50:50) and Al2O3-MWCNT (90:10) with varying concentration (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 vol%) having sodium lauryl sulfate as surfactant were developed and characterized for rheological, thermal and wettability properties at near room temperature. The experimental results show that nanofluid's thermophysical properties were better than the base fluid. The thermal conductivity of all the nanofluids produced in this study is more than 0.611238 W/m K which is more than the thermal conductivity for deionized water. Similarly, surface tension obtained for various nanofluids is comparatively lower than deionized water, i.e., 0.072 N/m. As the concentration of nanoparticles increases from 0.5 to 1.5 vol%, it leads to an increase in thermal conductivity, but the increase of nanoparticles concentration beyond 2% has a very minimal effect on thermal conductivity. The rate of transmittance % is as follows: 0.5 vol% > 1.0 vol% > 1.5 vol% > 2.0 vol%. It has been observed that zeta potential values are above ± 30 mV, thus indicating a stable formation of nanofluids due to non-agglomeration of nanoparticles. Hence, the following properties of nanofluids will help in high-speed machining applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, global warming has been increasing, while conventional cooling devices remain inefficient and can emit greenhouse gases. The research and development of passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) are of utmost importance. Herein, a novel technique called water‐assisted thermally induced phase separation (WA‐TIPS) is employed to prepare thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foams with a hierarchical micro/nanostructure. By adding 2 mL of deionized water, the TPU foam achieves a solar reflectance of up to 95.5% and can provide a cooling effect of up to 7 °C during daytime, showcasing its significant potential for PDRC applications. Furthermore, leveraging the WA‐TIPS technique, the cooling performance of a composite foam consisting of TPU and SiO2 nanoparticles is investigated. Remarkably, it is discovered that incorporating just 0.1 g of SiO2 nanoparticles allows the composite foam to achieve daytime cooling of up to 15 °C. In this work, not only a novel approach for constructing micro/nanostructures is introduced but also a theoretical and experimental framework for advancing the development of polymer or polymer composite PDRC devices is established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, amorphous indium–gallium–zinc oxide (IGZO) semiconductor has become the most commonly used semiconductor material and is widely used in flat panel displays and various sensors, but its performance is greatly affected by environmental factors, especially water. This study investigates the instability of IGZO thin‐film transistors (TFTs) soaked in deionized water. After 24 h bathing, the field‐effect mobility and threshold voltage change a little, but the subthreshold swing, positive bias stress and negative bias stress stability undergo clear degradation. Through comprehensive examination of the changes in the chemical composition, surface morphology and thickness of the IGZO films, it's found that IGZO experiences selective etching by deionized water, and consequently the film surface becomes rough and rich of In and oxygen vacancies, which can explain the variations on device performance well. In addition to the bathing experiment performed on In2O3, Ga2O3, and ZnO TFTs, a schematic image of the reaction between water and IGZO is depicted, showing the preferential loss of Ga and Zn located next to the oxygen vacancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) with a three-dimensional cross-linked network structure are used in the concrete field due to their good water absorption and water retention properties. The changes of its repeated water absorption and release properties have an important impact on crack healing, but there is still a lack of relevant research. This study mainly uses the tea-bag method to explore the repeated water absorption and release behavior of sodium polyacrylate and polyacrylic acid-acrylamide copolymers in deionized water, cement filtrate, and saturated calcium hydroxide solution. The quantitative analysis of the change in the peak area of the water-absorbing functional group was performed by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphology and elements of SAP under different dry-wet cycles were analyzed by scanning electron microscope-energy spectrum analysis. The repeated swelling behavior of SAP was predicted using the classical models. The results showed that the repeated water absorption performance of SAP gradually decreased with the increase of the number of wet-dry cycles. The slope of the curve for the second-order equation gradually increases, and the peak area corresponding to the carboxyl functional group also gradually increases. And the rate and amount of water release gradually increase. For sodium polyacrylate, with the increase in the number of wet-dry- cycles, the increase in the content of calcium, magnesium, and aluminum elements is accompanied by a significant decrease in the content of sodium elements. In contrast, the calcium content on the surface of polyacrylic acid-acrylamide copolymer increased, but the sodium content only slightly decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Climate change is considered one of the main challenges in this century, and CO2 emissions significantly cause it. Integrating CO2 capture, storage, and conversion is proposed to solve this problem. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) ionic liquid was employed to capture and store CO2 from the air and subsequently converted into CO using non-thermal plasma. Moreover, we also tested the CO2 capture and storage capacity of water from different sources, e.g., Milli-Q, deionized water, and tap water. [Bmim]Cl solution captured CO2 from the air and then converted to CO after 24 h using plasma. In comparison with water (Milli-Q water, deionized water, and tap water), CO production was increased by 28.31% in the presence of water (Milli-Q water, deionized water, and tap water) + [Bmim]Cl. It suggests that this method could be a promising way to capture, store, and convert CO2 from air at atmospheric pressure and room temperature as an effort to reduce carbon emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayer composite soil chamber was proposed to extract the Cr of contaminated site soil and insight into transformation of Cr fractionation associated with valence states. The variations of current, soil pH and moisture content were explored, as well as the migration of Cr fractionation and redistribution of Cr. Results indicated that duration of half peak current could be used to adjust treatment time and it varied among different composite ways. Moreover, extraction efficiency of Cr in soil near cathode was relatively higher and reached 60% when citric acid was used. Citric acid could promote the transformation between different Cr fractionations or different valence states. It could also improve the desorption of Cr, and could prevent excessive fluctuations of moisture content at the same time. Cr redistributed acrossed the soil chamber after extraction. When deionized water was used, Cr(VI) significantly migrated toward anode mainly in the form of exchangeable fractionation (EXC) while Fe–Mn oxides fractionation (Fe–Mn) which may be in the form of cationic Cr(III) hydroxides migrated toward cathode. When using citric acid, fractionations that were difficult to migrate of Cr, especially for Fe–Mn in site soils could be activated and became EXC and carbonate fractionation (CAR), then migrated to the anode or cathode. The migration of exchangeable Cr(III) was dramatically enhanced. But the use of citric acid could cause Cr(VI) transformation to Cr(III) near anode. In addition, during the migration process, EXC could go back to Fe–Mn again or transform to residue fractionation (RES). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of various storage media on the physicochemical properties of plasma-treated 3-mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia: air, vacuum, deionized water (DIW), and plasma-activated water (PAW). Each group was divided into five subgroups based on storage periods: immediately after NTP irradiation (T0), and after 1 week (T1), 2 weeks (T2), 3 weeks (T3), and 4 weeks (T4). The control group (C) received no treatment. The storage groups were monitored weekly using various analytical techniques, including contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focused ion beam (FIB)-SEM, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Our results demonstrate that plasma-treated zirconia surfaces stored in DIW retained or even increased their hydrophilicity due to the formation of hydrogen bonds and preservation of nitrogen functionalities. In contrast, surfaces stored in air exhibited significant hydrophobic recovery. FIB-SEM analysis showed no adverse internal structural changes regardless of storage medium. The roughness of the zirconia surface slightly increased after plasma treatment and was generally retained across all storage groups for 4 weeks, except for the air storage group. This study concludes that storage in DIW effectively preserves the enhanced surface properties of plasma-activated zirconia for up to 4 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) are a class of promising materials for capacitive deionization. However, the kinetic mismatch between their slow ion storage rate and the demand from short‐time desalination severely limits their desalination performance. Here, a group of structure‐tuneable Ni‐Mn PBAs have been developed by a combination strategy of surface‐protected chemical etching and Ostwald ripening to study their ion storage kinetics. Treating them as demos, the characterizations and investigations, e.g., in situ XRD in a three‐electrode system, dynamic impedance, finite element simulation, and DFT calculations etc., reveal that the slow ion diffusion caused by the severe agglomeration of the nanoparticles and the unsuitable lattice parameter controls the final desalination behavior. Therefore, the correspondingly optimized sample (HC‐t) possessing a microscale hollow structure, nanoscale shell thickness, and expanded lattice, displays a fast ion storage kinetics with the ratio of surface‐controlled current as high as 82% at a scan rate of 20 mV s−1. Consequently, it delivers an impressive desalination capacity of 120.8 mg g−1 (2.06 mmol g−1 Na+) with a fast average desalination rate of 0.25 mg g−1 s−1 (0.004 mmol g−1 s−1) at 1.2 V, competitive with those reported in the literature. Moreover, the elucidation of the structure‐performance correlation provides valuable insights for the development and design of next‐generation PBAs for capacitive deionization (CDI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additional huge amount of energy is required for water splitting due to strong surrounding hydrogen bonds (HBs) between water molecules. However, this underappreciated fact has not attracted the attention of scientists to shift to the research direction to the reactant water itself in hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs). In this work, we report a facile cold water-cooling method to prepare distilled water (DIW-V) with distinct structures of electron-doping and reduced HBs. Compared to bulk deionized water (DIW) which was used to prepare DIW-V, the resulting stable DIW-V exhibited distinct properties at room temperature. Examples are its ability to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radicals and to passivate oxidants of H 2 O 2 through utilizing its novel electron-doping structure. Also, typical electrochemical reactions performed in DIW-V were more efficient, and stronger intermolecular HBs between alcohols and DIW-V were exhibited due to its novel reduced HBs. Moreover, HERs performed on both catalytic and inert electrodes at various pH values were all more efficient when utilizing DIW-V. Experiments regarding density measurements of alcohol solutions and HER performances indicated that stabilities of the activities of DIW-V were acceptable. DIW-V was also available for more efficient oxygen evolution reaction utilizing catalytic Pt electrode in favorable alkaline solution. Our proposed DIW-V has emerged as a promising green and active reactant applicable to more-effective HERs and water-related sciences. • Active rapidly-cooled distilled water (DIW-V) with higher chemical potential. • DIW-V with novel properties of electron-doping and reduced hydrogen-bonding structures. • Engineered stable DIW-V catalyzes itself in hydrogen evolution reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea leaves and their infusion have been interested in the populations because of their therapeutic and relaxing effects. However, tea plant is prone to heavy metals' bioaccumulation. Regarding the high consumption of tea infusion, concentration of arsenic, cadmium, and lead in black tea infusion was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Tea infusion was prepared by addition of 45 mL deionized water to 1 g tea leaves followed by heating at 90°C for 10 min. After analysis, carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks of heavy metals were investigated by Monte Carlo simulation in two age groups of children and adults younger and older than 15 years old, respectively. According to the results, Hazard Quotient (HQ) of three heavy metals in both children and adults was equal and lower than 0.01. Furthermore, incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of arsenic in Iranian black tea consumers (<1.5 × 10−6) and lead in all consumers (about 2.55 × 10−7) was within the acceptable range introduced by US EPA (≤10−6). ILCR of arsenic in children and adults consuming foreign tea infusion was within the range of 10−6–10−4. Our further investigation revealed that the highest area (75%–85%) of cumulative frequency distribution for arsenic ILCR in foreign tea consumers was related to ILCR ≤10−5 which is the acceptable range determined by the World Health Organization. Therefore, there was no serious concern about the intake of heavy metals by tea infusion in Iranian children and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, many studies have been published regarding electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction for generating hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) using gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) for various applications. Sodium salts solved in deionized water were usually used as supporting electrolytes. In technical applications, however, tap water‐based electrolytes with hardeners are particularly relevant and have only been considered in a few studies to date. In this work, we investigated the influence of hardeners on H2O2‐generation at 150 mA cm−2 and were able to show that scaling occurs predominantly on the GDE‐surface and not in its pore structure. With the novel method in electrochemical synthesis by using complexing agents to bind hardeners, we were able to significantly reduce the scaling. Even after 10 h of operation, the reactor still achieves a faradaic efficiency (FE) of above 70 % (>67 mg h−1 cm−2), comparable to the experiments without hardeners and complexing agents in the electrolyte. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the complexing agents are not electrochemically converted at the carbon‐based GDE and behave inertly. If the cell is operated with complexing agents and rinsed with acidic liquid (anolyte) between batches, scaling can be completely avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous carbon with a high surface area and controllable pore size is needed for energy storage. It is still a significant challenge to produce porous carbon in an economical way. Nitrogen-doped porous carbon (N-PC) was prepared through carbonization of a mixture of waste PET-derived metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and ammonium. The obtained N-PC exhibits a large surface area and controlled pore size. When utilized as an electrode material for supercapacitors, the N-PC exhibits a specific capacitance of 224 F g−1, significantly surpassing that of commercial activated carbon (AC), which has a capacitance of 111 F g−1. In the subsequent capacitive deionization (CDI) tests, the N-PC demonstrated a maximum salt adsorption capacity of 19.9 mg g−1 at 1.2 V in a NaCl electrolyte (0.5 g L−1), and the salt adsorption capacity increased to 24.7 mg g−1 at 1.4 V. The N-PC electrode also exhibited superior regeneration. The present work not only presents a potential approach to develop cost-effective electrodes for seawater purification but also paves the way for recycling of waste plastics into high value-added products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water desalination technology has emerged as a critical area of research, particularly with the advent of more cost-effective alternatives to conventional methods, such as reverse osmosis and thermal evaporation. Given the vital importance of water for life and the scarcity of potable water for agriculture and livestock—especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—the capacitive deionization (CDI) method for removing salt from water has been highlighted as the most economical choice compared to other techniques. CDI applies a voltage difference across two porous electrodes to extract salt ions from saline water. This study will investigate water desalination using CDI, utilizing a compact DC power source under 5 volts and a standard current of 2 amperes. We will convert waste materials like sunflower seeds, peanut shells, and rice husks into activated carbon through carbonization and chemical activation to improve its pore structure. Critical parameters for desalination, including voltage, flow rate, and total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration, have been established. The initial TDS levels are set at 2000, 1500, 1000, and 500 ppm, with flow rates of 38.2, 16.8, and 9.5 mL/min across the different voltage settings of 2.5, 2, and 1.5 volts, applicable to both direct and inverse desalination methods. The efficiency at TDS concentrations of 2000, 1500, and 1000 ppm remains between 18% and 20% for up to 8 min. Our results indicate that the desalination process operates effectively at a TDS level of 750 ppm, achieving a maximum efficiency of 45% at a flow rate of 9.5 mL/min. At voltages of 2.5 V, 2 V, and 1.5 V, efficiencies at 3 min are attained with a constant flow rate of 9.5 mL/min and a TDS of 500 ppm, with the maximum desalination efficiency reaching 56%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, conductive hydrogels show significant prospects as strain sensors due to their good stretchability and signal transduction abilities. However, traditional hydrogels possess poor anti-freezing performance at low temperatures owing to the large number of water molecules, which limits their application scope. To date, constructing a hydrogel-based sensor with balanced stretchability, conductivity, transparency, and anti-freezing properties via simple methods has proven challenging. Here, a fully physically crosslinked poly(hydroxyethyl acrylamide)–glycerol–sodium chloride (PHEAA–Gl–NaCl) hydrogel was obtained by polymerizing hydroxyethyl acrylamide in deionized water and then soaking it in a saturated NaCl solution of glycerol and water. The PHEAA–Gl–NaCl hydrogel had good transparency (~93%), stretchability (~1300%), and fracture stress (~287 kPa). Owing to the presence of glycerol and sodium chloride, the PHEAA–Gl–NaCl hydrogel had good anti-freezing properties and conductivity. Furthermore, the PHEAA–Gl–NaCl hydrogel-based strain sensor possessed good sensitivity and cyclic stability, enabling the detection of different human motions stably and in a wide temperature range. Based on the above characteristics, the PHEAA–Gl–NaCl hydrogel has broad application prospects in flexible electronic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, composite materials were obtained for the first time using various methods and the dependences of the resulting surface morphologies were investigated. This involves modifying the surface with cucurbit[n]urils, which are highly promising macrocyclic compounds. The process includes applying cucurbit[6]uril to the hydroxyapatite surface in water using different modification techniques. The first method involved precipitating a dispersion of CB[6] in undissolved form in water. The second method involved using fully dissolved CB[6] in deionized water, after which the composite materials were dried to constant weight. The third method involved several steps: first, CB[6] was dissolved in deionized water, then, upon heating, a dispersion of CB[6] was formed on the surface of HA. The fourth method involved using ultrasonic treatment. All four methods yielded materials with different surface morphologies, which were studied and characterized using techniques such as infrared (IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on these results, it is possible to vary the properties and surface morphology of the obtained materials. Depending on the method of applying CB[6] to the surface and inside the HA scaffold, it is possible to adjust the composition and structure of the target composite materials. The methods for applying CB[6] to the hydroxyapatite surface enhance its versatility and compatibility with the body's environment, which is crucial for developing new functional composite materials. This includes leveraging supramolecular systems based on the CB[n] family. The obtained results can be used to model the processes of obtaining biocomposite materials, as well as to predict the properties of future materials with biological activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Electrowetting on conventional dielectrics requires direct fluid-electrode contact to generate strong electric fields at the three-phase contact line to modulate the wetting. Since the electric field alters wetting, the modulation of wetting can be achieved by applying an external electric field through insulated electrodes, preventing the liquid from contacting the electrodes. A simple and efficient method for non-contact between the fluid and the electrode external electric field modulation of fluid wetting was proposed. The switching ability of droplets on microgroove surfaces from Cassie-Baxter to Wenzel wetting state under an external electric field was used to drive and quantify the relationship between wetting, contact angle, and the applied voltage. Applying an external electric field modulates the wetting of deionized water, ionic liquids, and high-viscosity liquids on microgrooves. The wetting degree of liquid can be controlled by adjusting the external voltage parameters. The finite element simulations revealed that the Maxwell force drove this process. The effects of substrate size and liquid properties on wetting behavior were also examined. Post-application cross-sectional imaging showed the formation of a conformal interface, highlighting the relevance of the proposed method in advanced adaptive shape fabrication and microfluidic control, among other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In recent years, the development on sustainable and environmentally friendly materials has paid more and more attention. The polyglycolic acid (PGA), a biodegradable polymer, has emerged as a prime candidate due to its remarkable mechanical strength, rigidity, and gas barrier properties, which has been widely used in various practical applications. To gain insights into the PGA's behavior and properties under acidic and neutral and basic situations, a comprehensive theoretical and experimental study were performed to investigate PGA's hydrolysis behaviors in aqueous solutions. The density functional theory calculation was carried out to unveil the difference of PGA degradation mechanisms. The calculated results demonstrate that different degradation solutions play a significant impact on the degradation rates of PGA. Specifically, PGA degradation was the fastest in NaOH solution, followed by acidic solutions, with the slowest degradation observed in deionized water. Meanwhile, the experiments were performed and verified this preference of PGA degradation under basic condition. It was observed that the PGA experienced a greater degree of mass loss when exposed to basic condition, compared to those exposed to neutral and acidic environments. This work pointed out that the alkaline environment will facilitate the hydrolysis reaction of PGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self adhesion is a simple and effective bonding technique that can be used to produce environmentally friendly and green straw-based fiberboard (CLS) through deep eutectic-like solvent (DES) treatment. This article mainly introduces the use of DES composed of choline chloride and oxalic acid. DES is diluted with deionized water and straw is immersed in it, and finally dried into pretreated fiber raw materials. Fiber boards are prepared by adjusting the hot pressing parameters and the preset moisture content of straw itself for hot pressing solidification. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different processing parameters (hot pressing temperature and straw moisture content) on the microstructure, physical properties, and mechanical properties of CLS. Straw-based fiberboard heated at 180 ° C exhibited the best mechanical and water resistance performance. The fiberboard reached its highest mechanical performance at a moisture content of 50%. The bending performance of fiberboard produced at 180 °C reached 13.5 MPa, and compared with the board manufactured at 120 °C, the bending strength, tensile strength, and internal bonding strength increased by 320%, 224%, and 280%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The legume Acacia concinna (Willd.) DC. (Fabaceae) is eaten as a food and used for medicinal purposes. This study evaluated the phytochemical profile, total phenolic content and antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of leaf, bark, and heartwood extracts of A. concinna using different extraction solvents. Crude extracts were prepared by reflux extraction with dichloromethane, ethanol, and deionized water. The dichloromethane extracts of bark and heartwood provided the highest total phenolic content as determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu reaction. Antioxidant activities were assessed using the DPPH and ABTS assays, with the bark ethanolic extract (BE) giving the highest antioxidant activities at IC50 values of 3.0 ± 0.03 and 5.0 ± 0.01 µg/mL, respectively. The BE antioxidant capacity was similar to ascorbic acid. Tyrosinase inhibitory activity was determined using an in vitro enzymatic spectroscopic model. Highest tyrosinase inhibitory activity was recorded in the heartwood ethanolic extract (HE) with IC50 value 0.7634 ± 0.01 mg/mL. GC-MS analysis revealed long-chain fatty acids as the major phytochemicals in BE and HE. BE had excellent antioxidant abilities, whereas HE showed potential tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Long-chain fatty acids and lupeol were the principal phytoconstituents of BE and HE as important bioactive components in A. concinna extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to clarify the effects of different exogenous phytohormones on the physiological traits of rice (Oryza sativa L.) at the early stage of irrigation under low-temperature stress. In this study, two types of rice varieties with different temperature sensitivities screened out previously, namely, a cold-tolerant variety (Nan Jing 9108) and a low-temperature-sensitive variety (Hui Liang You 898), were used in pots to simulate the process of low-temperature stress in rice at the early stage of grouting (6–9 days after anthesis) with artificial low-temperature treatments. The experimental treatments were 450 mg L−1 Methyl jasmine acid (MJ), 46 mg L−1 Melatonin (MT), 69 mg L−1 Salicylate (SA), 40 mg L−1 Erythromycin (GA3), 25 mg L−1 Zeatin (Z), 145 mg L−1 Spermidine (SPD), and 5 mg L−1 Abscisic acid (ABA) sprayed on rice before low-temperature stress, while low-temperature treatment without spraying (DK) and conventional planting without spraying (CK) were added as the control. The results showed that compared with the room temperature control (CK, sprayed with deionized water), the low-temperature control (DK, low-temperature treatment, and sprayed with deionized water) all significantly reduced the rice grain yield. Different exogenous hormones sprayed before low-temperature stress could increase rice yield, among which, Z and SPD spraying treatments had a better effect on the yield of Hui Liang You 898, while different exogenous hormone treatments increased the yield of Nan Jing 9108 in an average manner. The Z and SPD treatments increased the yield of Hui Liang You 898 by 24.87% and 26.16% and that of Nan Jing 9108 by 15.87% and 17.80%, respectively. This was mainly attributed to the significant increase in thousand-grain weight and fruiting rate, while there was no significant difference in the number of spikes and number of grains. The different exogenous hormone treatments were able to delay leaf senescence, enhance the photosynthetic production capacity of plants by increasing leaf chlorophyll content, and thus increase the accumulation of photosynthetic assimilation products and population growth rate after flowering. Among them, both Z and SPD treatments resulted in a population growth rate of more than 30% from spike flushing to maturity, which led to a higher dry matter accumulation of the plant at maturity. In addition, in the dry matter distribution of the plant at maturity, the seeds occupied a higher accumulation amount and proportion compared with the respective DK; the SPD treatment resulted in the maximum distribution rate of seeds at maturity of Hui Liang You 898, with an increase of 8.27%, and the Z treatment resulted in the maximum distribution rate of seeds at maturity of Nan Jing 9108, with an increase of 7.34%. At the same time, the Z treatment significantly increased the activities of adenosine diphosphate glucose phosphorylated enzyme (AGP) and starch branching enzyme (SBE) in the grains of both varieties, which resulted in the accumulation of more starch and ultimately increased the rice grain yield. The results verified that different exogenous phytohormones could be used to regulate the insufficiency of grouting caused by low-temperature stress during the grouting and fruiting stages of rice and enriched their agronomic and physiological traits in response at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A manganese dioxide (MnO2)/bamboo carbon (BC) composite was prepared using hydrothermal and impregnation methods and used for the capacitive desalination (CDI) and disinfection of water. The results showed that these composites had fast Na+ ion exchange and charge transfer properties. During the CDI process, these composites' electrodes exhibited good cycle stability and electrosorption capacity (4.09 mg/g) and an excellent bactericidal effect. These carbon-based composite electrodes' bactericidal rate for Escherichia coli could reach 99.99% within 180 min; therefore, they had good performance and are a good choice for high-performance deionization applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This article presents a one‐step nitrogen fixation (NF) process using ethanol solution and nitrogen as raw materials and a magnetic field stabilized glow discharge (MSGD) as a plasma reactor, in which the plasma is stabilized at a fixed position under the opposing forces of the Lorentz force and airflow. Compared to deionized water, the participation of ethanol promotes the generation of NH3 and NOx. This is because the addition of ethanol not only serves as a source of hydrogen but also facilitates the generation of OH, which further reacts to produce NO through N + OH → NO + H ${\rm{N}}+\text{OH}\to \text{NO}+{\rm{H}}$, thereby increasing NOx concentration and reducing energy consumption. Additionally, with an increase in ethanol volume fraction, the concentration of NF products also increases, reaching saturation when the ethanol volume fraction reaches 50%. At an ethanol volume fraction of 50%, the energy consumption for NF is lowest at a discharge current of 40 mA, at approximately 4.92 MJ/mol. The range of the reduced electric field strength of MSGD is calculated to be approximately 31.9 ~ 39.7 Td, at which about 90% of the electrical energy is converted into N2(v) vibrational states. At this point, NO is primarily formed by the Zeldovich mechanism (N 2 ( v ) + O → NO + N ${{\rm{N}}}_{2}({\rm{v}})+{\rm{O}}\to \text{NO}+{\rm{N}}$), which is the main reason for the lower energy consumption of NF in MSGD compared with the other two scenarios (opposite magnetic field and no magnetic field). Finally, the lower energy consumption of MSGD compared with the other two scenarios is discussed, highlighting that this is mainly due to its high gas utilization rate, high N2 vibrational energy, and high electrical energy utilization efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phosphate glass‐ceramic wasteform incorporating cerium monazite was synthesized through a two‐step solid phase sintering methodology, aimed at immobilizing waste salts derived from the pyrochemical reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. The initial phase involved the synthesis of cerium monazite powder, employing a stoichiometric mixture of CeF3 and NH4H2PO4 in a molar ratio of mol(Ce:PO4) = 1:1.4, which was subjected to a thermal treatment at 900°C. Subsequently, the glass‐ceramic matrix was fabricated by sintering a composite mixture of the synthesized cerium monazite and iron phosphate glass (IPG) powder at a temperature of 1000°C for a duration of 2 h, resulting in a cerium incorporation exceeding 36.5 wt%. Microstructural analysis and structural characterization of the glass‐ceramic sample elucidated the presence of monazite crystallites (CePO4) with dimensions ranging from .2 to 5.5 µm. The chemical durability of the wasteform was assessed through modified ASTM C1308 tests conducted in deionized water over a period of 28 days, revealing a total elemental leaching rate of 2.58 × 10−7 g m−2 min−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of different pore water environments on compressive behaviours of the deep-sea soft soil from South China Sea, four kinds of soil samples including natural sample with sea water or deionized water, remolded sample with sea water or deionized water were prepared, respectively. Then, a series of oedometer tests and scanning electron microscopy tests were performed on the above samples to examine their compressive behaviours and microscopic characteristics, respectively. Additionally, the microscopic pore distribution of natural sample with sea water was observed by mercury intrusion porosimetry tests. The effects of different water environments on macroscopic compressive behaviours and microscopic particle characteristics are analyzed. The deionized water environment increases the compressibility and decreases the consolidation coefficient for natural samples after structural breakage and remolding. The microscopic particle characteristics corresponding to the macroscopic compressibility are also qualitatively analyzed. In deionized water environment, soil particles exhibit higher roundness, more orderly and lower surface roughness than that in seawater environment. In this study, the deionized water environment has no obvious effect on the structural yield stress and secondary consolidation coefficients of deep-sea soft soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work uses an alumina wheel to investigate the eco-benign grinding for better surface integrity of Inconel 625 (IN 625). To achieve this, applying nanofluids (NFs) with the minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) principle has been adopted, aiming at eco-benign grinding practices. In this work, MoS 2 NFs, MWCNTs NFs and hybrid NFs (prepared by mixing MoS 2 and MWCNTs in a 1:1 ratio) prepared using deionized water as the base fluid have been used. An in-house developed MQL setup is used to aim the NFs inside the grinding zone. The first attempt has been made to grind IN 625 in these environments. The characterisation of NFs in terms of nanofluid stability, dynamic viscosity, thermal conductivity and surface wettability have been performed before their utilization in grinding operations. A comparison has been made between the results obtained from NFs grinding and those from dry and soluble oil-based MQL grinding. It has been found that hybrid NFs provide excellent lubrication and cooling effects, reducing grinding forces and improving surface quality. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray photon spectroscopy are applied to investigate the ground surfaces under different grinding conditions. Also, residual stress (with the help of X-ray diffraction and electron backscattered diffraction) and microhardness have been determined to gain further insights into the grinding behaviour. The wheel and chip morphology analyses have been performed to support the findings. The findings from this investigation lead to the conclusion that applying nano-MQL improves grinding effectiveness and promotes cleaner grinding outcomes. Hybrid NFs prove especially effective, as the physical synergistic effect enhances and safeguards the surface integrity of the produced ground components. [Display omitted] • This work endorses the grindability improvement of Inconel 625 using nano-MQL. • Thermos-physical and tribological characteristics of developed nanofluids have been investigated. • Ground surfaces have been investigated using SEM, EDS, EBSD, XRD and microhardness techniques. • Findings have been corroborated with the wheel and chip morphology investigations. • Nano-MQL has shown promising results in grindability improvement of Inconel 625. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capacity deionization (CDI), which combines capacitive carbon electrodes and redox-active electrodes, has emerged as a promising method for water desalination. It enables higher ion removal capacity than CDI-containing carbonaceous electrodes. Our work aimed to synthesize layered structure δ-MnO2/CNTs composites via the sol-gel method, examining their suitability for hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI). The XRD results showed a layered structure birnessite for all composites with a distance interlayer over 7.0 Å, while the SEM images confirmed the intercopration of MnO2 particles and CNT fibers. The electrochemical evaluations evidenced the role of CNTs in enhancing the charge transfer and ionic diffusion in composites. Composite δ-MnO2/CNTs presented a specific capacitance of 160 F g−1 at a charge-discharge rate of 1 A g-1 upon 1600 cycles. In salt removal performance, the asymmetric cell AC||δ-MnO2/CNTs-1 showed the highest salt adsorption capacity (SAC) of 30.2 mg g−1 and fast average salt adsorption rate (ASAR) of 3 mg g−1 s−1 under a constant applied potential 1.4 V in 200 ppm NaCl, rendering it a promising candidate for efficient and sustainable desalination technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to evaluate a membrane based on type B gelatin (G) and porcine urinary bladder extracellular matrix (PUB-EM), highlighting the potential effect of the combination evaluated by biocompatibility and regulation of the expression of transcription factors involved in tissue regeneration. G-PUB-EM membranes were prepared at 12.5, 25, and 50% w/v, and evaluated for biocompatibility with Fibroblast. Chemical characterization by FTIR-ATR showed complex spectra during crosslinking process with glutaraldehyde. Physical tests were performed in deionized water and PBS for 48 h. A significant increase in swelling was observed during the first 2 h. Biocompatibility testing (MTS) and evaluation of the expression profile of genes involved in the cell cycle (Cyclin-D1 VEGF, TNF and NF-κ-B) by PCR showed an increase in viability in a PUB-EM content-dependent way, except for 50% PUB-EM membrane which showed cytotoxic effects with a decrease in cell viability below 70%. The membranes showed an increase in the expression of some factors of cell cycle, as well as inflammatory processes that could promote tissue repair. 12.5 and 25% gelatin type B/porcine urinary bladder extracellular matrix (G/PUB-EM) based membranes have potential for tissue regeneration applications. Impact Statement: The use of membranes based on type B gelatin and porcine urinary bladder for tissue engineering represents a novel strategy. Biocompatibility and signaling pathways play a primary role in tissue repair and wound recovery. Transcription factors that mediate signaling, cell division and vascularization are part of molecules that intervene in the regenerative potential of cells. These techniques will have a significant impact on tissue repair and regeneration and thus stop depending on tissue donors or other surgical sites from the same patient, as is the case with burn patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon carbide (SiC) is one of the most promising three-generation semiconductor materials owing to its remarkable properties and numerous potential applications. Nevertheless, the polishing efficiency of hard-to-process single-crystal SiC remains a significant challenge due to its high hardness and chemical inertness. A novel approach by employing nanosecond laser irradiation as a pre-process for the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process was presented. By irradiating the Si-face, the substrates were processed with CMP for a short time using normal 1 wt% diamond+ 99 wt% deionized water eco-friendly slurry. The performance of nanosecond laser irradiation assisted chemical mechanical polishing (NLIA-CMP), including material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (R a), was evaluated. Besides, the possible effects were investigated. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to observe the morphologies of SiC wafers after NLIS-CMP. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) were used to characterize the surface morphologies and chemical composition of the SiC wafers treated with nanosecond laser. The results indicate that a highly efficient SiC-CMP with good surface quality can be realized by employing nanosecond laser irradiation as the pre-treatment and using an eco-friendly polishing slurry. The present study was a beneficial exploration of expanding the application of nanosecond laser to the CMP process. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased energy consumption, driven by climate change and the rise of new industries, has spurred a demand for alternative cooling technologies to replace energy‐intensive systems and mitigate environmental pollution. Radiative cooling, leveraging the optical properties of materials to cool without emitting pollutants or consuming energy, is considered a suitable solution. Among the various form of radiative cooling devices, paint stands out as a practical application for radiative cooling. Hence, a passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) paint is developed using a polyurethane binder and zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)‐8. ZIF‐8 is synthesized in an environmentally friendly manner using deionized water as the solvent, resulting in paint with a reflectance of 94.9%, emissivity of 94%, and cooling power of 113 W m−2. Temperature measurements reveal that the paint reduced ambient temperatures by an average of 5.7 °C, reaching up to 8.1 °C during the day. Additionally, with a self‐assembly monolayer coating, the PDRC surface exhibited super‐hydrophobicity and self‐cleaning capabilities. Therefore, the proposed ZIF‐8‐based PDRC paint offers sub‐room temperature cooling potential and is anticipated to reduce energy consumption for cooling, thereby alleviating environmental pollution in various applications, particularly in building exteriors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of Pediococcus pentosaceus (PP) and chitinase combinations on the conservation and nutritive value of alfalfa high-moisture hay (HMH). P. pentosaceus [1012 colony forming unit/g fresh forage] combined with (g/tonne of fresh forage) 1.5 (PP + LC), 7.5 (PP + MC), or 15.0 (PP + HC) g of LANiHay01 chitinase (Exp. 1) or with LANiHay02 (PP + Fe; 1.5 g), LANiHay01 (PP + Pe; 1.5 g), or Sigma (PP + Si; 55 mg) chitinase/tonne (Exp. 2) were used in 2016. In 2017, PP was applied alone or in combination with LANiHay01 at 1.5 g (PP + LC) or 7.5 g (PP + MC) chitinase/tonne (Exp. 3 and 4). Deionized water and propionic acid (4.0 L/tonne of fresh forage in Exp. 1 and 2 and at 6.0 L/tonne of fresh forage in Exp. 3 and 4) were applied as neutral (CON) and positive control (CON+), respectively. The maximum temperature (r2 = 0.66) and NH3-N concentration (r2 = 0.80) of the HMH were positively related to total microbial populations. PP + MC had lower (p ≤ 0.05) yeast and mold counts than CON in Exp. 3 and 4 while the neutral detergent fiber degradability was greater (p < 0.01) for PP + MC and PP + LC than CON in Exp. 1 and 3, respectively. P. pentosaceus in combination with chitinase has the potential in conserving the nutrient quality of alfalfa HMH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This perspective article primarily discusses the role of water matrix for the advanced treatment of watercourses. This relies on experimental work regarding the inactivation of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus by an advanced oxidation process, namely activated persulfate, in five matrices of varying complexity, (i.e., from as simple as deionized water to secondary treated effluent). For comparison purposes, respective tests were performed with ultraviolet (UVC) radiation, a conventional disinfection process, while results from recent literature are also discussed. Only in deionized water can activated persulfate (i.e., 150 mg L−1 sodium persulfate and 30 mg L−1 ferrous ions) completely inactivate all three bacteria in the course of several minutes, but the process is ineffective in other matrices (i.e., bottled, tap, or lake water, as well as wastewater), where 1–2 orders of magnitude longer times are needed for partial inactivation, which decreases in the order E. coli > E. faecalis ~ V. parahaemolyticus. Conversely, UVC (at 30 W nominal value) is highly efficient against all bacteria and in all matrices in a matter of just a few seconds. The general perception is that treatment efficiency decreases with increasing matrix complexity in terms of total concentration and/or individual components composition, irrespective of the applied treatment method and its objectives (i.e., disinfection, decontamination, or mineralization). However, there are always exceptions the rule, further highlighting how case‐specific advanced water treatment can be. The matrix itself should be given particular emphasis for the rational design of efficient water treatment processes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Baghdad Science Journal is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of plasma-activated water (PAW) combined with a chitosan–oregano essential oil (CS-OEO) coating on the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory attributes of carp fillets during chilled storage. Fresh carp fillets were immersed in sterile deionized water, PAW, CS-OEO, and PAW+CS-OEO, respectively, and stored at 4 °C for 10 d. The results showed that plasma-activated water combined with chitosan–oregano essential oil could effectively inhibit the microbial growth in carp fillets during chilled storage. At 10 d storage, the total viable count of carp fillets treated with PAW+CS-OEO decreased by 2.87 log10 CFU/g when compared to the control. The lowest pH values were found in the carp fillet samples after the PAW+CS-OEO treatment; as well, the carp fillet samples after the PAW+CS-OEO treatment showed the lowest total volatile basic nitrogen, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance values, and K values. In addition, the carp fillets in the PAW+CS-OEO treatment group showed the smallest color changes and the highest scores in sensory properties during chilled storage. This study provides a basis for the potential application of plasma-activated water combined with chitosan–oregano essential oil in the preservation of carp fillets and contributes to developing a new food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to enrich soybean oil (SBO) with carotenoids from Gac (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng.) powder using ohmic heating-assisted ultrasound extraction (OH-AU). The oxidative stability during the 28-day storage period was also evaluated. The moisture content of the powder Gac powder samples was adjusted by adding deionized water to achieve a 30% wet basis, and then they were ohmically heated at two levels of electric field strength (E) (E = 100 and 200 V/cm) or microwave-heated at 300 and 600 Watts before ultrasonic extraction using SBO as a solvent. Commercial SBO and ultrasound extractions were used as controls. Maximum concentrations of β-carotene (46.27 µg/g) and lycopene (35.47 µg/g) were observed in the enriched oil from OH-AU (E = 200 V/cm), while the oil extracted by ultrasound without OH had the lowest concentration. The enriched oils from OH-AU at E = 100 and 200 V/cm showed lower L* and higher b* values. The antioxidant activity of OH-AU-enriched oil evaluated by DPPH scavenging activity and FRAP was also stronger than enriched oils without OH and SBO. The enriched oils from OH-AU showed higher oxidative stability with a lower peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) over 28 days of storage. The FFA concentrations of enriched oils were less than 5% by the end of the storage period. This suggests that applying OH could assist the ultrasound extraction in enriching Gac carotenoids in vegetable oil. It was an effective alternative technique for preparing a functional oil with high oxidative stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]