Search Results (330)

Perilla seed hulls are a promising but underutilized source of dietary fiber, yet little is known about how pretreatment-induced structural changes in soluble dietary fiber (SDF) derived from these hulls affect its functionality in cereal dough. This study compared SDF extracted from untreated, ultra-high-pressure (UHP)-pretreated, cellulase-pretreated, and sequentially UHP–cellulase-pretreated perilla seed hulls and evaluated their structural, physicochemical, and dough-modifying properties. The combined treatment increased the SDF content of the hull material from 3.71% to 8.63% and decreased insoluble dietary fiber from 55.74% to 50.37%. Relative to untreated SDF, the resulting UCPSDF had a lower apparent molecular weight (2442 vs. 2788 Da), a smaller mean particle size (2.76 vs. 3.62 μm), a lower glucose proportion, and higher arabinose and acidic monosaccharide proportions. FTIR, XRD, SEM, and thermal analyses indicated retention of the principal polysaccharide and cellulose-I signatures, accompanied by changes in structural characteristics and a looser, more porous morphology. UCPSDF also showed the highest water-holding and swelling capacities. At 6% supplementation, UCPSDF produced the strongest elastic response in wheat–corn composite dough, significantly increased springiness (0.59–0.72) and cohesiveness (0.64–0.76), increased the combined amide I-derived α-helix and β-sheet proportion of dough proteins from 53.93% to 66.82%, and reduced the T₂₃ relaxation time from 297.86 to 81.23 ms. These findings indicate that sequential UHP–cellulase pretreatment improves the measured SDF content and hydration functionality of perilla seed hull SDF and supports its use as a dough-structuring ingredient in wheat–corn composite foods. Full article

Increasingly, mycelium-based biomaterials are being investigated as sustainable alternatives to conventional packaging materials, but their inherent brittleness limits their practical application. The present study investigated the properties of pure mycelium sheets sourced from Ganoderma sp., Lentinus sp., and Pleurotus sp., employing glycerol plasticization and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs). The findings revealed that growth and structural attributes varied according to the species, with Ganoderma and Lentinus exhibiting enhanced colonization rates. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination indicated that Lentinus developed dense fiber networks, Ganoderma exhibited compact structures, while Pleurotus presented a porous morphology. Glycerol enhanced flexibility but diminished tensile strength, while ZnONPs offered marginal reinforcement. Lentinus exhibited the greatest density, whereas untreated Ganoderma exhibited the highest thermal stability among the control samples (284.97 °C), while glycerol-treated Pleurotus exhibited the highest thermal stability overall (287.39 °C). Glycerol-treated sheets demonstrated improved ductility and heightened hydrophilicity. The properties of mycelium are species-dependent and can be modulated through targeted post-treatment strategies. Lentinus and Ganoderma exhibit significant potential as sustainable bio-based materials for packaging applications. These findings demonstrated that Lentinus sp. treated with glycerol achieved the optimal balance of flexibility and density for sustainable packaging, while glycerol-treated Pleurotus sp. exhibited superior thermal stability. Full article

Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) technology with high solar reflectance and high infrared emissivity has been increasingly applied in green buildings. However, current PDRC designs are either high-cost or require additional multi-step fabrication processes, and both factors hinder their broader industrial application. Here, we present a low-cost, easy-to-process, scalable and uncomplicated porous epoxy-based radiative cooling coating via a simple Pickering high-internal-phase-emulsion (HIPE) approach. The obtained porous epoxy-based coating has micro- and submicropores. These hierarchical porous microstructures enable a synergistic interaction between the filler and the porous microstructure, thus enhancing the radiative cooling performance. As a result, the obtained porous epoxy-base polymer with alumina as fillers (PEP-A) coating presents a high solar reflectance of 95.6% in the wavelength range of 0.3–2.5 μm and a high infrared emissivity of 96.3% in the wavelength range of 8–14 μm, as well as a maximum subambient cooling temperature of 3.4 °C and an average cooling power of 105.6 W·m⁻² under solar shortwave radiation of 123.01–134.67 W·m⁻². Furthermore, the PEP-A coating can be easily applied via roll-coating, blade-coating, or brush-coating, and self-cures on diverse substrates like aluminum sheets, steel plates, polypropylene sheets, bricks, and wall surfaces without any additional template-extraction process. In particular, the cost of the raw materials for the PEP-A coating is 0.2–1.3% of that of previously reported radiative cooling coatings (e.g., Poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) and polydimethylsiloxane). The extraction-free nature, easy processability, self-curing ability, and low cost of the PEP-A coating make it very promising for large-scale PDRC production and applications. Full article

Two-dimensional GaS_xTe_1−x alloy nanosheets with different compositions were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition using GaS and GaTe powders as precursors. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses confirmed their sheet-like morphology and the uniform distribution of S and Te, while Raman and photoluminescence measurements revealed composition-dependent vibrational and emission characteristics. Te-rich samples exhibited position-dependent emission ranging from the red to the near-infrared region, whereas increasing the S content gradually shifted the emission toward the blue-green region. Among the synthesized samples, GaS_0.9Te_0.1 showed a relatively stable photoluminescence peak near 520 nm and was therefore selected as a fluorescent powder for latent fingermark development. Its performance was evaluated on glass, stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic surfaces and compared with that of silver powder, gold powder, and commercial red fluorescent powder. GaS_0.9Te_0.1 produced clear fluorescent ridge patterns and strong background contrast, particularly on glass, plastic, and white ceramic. The mean contrast across the four substrates reached 25.83, exceeding that of the reference powders. These results demonstrate that GaS_xTe_1−x nanosheets possess tunable optical properties and that GaS_0.9Te_0.1 is a promising fluorescent material for latent fingermark development on non-porous surfaces. Full article

Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMSs) represent a progressive class of cellular materials with high potential for high-tech applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of TPMS architectures, linking their mathematical underpinnings and advanced CAD modeling in PTC Creo Parametric 12 with technological aspects of additive manufacturing and macroscopic mechanical response. The work critically compares dominant topologies such as Schoen Gyroid, Schwarz Diamond, and Schwarz Primitive, focusing on the differences between uniform and functionally graded (FG-TPMS) structures. From a production perspective, this study identifies key process limitations of PBF-LB/M and SLA additive technologies, in particular the issues of unsintered powder accumulation, geometric deviations, and the negative impact of surface roughness (satellite particles) on fatigue life. Analysis of mechanical behavior confirms the superiority of sheet-based modifications in kinetic energy absorption, where specifically tailored FG-TPMS topologies exhibit stable deformation plateaus and controlled, progressive failure modes under compression. The conclusion of the work summarizes established applications in biomedical engineering for the elimination of stress shielding, as well as emerging trends in the field of 4D printing and acoustic metamaterials. This review serves as a comprehensive engineering guide for the optimization and implementation of next-generation porous structures. Full article

Flexible pressure sensors with porous structures are essential for wearable electronics and robotic perception. However, traditional porous flexible sensors suffer from poor stability and long recovery times. To address these challenges, a strategy integrating bionic architectures inspired by the rigid–flexible coupling structure of Bambusa textilis and the micro-protrusion structure of Salvia plebeia R.Br. is proposed. An aluminum sheet serves as the support layer, and the sensing layer is prepared through mold replication, material impregnation, and layer-by-layer assembly, offering a simple and scalable fabrication route. The sensor exhibits a broad effective pressure range of 0–31.5 kPa, with a minimum resolvable force of 0.2 N, and within its operating range (0–23.5 kPa), the relationship between resistance and pressure exhibits a trend that can be fitted to a quadratic term, with a coefficient of determination of 0.9986. It achieves a minimum response time of 350 ms and maintains stable signals under dynamic loading at different frequencies, indicating reliable detection of low-frequency weak pressures. After 5000 loading–unloading cycles, the device shows no obvious performance degradation. When mounted on a robotic foot, the sensor successfully distinguishes land, sponge, sand, and pebbles surfaces, demonstrating its potential for intelligent environmental perception. Full article

Hydrogen (H₂) detection under practical operating conditions requires sensing materials that simultaneously provide accessible reaction sites, efficient gas diffusion pathways, and fast interfacial charge transfer. Here, a hierarchical star-sphere ZnCo₂O₄ (ZC) architecture was integrated with graphene oxide (GO) and Pt supported on graphitized carbon (Pt/C) to develop hybrid chemiresistive sensing layers for low-temperature hydrogen detection. The synthesized ZC-based material exhibited a hierarchical morphology consisting of porous microspheres and star-shaped assemblies, providing a multiscale framework for gas access and surface reactions. By varying the GO content from 0.1 to 1 wt% at a fixed Pt/C loading, the ZC-0.5G composite achieved the most balanced structure, with well-distributed GO sheets, preserved star–sphere morphology, the highest specific surface area (53.6 m²/g), and the largest pore volume (0.09 cm³/g). The optimized sensor gave responses of 12.96%, 19.20%, 22.87%, and 26.43% for 500, 4000, 8000 and 10,000 ppm H₂ concentrations, respectively, with measurable response down to 50 ppm. The highest sensing performance was achieved at 50 °C and 60% relative humidity (RH), where the hierarchical oxide framework, GO-assisted interfacial pathways, and Pt catalytic sites acted in concert. The sensor also showed repeatable cyclic behavior and preferential response to H₂ compared to methanol, isopropanol, ethanol, acetone, and dimethylformamide. The improved sensing performance is attributed to the synergistic combination of the hierarchical ZC framework, GO-assisted interfacial pathways, and Pt-assisted catalytic activation, which together facilitate gas diffusion, surface reactions, and resistance modulation. Full article

Soybean meal protein, a byproduct of soybean processing, has limited functional properties such as emulsifying performance, which restricts its application in foods. Given that high-temperature extrusion tends to cause excessive denaturation and irreversible aggregation, this study aimed to investigate the effects of relatively low extrusion temperatures (85–105 °C) on the structural and functional properties of soybean meal protein. The results showed that extrusion altered the molecular structure and functional characteristics of the protein. With increasing extrusion temperature, the β-sheet content increased while the α-helix content decreased in the secondary structure, and tertiary structural rearrangements occurred, with hydrophobic groups being exposed and subsequently buried. At 95 °C, the protein formed a relatively porous and loose microstructure and exhibited the strongest surface hydrophobicity, water-holding capacity, oil-holding capacity, and emulsifying properties; at 100 °C and above, excessive aggregation occurred, pore structure collapsed, and functional properties declined. Meanwhile, extrusion generally reduced protein solubility. Therefore, 95 °C is identified as the optimal extrusion temperature under the conditions of this study. In addition, this study reveals the correlation between structural reconstruction and functional changes of soybean meal protein, providing a theoretical basis for its high-value utilization and application in the food industry. Full article

This study aimed to optimize the spray-drying (SD) process for aquafaba and compare the physical and techno-functional properties of the resulting powder with those of its freeze-dried (FD) counterpart. A Box–Behnken design was employed to evaluate the effects of inlet air temperature (150–190 °C), air speed (3.5–4.3 m/s), and feed flow rate (0.3–0.5 L/h) on 14 quality responses. The optimized SD conditions were determined to be an inlet air temperature of 189 °C, an air speed of 4.2 m/s, and a feed flow rate of 0.3 L/h. Validation experiments demonstrated that the developed models had high predictive capacity, with only a small discrepancy (0.56–5.88%) between the predicted and experimental values. Comparative analysis showed that the optimized SD powder had significantly lower moisture content (2.47%) and water activity (0.18) than the FD powder (3.51% and 0.34, respectively), indicating superior storage stability. In addition, the SD powder exhibited greater whiteness (82.37), higher water solubility (88.44%), and substantially greater foaming capacity (266.67%) than the FD sample (243.33%). Although the FD powder demonstrated better wettability and water absorption capacity because of its porous structure, FTIR spectroscopy and protein secondary structure analysis confirmed that SD preserved the functional integrity of aquafaba. Specifically, SD induced a transition from disordered random-coil structures to more ordered β-sheet and β-turn configurations, thereby improving foaming performance. Overall, these findings indicate that optimized spray-drying is a highly efficient and industrially scalable alternative to freeze-drying for producing functional aquafaba powder for use as a plant-based egg substitute. Full article

Developing fiber-shaped supercapacitors (FSCs) with high capacitance, high energy density, and exceptional rate performance is crucial for reliable, stable and high-performance wearable electronics. Here, a polyaniline (PANI) @ MXene Ti₃C₂T_x/graphene (PTG) aerogel fiber was rationally fabricated via a confined hydrothermal method followed by freeze-drying treatment. The graphene sheets construct the skeleton of the aerogel fiber, which possesses a porous and interlinked structure, providing interconnected diffusion channels and a high specific surface area that promote electrolyte migration and abundant ion adsorption sites. Moreover, the covalent modification between PANI nanoparticles and Ti₃C₂T_x sheets can significantly improve interfacial coupling and provide abundant redox sites, resulting in a reduced energy barrier of electron transfer, good interfacial stability and superior H⁺ storage capability. As a consequence, the PTG aerogel fiber electrode delivers an excellent specific mass capacitance of 484.8 F g⁻¹, impressive rate properties (244.4 F g⁻¹ at 10 A g⁻¹) and exceptional cycle ability (85.2% after 5000 cycles). Additionally, the fabricated symmetrical FSC exhibits considerable electrochemical performance, including high capacitance and good energy density. This work depicts a novel route to prepare a graphene fiber-based electrode for high-performance FSCs in an intelligent wearable system. Full article

Three-dimensional (3D) graphene foams are attractive as lightweight conductive scaffolds with large surface area and broadband light absorption but achieving reproducible porosity and preserving the architecture after metal-template removal remain challenging. Here we report a stepwise route to freestanding 3D multilayer graphene foams based on (i) hydrogen-bubble-assisted electrodeposition of porous Ni on Cu foils, (ii) time-controlled pre-annealing at 1000 °C to drive Cu diffusion and form porous Ni-Cu alloy templates, (iii) in situ graphene CVD at 1000 °C under fixed growth conditions, and (iv) wet etching to remove the metal scaffold without a polymer support. The influence of pre-annealing (0, 1, 3, and 7 h) on template evolution, graphene growth, and foam stability was systematically investigated via SEM, EDS, XRD and Raman studies. Before etching, Raman spectroscopy indicates low-defect graphenic coatings with locally heterogeneous few-layer-like to multilayer-like signatures. Only samples pre-annealed for at least 3 h preserved the porous 3D architecture after metal removal, indicating the formation of self-supporting graphenic networks with improved post-etch morphological stability. Raman and XRD analyses further revealed a progressive reduction in structural degradation, residual strain, and stacking disorder with increasing pre-annealing time. Among the investigated samples, the foams obtained after 3 and 7 h of template pre-annealing combined preserved 3D morphology with low sheet resistance (10–20 Ω/□), negligible optical transmittance (<5%), and strong broadband visible-light absorption (75–90%). Full article

This research presents a physics-informed deep learning framework for investigating the magnetohydrodynamic flow of a dissipative non-Newtonian micropolar nanofluid induced by a stretching sheet, incorporating Stefan blowing, internal heat generation, and the zero nanoparticle mass flux condition. The physical model consists of the interplay between the microrotation dynamics, resistance of porosity on the microrotation, Brownian diffusion, and thermophoretic transport phenomenon. The numerical solutions for the nonlinear yielded equations that result from the above interaction are obtained by employing a PINN that considers the laws of physics and boundary conditions. With this technique, the flow behavior, temperature, concentration, and microrotation fields can be predicted accurately without requiring huge datasets. This shows the ability of PINNs to numerically treat highly-coupled nonlinear transport equations in a very efficient manner compared to other traditional methods. The important discoveries from this study include that the porous and magnetic factors increased the skin friction coefficient, but the magnetic effect and viscous dissipation decreased the rate of heat transfer, and the thermophoresis effect decreased the rate of mass transfer while the Brownian effect increased it. The precision of the PINN algorithm is confirmed by comparison of the results with the earlier findings, which proves very high accuracy and hence the robustness of the current computing framework. Results of this research are useful for the development of some thermal management systems, energy converters, cooling methods, chemical reaction processes, fuel cell technology, porous media reactors, and ocean engineering involving the transport of complicated non-Newtonian nanofluids. Full article

Flexible sensors are important for wearable health monitoring, strain detection, and temperature sensing because of their mechanical flexibility and functional versatility. Here, a femtosecond laser direct scanning method was used to fabricate porous laser-induced graphene (LIG) and further modify it with platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs), forming Pt/LIG. This mask-free and rapid process enables simultaneous patterning and functionalization of flexible sensors. The introduction of PtNPs improves the electron transport and surface adsorption properties of LIG. As a result, the sheet resistance of Pt/LIG is reduced to 2.41 Ω/sq, enhancing electrical conductivity and suitability for sensing applications. Based on this method, highly sensitive strain and temperature sensors were fabricated. The Pt/LIG strain sensor shows a ΔR/R₀ of 1141.8 at a bending angle of 90°, about 213% higher than that of pristine LIG, with fast response and recovery times of 36 and 56 ms, respectively. The temperature sensitivity also improved by about 650%, with a temperature coefficient of resistance of 0.240%/°C, compared with −0.032%/°C for pristine LIG. Overall, this work provides a fast and precise strategy for fabricating nanoparticle–graphene composites for flexible electronics, wearable health monitoring, and environmental sensing. Full article

Cell therapies for gastric disorders lack minimally invasive delivery platforms that preserve cell viability during storage and enable effective tissue penetration, owing to the high toughness and harsh environment of the gastric wall. Herein, we developed a mechanically reinforced, porous silk-based cryogenic microneedle (silk-cryoMN) platform for in situ cell delivery to the gastric wall. The optimized 1.5% (w/v) silk scaffolds exhibited interconnected pores (24.4 ± 7.9 μm, ~81% porosity), a compressive strength (422.8 ± 73.4 MPa), and a 3.4-fold increase in β-sheet content. The silk-cryoMNs showed greater thermal stability than H₂O-cryoMNs, maintaining structural integrity for over 60 s at room temperature. With a cryopreservation medium containing 100 mM sucrose and 2% DMSO, post-thaw cell viability exceeded 80% after 11 days of freezing, and most cells were released within 1 h. Furthermore, ex vivo studies confirmed penetration of porcine gastric tissue to depths of 422–448 μm within 30 s. These results suggest that the platform may address several translational barriers, including tissue penetration, handling stability, and cell viability preservation. Further in vivo studies and long-term safety evaluations are needed before clinical translation can be considered. Full article

Surface functionalization of metallic implants is widely explored to enhance their performance and functionality. In this study, multifunctional hydrogel coatings based on poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and polyethylene glycol were developed and functionalized with a taxifolin (TAX) inclusion complex and collagen to introduce bioactive features. TAX, a naturally occurring flavonoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, was incorporated using β-cyclodextrin to improve its stability and enable controlled release. The coatings were applied to titanium-hydroxyapatite composites and titanium sheet substrates to evaluate their applicability across surfaces with varying morphologies, ranging from porous to relatively smooth. The ceramic phase was modified with magnesium ions to enhance its bioactivity and better mimic the composition of natural bone tissue. FTIR and SEM analyses confirmed hydrogel formation and effective surface coverage. Degradation and incubation studies in simulated physiological environments demonstrated the material’s stability, while UV–Vis analysis indicated TAX release, highlighting the system’s potential as a carrier for flavonoid-based compounds. Indirect cytotoxicity studies using MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts indicated low cytotoxicity and a favorable biological response of collagen- and taxifolin-modified systems. The developed coatings represent a versatile platform for surface modification of titanium-based biomaterials and demonstrate potential for application across substrates with diverse surface characteristics. Further studies are required to assess their biological potential. Full article