The Impact of Annealing Methods on the Encapsulating Structure and Storage-Stability of Freeze-Dried Pellets of Probiotic Bacteria.

Objective: This paper investigates the critical role of material thickness in freeze-dried pellets for enhancing the storage stability of encapsulated bacteria. Freeze dried material of varying thicknesses obtained from different annealing durations is quantified using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray microtomography (μCT), the material thickness is then correlated to the storage stability of the encapsulated cells.

Methods: A formulation comprising of sucrose, maltodextrin, and probiotic cells is quenched in liquid nitrogen to form pellets.

Zinc speciation in fly ash from MSWI using XAS - novel insights and implications.

The chemical forms of zinc in fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) crucially affect ash management, influencing both material recovery options and the risk of unwanted leaching into ecosystems. The zinc speciation was investigated in fly ash samples sourced from full-scale MSWI plants, including four grate fired boilers (GB) and one fluidized bed boiler (FB). We applied X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), and the spectra were analyzed against a unique library of over 30 relevant compounds, tailored to the nuances of zinc chemistry of fly ash.

Kinetic investigation on the catalytic pyrolysis of plastic fractions of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE): A mathematical deconvolution approach.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has become a critical environmental problem. Catalytic pyrolysis is an ideal technique to treat and convert the plastic fraction of WEEE into chemicals and fuels. Unfortunately, research using real WEEE remains relatively limited.

Investigating immune profile by CyTOF in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis after treatment with orodispersible budesonide.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic Th2-mediated inflammatory disease of the esophagus driven by dietary or inhalant allergens which if left untreated, leads to fibrosis and poor esophageal function. Although the inflammation in the esophagus is dominated by eosinophils, there are also elevated levels of T and B cells. Blood samples from ten patients with EoE before and after treatment with orodispersible budesonide and 10 healthy controls were compared using cytometry by time-of-flight.

Automated data transfer for digital twin applications: Two case studies.

Digital twins have been gaining an immense interest in various fields over the last decade. Bringing conventional process simulation models into (near) real time are thought to provide valuable insights for operators, decision makers, and stakeholders in many industries. The objective of this paper is to describe two methods for implementing digital twins at water resource recovery facilities and highlight and discuss their differences and preferable use situations, with focus on the automated data transfer from the real process.

Investigating the stability of aromatic carboxylic acids in hydrated magnesium sulfate under UV irradiation to assist detection of organics on Mars.

The Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals (SHERLOC) instrument onboard the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover detected so far some of the most intense fluorescence signals in association with sulfates analyzing abraded patches of rocks at Jezero crater, Mars. To assess the plausibility of an organic origin of these signals, it is key to understand if organics can survive exposure to ambient Martian UV after exposure by the Perseverance abrasion tool and prior to analysis by SHERLOC. In this work, we investigated the stability of organo-sulfate assemblages under Martian-like UV irradiation and we observed that the spectroscopic features of phthalic and mellitic acid embedded into hydrated magnesium sulfate do not change for UV exposures corresponding to at least 48 Martian sols and, thus, should still be detectable in fluorescence when the SHERLOC analysis takes place, thanks to the photoprotective properties of magnesium sulfate.

Integrity of xylan backbone affects plant responses to drought.

Drought is a major factor affecting crops, thus efforts are needed to increase plant resilience to this abiotic stress. The overlapping signaling pathways between drought and cell wall integrity maintenance responses create a possibility of increasing drought resistance by modifying cell walls. Here, using herbaceous and woody plant model species, and hybrid aspen, respectively, we investigated how the integrity of xylan in secondary walls affects the responses of plants to drought stress.

Production and Characterization of Melt-Spun Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--4-hydroxybutyrate) Blend Monofilaments.

We investigated the melt-spinning potential of a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--4-hydroxybutyrate) blend using a piston spinning machine with two different spinneret diameters (0.2 and 0.5 mm).

Stretchable Tissue-Like Gold Nanowire Composites with Long-Term Stability for Neural Interfaces.

Soft and stretchable nanocomposites can match the mechanical properties of neural tissue, thereby minimizing foreign body reactions to provide optimal stimulation and recording specificity. Soft materials for neural interfaces should simultaneously fulfill a wide range of requirements, including low Young's modulus (<<1 MPa), stretchability (≥30%), high conductivity (>> 1000 S cm), biocompatibility, and chronic stability (>> 1 year). Current nanocomposites do not fulfill the above requirements, in particular not the combination of softness and high conductivity.

Electrochemical Diffusion Study in Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Dimethacrylate-Based Hydrogels.

Hydrogels are of great importance for functionalizing sensors and microfluidics, and poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEG-DMA) is often used as a viscosifier for printable hydrogel precursor inks. In this study, 1-10 kDa PEG-DMA based hydrogels were characterized by gravimetric and electrochemical methods to investigate the diffusivity of small molecules and proteins. Swelling ratios () of 14.

Egestabase - An online evidence platform to discover and explore options to recover plant nutrients from human excreta and domestic wastewater for reuse in agriculture.

Restoring nutrient circularity across scales is important for ecosystem integrity as well as nutrient and food security. As such, research and development of technologies to recover plant nutrients from various organic residues has intensified. Yet, this emerging field is diverse and difficult to navigate, especially for newcomers.

A multi-platform approach for the comprehensive analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and fluorine mass balance in commercial ski wax products.

The unique properties of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have led to their extensive use in consumer products, including ski wax. Based on the risks associated with PFAS, and to align with PFAS regulations, the international ski federation (FIS) implemented a ban on products containing "C fluorocarbons/perfluorooctanoate (PFOA)" at all FIS events from the 2021/2022 season, leading manufactures to shift their formulations towards short-chain PFAS chemistries. To date, most studies characterising PFAS in ski waxes have measured a suite of individual substances using targeted analytical approaches.

Electrochemical Characteristics of Lignin in CTMP for Paper Battery Electrodes.

Lignin has been extensively researched as a cathode active material in secondary batteries. In the present work, the energy storage potential of lignin naturally present in papers made of softwood chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP) is explored. More specifically, effects from softwood CTMP fines on the electrochemical characteristics have been studied.

Implementing a Hospital Call Center Service for Mental Health in Uganda: User-Centered Design Approach.

Background: Mental health conditions are a significant public health problem globally, responsible for >8 million deaths per year. In addition, they lead to lost productivity, exacerbate physical illness, and are associated with stigma and human rights violations. Uganda, like many low- and middle-income countries, faces a massive treatment gap for mental health conditions, and numerous sociocultural challenges exacerbate the burden of mental health conditions.

Initial evaluation of measurement properties of the Work Environment Impact Questionnaire (WEIQ) - using Rasch analysis.

Background: To provide both preventive and rehabilitative conditions in a workplace, one must understand how employees experience work demands. Such an understanding can be obtained from each individual with valid and quality-assured questionnaires. The Work Environment Impact Questionnaire (WEIQ) is a new questionnaire for measuring employees' self-perceived work ability in relation to their specific workplace environment.

Impact of Post Manufacturing Handling of Protein-Based Biologic Drugs on Product Quality and User Centricity.

This article evaluates the current gaps around the impact of post-manufacturing processes on the product qualities of protein-based biologics, with a focus on user centricity. It includes the evaluation of the regulatory guidance available, describes a collection of scientific literature and case studies to showcase the impact of post-manufacturing stresses on product and dosing solution quality. It also outlines the complexity of clinical handling and the need for communication, and alignment between drug providers, healthcare professionals, users, and patients.

Review and Assessment of Existing and Future Techniques for Traceability with Particular Focus on Applicability to ABS Plastics.

It is generally recognized that the use of physical and digital information-based solutions for tracking plastic materials along a value chain can favour the transition to a circular economy and help to overcome obstacles. In the near future, traceability and information exchange between all actors in the value chain of the plastics industry will be crucial to establishing more effective recycling systems. Recycling plastics is a complex process that is particularly complicated in the case of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic because of its versatility and use in many applications.

Dietary fatty acids modulate oxidative stress response to air pollution but not to infection.

Anthropogenic changes to the environment expose wildlife to many pollutants. Among these, tropospheric ozone is of global concern and a highly potent pro-oxidant. In addition, human activities include several other implications for wildlife, e.

Measurement properties of the Body Awareness Scale Movement Quality (BAS MQ) in persons on the autism spectrum: A preliminary Rasch analysis.

Background: Persons on the autism spectrum exhibit poorer body awareness than neurotypical persons. Since movement quality may be regarded as an expression of body awareness, assessment of movement quality is important. Sound assessments of measurement properties are essential if reliable decisions about body awareness interventions for persons on the autism spectrum are to be made, but there is insufficient research.

Distributed electrified heating for efficient hydrogen production.

This study introduces a distributed electrified heating approach that is able to innovate chemical engineering involving endothermic reactions. It enables rapid and uniform heating of gaseous reactants, facilitating efficient conversion and high product selectivity at specific equilibrium. Demonstrated in catalyst-free CH pyrolysis, this approach achieves stable production of H (530 g h L ) and carbon nanotube/fibers through 100% conversion of high-throughput CH at 1150 °C, surpassing the results obtained from many complex metal catalysts and high-temperature technologies.

Unveiling Texture and Topography of Fatty Acid Langmuir Films: Domain Stability and Isotherm Analysis.

3D texturing by self-assembly at the air-water interface has recently been proposed. The hypothesis of this work is that, if this is true, such domain formation should be inferable directly from pressure-area isotherms and be thermodynamically stable. Monolayers of branched fatty acid mixtures with straight chain analogues and their stability are thus studied using a combination of pressure-area isotherms, thermodynamic analysis, Brewster angle microscopy, and atomic force microscopy of both LB-deposited and drop-cast films on silicon wafers.

Asymmetric Additions Empowered by OrganoCatalysts, Metal Catalysts, and Deep Natural Eutectic Solvents (NADES).

This article is a history of an industrial-academic partnership that started almost two decades ago and details the evolution of a relationship between a small academic research group and a spin-out company located in Portugal. Their activities have ranged from the development of new metal-based catalytic systems for asymmetric epoxidations, allylic alkylations, and arylations to the development of novel cinchona-based organocatalysts for asymmetric hydrosilylations and Michael additions. Current common interests are centered on the development of novel chiral Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent systems, which they are investigating in different types of reaction systems.

Deciphering the role of FUS::DDIT3 expression and tumor microenvironment in myxoid liposarcoma development.

Background: Myxoid liposarcoma (MLS) displays a distinctive tumor microenvironment and is characterized by the FUS::DDIT3 fusion oncogene, however, the precise functional contributions of these two elements remain enigmatic in tumor development.

Methods: To study the cell-free microenvironment in MLS, we developed an experimental model system based on decellularized patient-derived xenograft tumors. We characterized the cell-free scaffold using mass spectrometry.

Undecanoic Acid and L-Phenylalanine in Vermiculite: Detection, Characterization, and UV Degradation Studies for Biosignature Identification on Mars.

Solar radiation that arrives on the surface of Mars interacts with organic molecules present in the soil. The radiation can degrade or transform the organic matter and make the search for biosignatures on the planet's surface difficult. Therefore, samples to be analyzed by instruments on board Mars probes for molecular content should be selectively chosen to have the highest organic preservation content.