Search Results (1,801)

The present study investigates the potential of olive mill wastewater (OMW), supplemented with expired commercial glucose syrup, as a sustainable substrate for the submerged cultivation of Tuber spp. wild mushrooms. OMW contains considerable quantities of phenolic compounds, making it both a challenging pollutant and a promising nutrient source. To assess fungal performance under increasing phenolic stress, culture media were prepared with varying OMW concentrations (0–75% v/v on agar; 0–50% v/v in liquid media), while glucose was adjusted to ~30 g/L using expired glucose syrup. A sequential experimental approach was followed, beginning with Petri dish screenings on substrate/strain selection (measuring the mycelial growth rate; Kr, mm/day), progressing to 25-day shake flask fermentations and subsequently scaling up the most promising strain (Tuber mesentericum) in a controlled stirred-tank bioreactor. Throughout cultivation, substrate consumption (glucose, phenolics), pH evolution and decolorization were evaluated, while the resulting biomass was analyzed for polysaccharides, β-glucans, proteins, lipids, fatty acids, antioxidants, phenolic acids and triterpenoids content. Results showed that increasing OMW concentration enhanced tolerance and metabolic activity in selected Tuber species, with T. mesentericum exhibiting the highest resilience and achieving comparable or higher biomass yields in OMW-based media than in glucose (control). Phenolic removal exceeded 60% in flasks and 50% in the bioreactor, confirming simultaneous bioremediation capacity. Bioreactor cultivation demonstrated efficient substrate utilization and biomass production, while OMW-grown biomass presented high lipid content, enriched with unsaturated fatty acids, high β-glucan levels and increased antioxidant and phenolic profiles. Overall, this study demonstrates that OMW (supplemented with expired glucose syrup) can serve as a cost-effective and environmentally beneficial substrate for Tuber biomass production with dietary and antioxidant properties, offering an alternative source to mushroom carposomes, as well as supporting the circular bioeconomy strategies within olive oil processing industries. Full article

Welding copper (Cu) and aluminum (Al) is highly demanded for lightweight and cost-effective manufacturing. However, it faces significant challenges. First, substantial differences in physical properties may lead to high residual stresses and distortion. Second, brittle intermetallic compounds (IMCs) readily form at the interface, severely compromising the joint’s mechanical properties and electrical conductivity. Third, the native oxide film on Al impedes effective wetting and bonding. Therefore, effective control over the interfacial microstructure of the welded joint is essential. This review provides a critical analysis and comparison of several typical welding techniques, including laser welding (LW), friction stir welding (FSW), ultrasonic welding (UW), brazing and soldering, and welding–brazing. These analyses focus on their process characteristics, joint microstructures, and corresponding formation mechanisms. Furthermore, this review synthesizes key strategies for enhancing joint quality, including process parameter optimization, introduction of functional interlayers, and external assistance, aimed at optimizing joint microstructure and minimizing defects. Based on the analysis, this work provides comparative insights into process selection and microstructure control, and highlights future directions: advancing novel methods such as magnetic pulse welding and transient liquid phase bonding; developing intelligent real-time process control to suppress brittle IMCs and associated defects; promoting sustainable practices and establishing standardized performance evaluation; and systematically investigating long-term reliability to support the industrial application of robust Cu/Al joints. Full article

The crystallization kinetics of picromerite play a crucial role in optimizing the fertilizer quality. This study developed a crystallization kinetics model of picromerite. Results show that increasing temperature mainly leads to higher supersaturation, which, in turn, enhances both nucleation and growth rates, with significant improvements in crystal size and uniformity. Higher stirring speed was found to have positive effects on crystal nucleation and growth rate. The decrease in supersaturation leads to the diminution of the driving force for crystallization and the gradual decline in crystallization. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the relationships between these crystallization conditions and the resultant crystal properties. Full article

Objectives: The aim of this case report is to highlight the diagnostic challenges of carotid space masses, share clinical experience, and educate clinicians by presenting a case of a rare disease. Introduction: Accessory nerve schwannomas are rare, benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors. They make up only a small percentage of all cervical schwannomas. Given their rarity and varying appearance on imaging, these tumors can be difficult to accurately diagnose. Schwannomas may mimic other carotid space pathologies, such as metastatic lymphadenopathy, paragangliomas, or sympathetic chain tumors. Accurately identifying the nerve of origin before surgery is important for effective surgical planning and neurological function protection. Case Description: A 50-year-old woman presented with an asymptomatic left-sided neck mass. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a cystic lesion with a thick, contrast-enhancing capsule in the left carotid space, causing internal jugular vein compression and partial thrombosis. Subsequent MRI showed a 28 mm × 23 mm × 38 mm well-defined mass with characteristic schwannoma features, including T2/Short tau inversion recovery (STIR) hyperintensity, peripheral enhancement, central cystic degenerative components, and peripheral diffusion restriction with corresponding lower apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. Split-fat sign and fascicular sign were also seen on the MRI. Despite these imaging findings, the radiological interpretation suggested a sympathetic chain schwannoma as the most likely diagnosis. The correct diagnosis of accessory nerve schwannoma was established intraoperatively when the mass was visualized to be attached to the accessory nerve. Conclusions: This case highlights that even with suggestive MRI features, the rarity of accessory nerve schwannomas can lead to misidentification of the nerve of origin. Accurate diagnosis may require intraoperative visualization, thus marking the importance of including accessory nerve involvement in the differential diagnosis of carotid space masses. Full article

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Mey.), a traditional Chinese medicine, exhibits spleen-fortifying, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ulcerative colitis (UC) effects. Rice-fried ginseng (RFG), prepared by stir-frying with rice together, yields a marked enrichment of rare ginsenosides, which is hypothesized to enhance its anti-inflammatory and anti-UC effects. Therefore, in this study, the chemical compositions of RFG and sun-dried ginseng (SDG) were systematically compared using LC–MS combined with MS-DIAL, and their protective effects against UC were evaluated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Caco-2 cells and a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mouse model. Rice-frying markedly altered the chemical composition of ginseng, and a total of 64 major compounds were identified, of which 31 increased and 33 decreased after processing. These compositional changes were associated with enhanced anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of RFG. Consistently, RFG enhanced Caco-2 cell viability, decreased TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and increased ZO-1, occludin, claudin-1, and E-cadherin. In DSS-induced UC mice, RFG attenuated body weight loss, reduced DAI, increased colon length, and decreased the spleen index, accompanied by improved histopathology, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and increased expression of tight-junction proteins (TJPs) in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, RFG ameliorated DSS-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis. Metabolomics and network pharmacology analyses highlighted disturbances in linoleic acid and arachidonic acid metabolism and emphasized the involvement of the PI3K–Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways. Western blotting demonstrated decreased phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, IKKβ, and NF-κB after RFG intervention. Overall, compared with SDG, RFG showed stronger protective effects in vitro and in vivo, accompanied by improved inflammatory readouts, altered lipid-related metabolites and gut microbiota profiles, and reduced phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, IKKβ, and NF-κB. Full article

1,3-Thiazole derivatives are of interest in pharmacy, medicine, and agriculture as potential biologically active substances. We have proposed for the first time a convenient and effective method for the synthesis of amidoalkylated derivatives of 2-amino-1,3-thiazole. This approach is based on the reaction of amidoalkylated thioureas with α-halocarbonyl compounds. The reaction was carried out under stirring at 20 °C in ethanol with the addition of an equimolar amount of triethylamine to bind the released hydrogen halide. The yield of the obtained 1,3-thiazole derivatives was 68–75%. An attempt to carry out a counter-synthesis by amidoalkylation of the corresponding 2-amino-1,3-thiazole derivative was unsuccessful due to strong resinification of the reaction mass. The structure of the compounds obtained was confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The structure was finally confirmed by X-ray structural analysis performed for N-(2,2,2-trichloro-1-((4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)amino)ethyl)acetamide. Full article

In this paper, batch stirred-tank alcoholysis reactions of used and refined sunflower oils were performed with n-octyl, myristyl, cetyl, oleyl, and stearyl alcohols using immobilized lipases Novozym 435 and Lipozyme IM as catalysts. Alcohol conversions ranged from 74% to 94%, with slight differences between used frying sunflower oil and refined sunflower oil. The resulting wax esters were purified via stepwise column chromatography. The different regioselectivity of the biocatalysts led to distinct reaction pathways, and Novozym 435 proved to be the most effective enzyme, providing higher conversions and no detectable by-products. This study demonstrates the valorization of waste frying oils into high-value wax esters through enzymatic alcoholysis, comparing two industrially relevant immobilized lipases and achieving high conversion across multiple long-chain alcohols. The results highlight a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical catalysis and extend biocatalytic applications beyond traditional biodiesel production. By incorporating waste lipids into value-added products, the overall sustainability and circularity of the system are improved, contributing to green and sustainable chemistry. Full article

Caprylic acid (CA) fractionation of serum is a simple and cost-effective method of producing high-quality immunoglobulins. While standardised procedures exist for CA purification of IgG for various animals, no published protocol exists for baboon IgG. This study aimed to optimise an efficient protocol for purifying IgG from baboon serum using CA through a stepwise one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) approach. The effects of serum pH, CA concentration, stirring time and intensity, dialysis buffer, and lyophilisation were evaluated based on the protein content, with SDS-PAGE profiles and albumin–globulin ratios distinguishing IgG from residual albumin. Serum at pH 5.0 with 7% CA (v/v) produced the highest yield, minimising albumin while maximising IgG content. Lower pH (4.0–4.5) and CA (5–6%) reduced protein content, while a higher pH (5.5–6.0) and CA (8–15%) increased protein, but with elevated albumin and contaminants. Stirring serum vigorously at 1200 rpm for 60 min provided effective precipitation of non-IgG proteins. Lower intensities and shorter times resulted in higher albumin and residual proteins, while excessive stirring caused protein denaturation. Dialysis buffer composition had little impact, while lyophilisation significantly enhanced IgG concentration. The optimal protocol involved serum at pH 5.0, 7% CA (v/v), vigorous stirring (1200 rpm) for 60 min, and dialysis against sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) followed by lyophilisation. The resulting IgG enrichment and purity were comparable to commercial-grade products. This study thus established optimal conditions for the purification of baboon IgG with CA, which could be used to support research in this animal model of immunology. Full article

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a high-priority environmental pollutant due to its strong oxidizing properties, which cause DNA damage and other severe health effects. Conventional detection methods are often costly and lack real-time monitoring capabilities, creating a strong demand for cost-effective, real-time biosensors that meet industrial requirements. In this study, we developed a novel biosensor for continuous Cr(VI) monitoring using a single-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC). The biological element is an engineered Escherichia coli strain (ChrA-ChrB-E. coli), constructed by introducing Cr(VI)-resistant (ChrA) and Cr(VI)-reducing (ChrB) genes. The presence of Cr(VI) affects bacterial metabolism and electron transfer within the MFC, generating a measurable signal proportional to the contaminant’s concentration. The biosensor demonstrated robust performance and characteristics. The recombinant strain retained functional activity after 450 days of storage at −20 °C. The system exhibited high sensitivity and excellent linearity (R² ≥ 0.999) across a broad Cr(VI) concentration range of 0.015–200 mg/L. During continuous monitoring of chrome tanning and electroplating wastewater, measurements deviated by less than 2.33% from the standard diphenylcarbazide (DPC) method; electroplating deviation was further reduced to −0.69% with EDTA pretreatment. In fishery water, the deviation was higher (−7.12%) due to dissolved oxygen (DO) interference but was reduced to −0.75% after mechanical stirring to remove DO. The biofilm bacterial community remained highly stable over six months in both wastewater types, with the inoculated ChrA-ChrB-E. coli strain maintaining dominance (>99.6%). These results substantiate the feasibility of using this biosensor for continuous, online, real-time detection of Cr(VI) in actual wastewater environments. Full article

The temperature regulation of nonlinear continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) processes remains a challenging control problem due to strong nonlinearities, time-delay effects, and sensitivity to disturbances and parameter variations. Conventional proportional–integral–derivative (PID)-based control strategies often fail to provide the robustness and precision required under such conditions, motivating the use of more flexible controller structures and advanced optimization techniques. In this study, an enhanced joint-opposition artificial lemming algorithm (JOS-ALA) is proposed for the optimal tuning of a fractional-order PID (FOPID) controller applied to CSTR temperature control. The proposed JOS-ALA incorporates a joint opposite selection mechanism into the original ALA to improve population diversity, convergence stability, and resistance to local optima stagnation. A nonlinear CSTR model is linearized around a stable operating point, and the resulting model is employed for controller design and optimization. The FOPID controller parameters are tuned by minimizing a composite cost function that simultaneously accounts for tracking accuracy, overshoot suppression, and instantaneous error behavior. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is assessed through extensive simulation studies and benchmarked against state-of-the-art and high-performance metaheuristic optimizers, including ALA, electric eel foraging optimization (EEFO), linear population size reduction success-history based adaptive differential evolution (L-SHADE), and the improved artificial electric field algorithm (iAEFA). The benchmarking set is further extended with the success rate-based adaptive differential evolution variant (L-SRTDE) to broaden the comparative evaluation. Simulation results demonstrate that the JOS-ALA-based FOPID controller consistently achieves superior performance across multiple criteria. Specifically, it attains the lowest mean cost function value of 0.1959, eliminates overshoot, and yields a normalized steady-state error of 4.7290 × 10⁻⁴. In addition, faster transient response and improved robustness under external disturbances and measurement noise are observed when compared with competing methods. Statistical reliability of the observed performance differences is additionally examined using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test conducted over 25 independent runs. The resulting p-values confirm that the improvements achieved by the proposed approach are statistically significant at the 5% level across all pairwise algorithm comparisons. These findings indicate that the proposed JOS-ALA provides an effective and reliable optimization framework for high-precision temperature control in nonlinear CSTR systems and offers strong potential for broader application in complex process control problems. Full article

The development of sustainable pigments from natural sources is gaining interest due to environmental concerns and the need for bio-based alternatives to synthetic dyes. This study investigates the synthesis of hybrid pigments by adsorbing anthocyanins—extracted from pomegranate agro-waste—onto halloysite (HA) nanotubes. A full factorial design was applied to evaluate the influence of pH and surfactant type (cetylpyridinium bromide and sodium dodecyl sulfate) on pigment colour and the thermal and structural stability of the hybrids. Adsorption was carried out in 400 mL dispersion baths containing 10 g of HA and 5% w/w anthocyanins. Surfactants (2% w/w) were added before the pigment, followed by 200 µL of silane. Dispersions were stirred at high speed for 1 h and then at 500 rpm for 23 h to ensure adsorption without premature desorption. Characterisation (TGA, XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis/NIR, SEM, EDX, BET) confirmed the preservation of HA structure and minimal changes in thermal behaviour. Pigment colour varied with synthesis conditions, especially pH: a higher pH increased brightness and yielded yellowish tones, while a lower pH resulted in reddish-blue hues with greater variability. The results confirm halloysite’s potential as a stable carrier for natural dyes and demonstrate that pH effectively tunes hybrid pigment colour. Full article

Paracetamol (PAR) was selected as an emerging micropollutant model to evaluate the effectiveness of the photo-Fenton process using natural Bandjéli ore (BO) as a heterogeneous source of iron. An aliquot of 1 mL of the activated product was introduced into 200 mL of an aqueous solution of paracetamol at a defined concentration. The tests were conducted in a double-jacketed glass photoreactor (0.2 L), continuously stirred and equipped with two UVA PL-L lamps (36 W, λ = 365 nm), with the temperature maintained at 20 °C and the pH around 2.4. The photo-Fenton process was applied with different initial paracetamol concentrations (10–50 mg/L), different ${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_2/\mathrm{P}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{R}$ initial molar ratios (10:1 and 5:1), and different ferric ion concentrations (2.84–4.73 mg/L). Under these conditions, complete disappearance of the parent compound (paracetamol) was achieved in less than 3 h for iron contents below 5 mg/L, in compliance with the discharge standards applicable in France and Togo. Inhibition tests with propan-2-ol highlighted the predominant role of hydroxyl radicals and the secondary involvement of superoxide radicals in the subsequent stages. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Bandjéli iron ore is an effective, sustainable, and economically advantageous alternative to commercial iron salts for implementing the photo-Fenton process in the decontamination of water polluted by organic micropollutants. Full article

The most important segment of the electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking process is the stirring and decarburization of the molten bath during the oxidation stage, with the bath temperature typically ranging from 1550 to 1600 °C. The coherent jet is a key factor influencing the stirring and decarburization of the molten bath. The factors affecting the impact capability of coherent jets have been widely studied, including the nozzle flow parameters and arrangement methods. However, there are few studies on the combustion chamber structure of the coherent jet oxygen lance. In order to study the effect of the combustion chamber structure on the characteristics of the coherent jet, a method combining numerical simulation and combustion experiments is used to study the flow fields of the coherent jet for a combustion chamber under different length and inclination angle conditions. The results show that the flow field characteristics of the coherent jet are influenced by the length and inclination angle of the combustion chamber. Compared with the coherent jet oxygen lance without a combustion chamber, the potential core length of the main oxygen jet under the short-distance horizontal combustion chamber condition is longer, but the potential core length of the main oxygen jet with the excessively long horizontal combustion chamber is shorter. The influence of the inclination angle on the potential core length of the main oxygen jet is complex. The influence mode is different depending on the length of the combustion chamber. Finally, it is found that the combined horizontal and inclined combustion chamber can achieve the best effect on prolonging the potential core length of the main oxygen jet. Full article

Particle size and size distribution are critical parameters that strongly influence the performance, reproducibility, and applicability of nanoparticles. In this work, we systematically investigated the effect of oscillation mode on the particle size and dispersion of SiO₂ nanoparticles synthesized via the Stöber method. Multiple commonly used laboratory mixing and oscillation modes—including stirring, horizontal shaking, vertical shaking, rotating, vertical shaking combined with rotating, water bath sonication, probe sonication, and static conditions—were comparatively evaluated. Particle size and size distribution were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering, and the polydispersity index (PDI) was quantitatively analyzed. The results demonstrate that stirring, horizontal shaking, vertical shaking, and rotating produce silica nanoparticles with comparable average sizes and consistently low PDI values within the investigated parameter range, indicating similar performance among these moderate and continuous oscillation modes under the studied conditions. In contrast, vertical shaking combined with rotating, water bath sonication, and probe sonication lead to larger particle sizes and broader size distributions, accompanied by elevated PDI values. Although static conditions yield smaller average particle sizes, the resulting particles exhibit the highest PDI, reflecting poor size uniformity. These findings provide practical process-level guidance for selecting appropriate oscillation modes to achieve reproducible and uniform silica nanoparticle synthesis in general laboratory settings. Full article

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are one of the significant engineering materials for many industrial applications. The growing interest in MMCs stems from their strong mechanical properties, including their higher specific mechanical strength and excellent corrosion and wear resistance. From an industrial viewpoint, the ability of MMCs to undergo secondary processing is significant. This review aims to clarify the effects of cryorolling on the microstructure, mechanical properties and wear behavior of different aluminum-based MMCs. In particular, aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) produced through the stir-casting approach experience an additional cryorolling procedure to enhance their tensile mechanical strength and wear resistance. This hybrid manufacturing approach has shown promise in creating effective structural components. This review covers the production of ex situ aluminum-based composites formed by stir casting and then cryorolling. It also highlights how the particle size, volume fraction, and the cryorolling procedure affect the microstructure, wear, and mechanical properties. This approach could broaden the uses of hybrid manufacturing by demonstrating its practical advantages and efficiency. Furthermore, this review highlights the importance of implementing machine learning (ML) models and life cycle assessment (LCA) in evaluating MMCs produced through stir casting. Full article