Search Results (7)

Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. (APL), a traditional Chinese herb frequently employed by Professor Zhou Zhongying, a master of traditional Chinese medicine, for colorectal cancer treatment, is rich in polyphenols with potential anti-tumor properties. To elucidate its bioactive components, this study developed a two-step purification process combining macroporous resin adsorption and liquid–liquid extraction to enrich polyphenols from APL (APLs). The adsorption/desorption mechanisms of APLs on macroporous resins were systematically investigated through resin screening, adsorption kinetics, and thermodynamics. The Langmuir isotherm model confirmed the adsorption process as spontaneous and exothermic. Pseudo-second-order kinetics effectively described the adsorption behavior of D101 resin. Optimized adsorption and column elution parameters were established, followed by liquid–liquid extraction for further purification. The components were compared and analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Zeno-TOF-MS/MS). It was preliminarily identified that 29 polyphenols were mainly concentrated in water-saturated n-butanol (BEA) and ethyl acetate (ECA) extract fractions. Quantitative analysis using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UHPLC-C-QTRAP-MS/MS) revealed higher contents of catechin (66.67 ± 1.33 ng·mg⁻¹), hyperoside (382.56 ± 3.65 ng·mg⁻¹), and chlorogenic acid (10.60 ± 0.05 ng·mg⁻¹) in BEA compared to ECA (46.00 ± 2.00, 239.40 ± 2.60, and 3.42 ± 0.01 ng·mg⁻¹, respectively). In vitro experiments demonstrated that BEA exhibited superior antiproliferative activity (IC₅₀: 434.5 μg·mL⁻¹) and significantly inhibited CT26 tumor cell migration compared to ECA (IC₅₀: 672.5 μg·mL⁻¹). The enhanced biological activity of BEA may be due to its higher polyphenol content, suggesting that these compounds mediate their anti-tumor effects through different biochemical pathways. This work lays the foundation for exploring the multi-target mechanism of anti-tumor effects of APLs. Full article

Superhydrophobic surfaces, known for their exceptional water-repellent properties with contact angles exceeding 150°, are highly regarded for their effectiveness in applications including self-cleaning, antifouling, and ice prevention. However, the structural fragility and weak durability of conventional coating limit their long-term use. In this research, a new approach is proposed for the fabrication of long-lasting superhydrophobic surfaces using ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA) and a primer. The application of the primer creates a curing rate disparity between the surface and bulk of the ECA layer, resulting in the formation of wrinkled microstructures essential for achieving superhydrophobicity. The fabricated surfaces were further functionalized through plasma treatment and hydrophobic silane (OTS) coating, enhancing their water-repellent properties. This straightforward and scalable method produced surfaces with excellent superhydrophobicity and robust adhesion to substrates. Durability tests, including roller abrasion and microscratch evaluations, indicated that the wrinkled structure and strong substrate adhesion contributed to sustained performance even under mechanical stress. Additionally, mechanical properties were assessed through nanoindentation, demonstrating enhanced resistance to physical damage compared to conventional superhydrophobic coatings. This study highlights the potential of ECA-based superhydrophobic surfaces for applications requiring durability and mechanical stability, such as architectural coatings, automotive exteriors, and medical devices. The approach offers a promising solution to the limitations of existing superhydrophobic technologies and opens new avenues for further research into wear-resistant and environmentally resilient coatings. Full article

This study addresses the significant environmental challenge of pharmaceutical pollutants by demonstrating the effectiveness of a hybrid electrocoagulation–adsorption (EC-A) technique for removing Montelukast Sodium (MS) from contaminated water. The research was conducted in three stages—adsorption, electrocoagulation, and adsorption using the residual water from the electrocoagulation process. The adsorbent materials were characterised using various analytical techniques: X-ray Diffraction (XRD) for determining the crystalline structure, Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) for elemental composition, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for surface morphology, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for identifying functional groups before and after interaction with the pollutants. The adsorption phase achieved optimal results at a pH of 3 and a contact time of 120 min, with a maximum removal efficiency of 99.5% for a starting MS concentration of 50 mg/L using Calcium Ferric Oxide–Silica Sand (CFO-SS) adsorbent. The electrocoagulation phase showed a 97% removal efficiency with a pH of 11, a current density of 20 mA, and a 5 mm electrode distance, achieved in just 20 min. Finally, the combined EC-A process, with the pH of residual water adjusted to 3, further enhanced the removal efficiency to 74%, highlighting the method’s potential for pharmaceutical contaminant removal. These findings underscore the potential of the EC-A technique as a highly effective and adaptable solution for mitigating pharmaceutical contaminants in water. Full article

In the current context of increasing costs of production factors, it is essential to optimize the management of available resources, seeking to incorporate technologies that improve knowledge of the variables involved in the agronomic production process. The aim of this study is to define and validate management zones (MZ) in a 3.3 ha vineyard located near Évora, in the South of Portugal. A contact sensor (“Veris 2000 XA”) was used to map soil apparent electrical conductivity (EC_a) and a precision altimetric survey of the field was carried out with a global navigation satellite system receiver (GNSS). The results of these surveys were submitted to geostatistical treatments that allowed the definition of three MZ (less, intermediate, and more productive potential). The validation of such MZ was carried out by laboratory analysis of soil samples (texture, pH, organic matter—OM, moisture content, phosphorous, potassium, exchange bases, and cation exchange capacity—CEC), measurements of soil compaction (cone index—CI) with an electronic cone penetrometer, and through indices (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index—NDVI, and Normalized Difference Water Index—NDWI) obtained by remote sensing (RS) using Sentinel-2 satellite images. All these parameters (soil parameters and RS indices) proved the validity of the MZ (of less, intermediate, and more productive potential) defined from the EC_a and altimetric survey. This validation attests to the interest of expeditious technological tools for monitoring EC_a as a fundamental step in implementing smart agronomic decision-making processes. Full article

Background: This article is devoted to the study of the effect of electrochemically activated water (catholyte with pH 9.3) on organic compounds of the plant matrix of brewer’s spent grain in order to extract various compounds from it. Methods: Brewer’s spent grain was obtained from barley malt at a pilot plant by mashing the malt followed by filtration and washing of the grain in water and storing it at (0 ± 2) °C in craft bags. For the organic compound quantitative determination, instrumental methods of analysis (HPLC) were used, and the results were subjected to mathematical analysis. Results: The study results showed that at atmospheric pressure, the alkaline properties of the catholyte showed better results compared to aqueous extraction with respect to β-glucan, sugars, nitrogenous and phenolic compounds, and 120 min was the best period for extraction at 50 °C. The excess pressure conditions used (0.5 ÷ 1 atm) revealed an increase in the accumulation of non-starch polysaccharide and nitrogenous compounds, while the level of sugars, furan and phenolic compounds decreased with increasing treatment duration. The waste grain extract ultrasonic treatment used revealed the effectiveness of catholyte in relation to the extraction of β-glucan and nitrogenous fractions; however, sugars and phenolic compounds did not significantly accumulate. The correlation method made it possible to reveal the regularities in the formation of furan compounds under the conditions of extraction with the catholyte: Syringic acid had the greatest effect on the formation of 5-OH-methylfurfural at atmospheric pressure and 50 °C and vanillic acid under conditions of excess pressure. Regarding furfural and 5-methylfurfural, amino acids had a direct effect at excess pressure. It was shown that the content of all furan compounds depends on amino acids with thiol groups and gallic acid; the formation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and 5-methylfurfural is influenced by gallic and vanillic acids; the release of furfural and 5-methylfurfural is determined by amino acids and gallic acid; excess pressure conditions promote the formation of furan compounds under the action of gallic and lilac acids. Conclusions: This study showed that a catholyte allows for efficient extraction of carbohydrate, nitrogenous and monophenolic compounds under pressure conditions, while flavonoids require a reduction in extraction time under pressure conditions. Full article

Precise adjustments of farm management activities, such as irrigation and soil treatment according to site-specific conditions, are crucial. With advances in smart agriculture and sensors, it is possible to reduce the cost of water and soil treatment inputs but still realize optimal yields and high-profit returns. However, achieving precise application requirements cannot be efficiently practiced with spatially disjointed information. This study assessed the potential of using an electromagnetic induction device (EM38-MK) to cover this gap. An EM38-MK was used to measure soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) as a covariate to determine soil salinity status and soil water content θ post irrigation at four depth layers (Hz: 0–0.25 m; Hz: 0–0.75 m; Vz: 0.50–1 m). The inverse distance weighting method was used to generate the spatial distribution thematic layers of electrical conductivity. The statistical measures showed an R² = 0.87; r > 0.7 and p ≤ 0.05 on correlation of ECa and SWC. Based on the South African salinity class of soils, the area was not saline ECa < 200 mS/m. The EM38-MK can be used to estimate soil salinity and SWC variability using ECa as a proxy, allowing precise estimations with depths and in space. These findings provide key information that can aid in irrigation scheduling and soil management. Full article

The effectiveness of sprayed and aerosolised pH-neutral electrochemically activated solutions (ECAS) containing 150 mg/L of free available chlorine in reducing total bacteria load and artificially inoculated Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis 11RX on eggs surfaces was investigated. Treatment groups included untreated control, sodium hypochlorite (positive control), sprayed and aerosolised water and sprayed and aerosolised ECAS. Sprayed ECAS (150 mg/L, 45 s) showed a significant reduction in total bacterial load (2.2 log reduction, p < 0.0001) and S. Enteritidis (5.4 log reduction, p < 0.0001) when compared with the untreated control. Aerosolised ECAS (120 s) was effective in reducing both the total bacterial load (1.4 log reduction, p < 0.01) and S. Enteritidis (4.2 log reduction, p = 0.0022). However, aerosolised ECAS (60 s) only significantly reduced S. Enteritidis counts (2.8 log reduction, p < 0.0008), indicating that a longer time for bacterial reduction during fogging sanitisation is needed. Tests performed with one egg per oscillating tray were more effective in reducing both the total bacterial load and the S. Enteritidis counts than those with three eggs per oscillating tray. Sprayed ECAS (45 s) and aerosolised ECAS (120 s) did not deteriorate the egg cuticle integrity (ΔE_ab^*), which was evaluated using Cuticle Blue dye solution and colour intensity measurement. Overall, both the reduction in total bacteria counts and S. Enteritidis from the egg surface and retention of cuticle integrity suggest that sprayed and aerosolised ECAS could be used as alternative sanitising approaches to improve the food safety aspect of table eggs. Full article