Search Results (34)

To develop solutions to the frequency instability and failure of silicon micromechanical resonant accelerometers, the state characteristics of micromechanical resonant accelerometers are investigated under temperature and vibration stresses. Through theoretical analysis and finite element simulation, the following is found: the Young’s modulus of silicon varies with temperature, causing a resonance frequency shift of −1.364 Hz/°C; the residual stress of temperature change affects the resonance frequency shift of the microstructure, causing it to be 5.43 Hz/MPa (tensile stress) and −5.25 Hz/MPa (compressive stress); thermal expansion triggers the failure of the bonding wire, and, in the range of 10 °C to 150 °C, the peak stress of the electrode/lead bond area increases from 83.2/85.6 MPa to 1.08/1.28 GPa. The failure mode under vibration stress is resonance structure fracture and interlayer peeling. An isolation frame design is proposed for the sensitive part of the microstructure, which reduces the frequency effects by 34% (tensile stress) and 15% (compressive stress) under temperature-variable residual stresses and the maximum value of the structural root mean square stresses by 69.7% (X-direction), 63.6% (Y-direction), and 71.3% (Z-direction) under vibrational stresses. Full article

Nutraceuticals are gaining research interest due to their beneficial potential and their use to counter the impact of emerging contaminants on natural ecosystems. Particularly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of personal hygiene/care products and disinfectants increased significantly. These products contain several substances in their formulations, including surfactants, which have proven to be hazardous to the entire aquatic ecosystem. In the present study, bergamot (Citrus bergamia) peel extract was used as a nutraceutical to counteract the toxicity of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), a common anionic detergent with antimicrobial activity. Specimens of Mytilus galloprovincialis, were exposed to SLS (0.01 mg/L), bergamot peels’ extract (BRG: 5 mg/L), and their mixture for 14 days. The cellular and physiological alterations in haemocytes, digestive gland (DG) and gill cells were analysed. The analyses included cell viability of haemocytes and DG cells (trypan blue exclusion assay and the neutral red retention test); the ability of DG cells to regulate their volume (RVD); haemocyte phagocytic activity; expression of genes involved in antioxidant response (Cu/ZnSOD, MnSOD, Hsp70, and CYP4Y) on gills and DG; the energy efficiency of the organism through byssus production; and the measurement of key macromolecules, including total lipid and fatty acid content, total protein, tocopherols and carotenoids, which play a key role in maintaining physiological and metabolic functions in the organism. Overall, significant differences emerged between the control (CTR) and treated groups, with the CTR and BRG groups resembling each other, while the SLS-treated groups showed significant alterations. Meanwhile, the groups exposed to the combination showed a recovery, suggesting the potential beneficial effect of the BRG. Full article

Methyl orange (MO) is an organic synthetic dye widely used in laboratory and industrial applications. In laboratory settings, it serves as an acid–base indicator due to its distinct color change in both acidic and alkaline environments. Industrially, it is primarily utilized in the textile industry for its ultraviolet (UV) absorption properties. However, the discharge and leakage of methyl orange into the environment can cause severe ecological damage and pose potential carcinogenic and teratogenic risks to human health. Therefore, detecting and quantifying the concentration of methyl orange in various matrices is crucial. This study reports the synthesis of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) from orange peel as a precursor, using ethanol and dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvents. Cyan (c-GQDs) and yellow (y-GQDs) graphene quantum dots were synthesized through a bottom-up hydrothermal method. The difference in color is attributed to the redshift caused by the varying ratio of pyridine nitrogen to pyrrole nitrogen. These GQDs exhibited notable optical properties, with c-GQDs emitting cyan fluorescence and y-GQDs emitting yellow fluorescence under UV light. To investigate fluorescence quenching effects, nine commonly used dyes were tested, and all were found to quench the fluorescence of y-GQDs, with methyl orange having the most significant effect. The fluorescence quenching of orange peel-derived GQDs in the presence of methyl orange is attributed to poor dispersion in DMF solution. Additionally, the GQDs possess high specific surface area, abundant surface functional groups, and excellent electronic conductivity, which contribute to their effective fluorescence quenching performance. The average thickness of y-GQDs (the vertical dimension from the substrate upwards) was 3.51 nm, confirming their graphene-like structure. They emitted yellow fluorescence within the wavelength range of 450–530 nm. Notably, a significant linear correlation was found between the concentration of methyl orange and the fluorescence intensity of y-GQDs (regression coefficient = 0.9954), indicating the potential of GQDs as effective sensing materials for organic pollutant detection. Full article

This study explores how varying chlorogenic acid levels (low—yellowish, Y; high—greenish, G) in sunflower proteins (SFs) affect the properties of eugenol-loaded oil-in-water emulsions and the resulting films, while examining the interaction of cellulose nanoparticles (from commercial (CNC) and banana peel sources (CNF)) with the film-forming matrix. This research fills gaps in literature by demonstrating how interactions among proteins, lipids, phenolic compounds, and cellulose nanoparticles influence film properties. The high chlorogenic acid content in SF reduced electrostatic repulsion between protein molecules, causing aggregation, oil droplet flocculation, and increased emulsion viscosity. The mechanical properties of emulsion-based films were significantly lower than those made with SF dispersions. Films made from low chlorogenic acid (yellowish SF) emulsions showed lower tensile strength and Young’s modulus but higher elongation at break compared to those made from high chlorogenic acid (greenish SF) emulsions. Water vapor permeability (WVP) decreased in films containing oil phases, but adding cellulose nanoparticles increased WVP. Despite this, the cellulose nanoparticles could not fully overcome the negative effects of lipid–protein interactions on mechanical properties and WVP. However, films containing eugenol exhibited significant antioxidant activity. The findings provide insights into developing sustainable, active packaging with antioxidant functionality and reduced environmental impact, opening new avenues for applications in food and other sectors requiring eco-friendly materials. Full article

Prolonged and unprotected exposure to the environment explicitly influences the development of hyperpigmented lesions. The enzyme tyrosinase (TYR) is a key target for regulating melanin synthesis. Several bioactive compounds derived from plant extracts have been found to possess potent anti-melanogenesis properties against TYR. In particular, the potential of banana peels from various varieties has garnered interest due to their application in skin hyperpigmentation treatment. A molecular docking study demonstrated interactions between rosmarinic acid, which is predominantly found in all Hom Thong peel extracts, and the active site of TYR (PDB ID: 2Y9X) at residues HIS263, VAL283, SER282, and MET280, with the lowest binding energy of −5.05 kcal/mol, showing the strongest interaction. Additionally, Hom Thong banana peels are rich in phenolic compounds that could inhibit melanin content and tyrosinase activity in both human and mouse melanoma cells. These effects may be attributed to the suppression of gene expression related to melanogenesis, including the regulator gene MITF and pigmentary genes TYR, TRP-1, and DCT, indicating effects comparable to those of the standard treatment groups with arbutin and kojic acid. Our findings indicated the potential of Hom Thong peel extracts as anti-melanogenic agents. Full article

This paper presents the results of a study of layer gradient thermal protection coatings based on NiCrAlY and YSZ obtained by detonation spraying. Modern gas turbines and high-temperature units operate under extreme temperatures and aggressive environments, which requires effective protection of components from wear, corrosion, and thermal shocks. In this study, the use of layer gradient coatings consisting of alternating layers of NiCrAlY and YSZ was investigated with the aim of solving the problem of thermal stress accumulation due to a smooth change in the composition of the layers. Microstructural and phase analysis showed that alternating layers of NiCrAlY and YSZ formed a dense layer gradient structure with clear interphase boundaries and low porosity. Detonation spraying led to a complete transformation of the monoclinic ZrO₂ phase into a tetragonal one, which significantly increased the mechanical strength of the coating and its resistance to thermal shocks. Sample 1D1 demonstrated excellent tribological and corrosion properties in a 3.5% NaCl solution, which can be explained by its higher density and reduced number of pores. Mechanical tests revealed stable values of hardness and wear resistance of the coating, especially for the 1D1 coating. Studies have shown that coatings are resistant to thermal shocks, but thicker layers show a tendency to peel off after thermal cycling. The obtained results indicate high prospects for the use of layer gradient coatings based on NiCrAlY and YSZ for the protection of gas turbine components and other high-temperature installations operating under extreme loads and aggressive environments. Full article

Background/Objective: Although low-methoxy (LM) pectin (polysaccharides extracted from citrus peels) can reduce inflammation by binding to and inhibiting the TLR-2 pathway in animal models and in vitro studies, the anti-inflammatory effects of LM pectin in humans and mood have not been explored to date. The purpose of this study is to assess the role of dietary supplementation with LM pectin in healthy volunteers on inflammatory markers and on mood, specifically anxiety and depression. Methods: We carried out a 4-week dietary intervention with LM citrus pectin on healthy volunteers (N = 14, age 40 ± 16 y, BMI 24.7 ± 3.0 kg/m², sex F 57%) comparing the effects of daily supplementation with 20 g of LM citrus pectin versus 10 g of maltodextrin as the control (N = 15 age 43.2 ± 11 y, BMI 25.18 ± 2.0 kg/m², sex F 66%). The effects on mood and inflammation were also tested with LM pectin at 5 g, 10 g and 15 g (2 weeks each) in an independent cohort of n = 15 healthy volunteers (age 36 ± 21 y, BMI 23.5 ± 2.4 kg/m², sex F 80%). We assessed serum levels of TNF-alpha (downstream from TLR-2 activation), IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-10, INF-gamma, CRP, zonulin and TLR-2 concentration which were measured using ELISA in blood samples collected at both the baseline and follow-up visits. Validated measures of anxiety and depression were collected at baseline and follow-up. Results: Supplementation with 20 g of LM pectin resulted in decreases in the pro-inflammatory markers TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and INF-gamma (all p < 0.05) and an increase in anti-inflammatory marker IL-10 (p = 0.01) at the end of the 4 weeks. No such effects were observed in the control group. In addition, a significant drop in anxiety scores (from 8.38 to 4.46, p < 0.006) was found with the 20 g/day intervention but not in the control arm. In the dose–response study, anti-inflammatory effects were seen only at 15 g for TNFα (p < 0.003) and a suggestive increase in IL-10 (p = 0.08), alongside a drop in TLR-2 (p < 0.027). No significant anti-inflammatory effects were observed at 5 g and 10 g doses of LM pectin supplementation. Significant dose-dependent drops in both anxiety and depression scores were found with 10 g (p < 0.001) and 15 g per day (p < 0.0002). Conclusions: The current study identifies anxiety-reducing and anti-inflammatory effects of supplementation with 15 g/day LM pectin in healthy humans. Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanism and to validate the efficient dose and minimum duration of supplementation. Full article

To investigate the impact of Al and Nb elements on the formation of a protective oxide layer on the surface of Fe-35Ni-20Cr-xAl-yNb (x = 0, 2, 4, 6 wt.%; y = 0, 1, 2 wt.%) alloys, their oxidation behavior was examined at 1000 °C, 10⁻¹⁷ atm. and 10⁻²⁵ atm. oxygen pressure, and the oxidation mechanism was analyzed by Factsage and Pandat calculations. Enhancing the Al content at 10⁻¹⁷ atm. inhibited the generation of FeCr₂O₄ on the alloy surface and increased the Al content in the M₂O₃ layer. When the Al content exceeded 6 wt.%, the oxide film partially peeled off. It was found that the addition of Nb increased the activity of Cr and Al and decreased the activity of Ni and Fe and promoted the formation of Al₂O₃, and the appearance of Nb₂O₅ in the subsurface layer increased the density of the oxide film. In addition, under an oxygen pressure of 10⁻²⁵ atm., the only protective layer on the surface of the alloy comprised of Al₂O₃. The experimental results demonstrated that the Fe-35Ni-20Cr-4Al-2Nb alloy generated a continuous and dense Al₂O₃ protective film, and the reduction in oxygen pressure and the addition of Nb elements were favorable for selective external oxidation of Al₂O₃. Full article

Nowadays, there is considerable attention toward the use of food waste from food processing as possible sources of compounds with health properties, such as anticancer activity. An example is tomato processing, which is responsible for generating a remarkable amount of waste (leaves, peel, seeds). Therefore, our goal was to evaluate the potential anticancer property of tomato extracts, in particular “Datterino” tomato (DT) and “Piccadilly” tomato (PT), and to study their phytochemical composition. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) results showed that these extracts are rich in alkaloids, flavonoids, fatty acids, lipids, and terpenes. Furthermore, their potential anticancer activity was evaluated in vitro by MTT assay. In particular, the percentage of cell viability was assessed in olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), a particular glial cell type of the olfactory system, and in SH-SY5Y, a neuroblastoma cell line. All extracts (aqueous and ethanolic) did not lead to any significant change in the percentage of cell viability on OECs when compared with the control. Instead, in SH-SY5Y we observed a significant decrease in the percentage of cell viability, confirming their potential anticancer activity; this was more evident for the ethanolic extracts. In conclusion, tomato leaves extracts could be regarded as a valuable source of bioactive compounds, suitable for various applications in the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical fields. Full article

The improvement of the performance of asphalt mixtures has been studied by scholars. This research proposes a new asphalt–mineral interface formation method, which is a pre-wet bitumen–mineral mixture. The formation process of the pre-wet asphalt–mineral interface was simulated by molecular dynamics simulation software. The diffusion coefficient, concentration distribution, and interfacial energy of the asphalt on the surface of the pre-wet mineral material and non-pre-wet mineral material were compared and analyzed. The simulation results show that the mineral surface diffusion rate of the asphalt after pre-wetting is increased by more than 50%, and the concentration in the X, Y, and Z directions is reduced by 0.8%, 4.6%, and 7.8%, respectively. At the same time, the interface energy between the bitumen and the pre-wet mineral was increased by more than 8%. The results of the molecular dynamics model are verified based on the surface energy theory and contact angle test. The experimental results show that the contact angle of the asphalt is smaller and the diffusion performance is better after pre-wetting. At the same time, the interface adhesion work between the asphalt and wet mineral surface increased by 4.3% in a dry environment, and the peeling work decreased by 41.1% in a water environment. Therefore, the author believes that the pre-wetting technology of the asphalt mixture has a certain feasibility and practicability. Full article

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is well known for its high content of bioactives, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins, which have been shown to exhibit a wide range of biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects. It is worth noting that the majority of these molecules are found in the peels, which are usually disposed of after processing, causing a significant amount of waste, amounting to more than 3.6 million t/y. This work investigates microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) in water for the recovery of antioxidants from pomegranate peels (PP), including the optimisation of temperature and extraction times. The total phenolic, anthocyanin, flavonoid, and tannin contents of the recovered extracts were determined, as well as their antioxidant activities, which were found to be 356.35 mgGAE/gExtr, 303.97 µgCy3G/gExtr, 37.28 mgQE/gExtr, 56.48 mgGAE/gExtr, and 5.72 mmolTE/gExtr, respectively (according to the adopted reference). All results were compared with those obtained using a conventional protocol. In addition, the potential for water recycling by means of downstream nanofiltration in optimised MAE was investigated, leading to overall water reuse of approx. 75%. Power consumption (20.92 W/mgGAE) and common green metrics, Reaction Mass Efficiency (RME), E-Factor, and the Process Mass Intensiti/efficiency (PMI, PME), were considered in evaluating the proposed PP valorisation strategy. Finally, the biological activities of the main products were assessed. The antimicrobial properties of the PP extracts against three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria and their antiproliferative activity towards human cancer cells were tested. S. aureus bacteria was the most susceptible to the PP extracts. All tested products displayed antiproliferative activity against HeLa cells when higher concentrations were tested, with D-PP/NF (obtained from dried PP and sequential nanofiltration) being the most effective. This result was also confirmed via clonogenic analysis, which generally indicated the possible anti-cancer activity of pomegranate peel extracts obtained using this green approach. Full article

Due to increased pressure on the availability of wood biomass in the EU and the regulatory attempts to lower CO₂ values, where wood-based biomass plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration, the use of cellulose derived from alternative sources is gaining increased interest in the pulp and paper industry as well as in other industries. The processing properties of alternative fiber-based packaging need to be checked in current processing operations with other types of materials and recycling workflows. For example, in the production of folding boxes, after printing other converting properties such as glueability are also of great importance. The adhesive absorption and bonding strength of materials are important as adhesive joints of packaging can interfere with the protective function. In the presented research, three different paperboards produced on a pilot scale from alternative raw material sources were tested. Two paperboards were produced from the alien invasive plants Japanese knotweed and black locust, and one from residual sawdust. The basic paperboard properties were tested regarding paperboard porosity, roughness, z-directional tensile strength, and dynamical behavior regarding liquid interaction (contact angle and liquid penetration dynamic), as water-based adhesives were used in the research. For adhesive joint strength testing, Y- and T-peel adhesion testing was performed on the joint paperboard samples, as still there is no fully standardized method for the evaluation of such fiber-based material properties. The results indicate differences in the penetration dynamics of liquids. This parameter had the highest influence on the peel adhesion strength, while porosity, roughness, and dynamic contact angle were not so significant. Regarding the two adhesive joint tests, the differences in separate materials regarding peel adhesion curves show similar results. However, the Y-peel maximum force values are higher due to the testing setup (in comparison to the T-peel test). The paperboards made from invasive plants showed adhesive joint failures which are more suitable for tamper-proof packaging due to their low surface strength and crack propagation into the fiber structure. Full article

The red color of the pear peel in red-skinned European pear is due to the accumulation of anthocyanins. Numerous transcription factors play pivotal roles in anthocyanin biosynthesis, with zinc finger proteins frequently implicated in the regulation of this process via MYB10, as documented in earlier studies. In this article, we identified a zinc finger protein gene, named PbZAT12, that does not rely on PbMYB10, to regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis. The PbZAT12 protein was localized within the nucleus and exhibited a positive influence on the accumulation of anthocyanins in the peel of ‘Red Zaosu’ pears. Moreover, overexpression of PbZAT12 resulted in a significant up-regulation of PbDFR, PbANS, and PbUFGT expression levels in pear fruitlets. Y1H assays demonstrated a direct binding ability of PbZAT12 to proPbDFR, proPbANS, and proPbUFGT, which was supported by a dual luciferase assay, indicating its potential to activate the transcriptional activity of these promoters. However, in contrast to its effect on the aforementioned promoters, PbZAT12 did not exhibit an activation of PbMYB10. In summary, our findings suggest that a zinc finger transcription factor, PbZAT12, exerts a positive influence on anthocyanin biosynthesis in pear fruit through direct upregulation of the expression levels of PbDFR, PbANS, and PbUFGT. Full article

The purple tomato variety ‘Indigo Rose’ (InR) is favored due to its bright appearance, abundant anthocyanins and outstanding antioxidant capacity. SlHY5 is associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis in ‘Indigo Rose’ plants. However, residual anthocyanins still present in Slhy5 seedlings and fruit peel indicated there was an anthocyanin induction pathway that is independent of HY5 in plants. The molecular mechanism of anthocyanins formation in ‘Indigo Rose’ and Slhy5 mutants is unclear. In this study, we performed omics analysis to clarify the regulatory network underlying anthocyanin biosynthesis in seedling and fruit peel of ‘Indigo Rose’ and Slhy5 mutant. Results showed that the total amount of anthocyanins in both seedling and fruit of InR was significantly higher than those in the Slhy5 mutant, and most genes associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis exhibited higher expression levels in InR, suggesting that SlHY5 play pivotal roles in flavonoid biosynthesis both in tomato seedlings and fruit. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) results revealed that SlBBX24 physically interacts with SlAN2-like and SlAN2, while SlWRKY44 could interact with SlAN11 protein. Unexpectedly, both SlPIF1 and SlPIF3 were found to interact with SlBBX24, SlAN1 and SlJAF13 by yeast two-hybrid assay. Suppression of SlBBX24 by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) retarded the purple coloration of the fruit peel, indicating an important role of SlBBX24 in the regulation of anthocyanin accumulation. These results deepen the understanding of purple color formation in tomato seedlings and fruits in an HY5-dependent or independent manner via excavating the genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis based on omics analysis. Full article

During the design of automotive structures assembled using Self-Piercing Rivets (SPRs), a rivet and die combination is selected for each joint stack. To conduct extensive physical tensile testing on every joint combination to determine the range of strength achieved by each rivet–die combination, a great deal of lab technician time and substrate material are required. It is much simpler and less material-consuming to select the rivet and die solution by examining the cross sections of joints. However, the current methods of measuring cross sections by measuring the amount of mechanical interlock in a linear X–Y direction, achieved with the flared rivet tail, do not give an accurate prediction of joint strength, because they do not measure the full amount of material that must be defeated to pull the rivet tail out of the bottom sheet. The X–Y linear interlock measurement approach also makes it difficult to rapidly rank joint solutions, as it creates two values for each cross section rather than a single value. This study investigates an innovative new measurement method developed by the authors called Volumelock. The approach measures the volume of material that must be defeated to pull out the rivet. Creating a single measurement value for each rivet–die combination makes it much easier to compare different rivet and die solutions; to identify solutions that work well across a number of different stacks; to aid the grouping of stacks on one setter for low-volume line; and to select the strongest solutions for a high-volume line where only one or two different stacks are made by each setter. The joint stack results in this paper indicate that there is a good predictive relationship between the new Volumelock method and peel strength, measured by physical cross-tension testing. In this study, the Volumelock approach predicted the peel strength within a 5% error margin. Full article