Ultrasound-homogenization-assisted extraction of polyphenols from coconut mesocarp: Optimization study

Coconut pericarp (shell fiber (mesocarp) and shell (endocarp)), the main by-product of coconut production, is often discarded and causing serious environmental pollution. To make better use of coconut pericarp, the extraction process of polyphenols from coconut mesocarp (CM) carefully studied by screening seven solvent systems, optimizing the assisted ultrasonic process by response surface methodology, and comparing the four processes of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE), Homogenization-Assisted Extraction (HAE), Homogenization-Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (HUAE), and Ultrasound-Homogenization-Assisted Extraction (UHAE). The UAE and HAE are considered to be the main methods for efficient extraction of natural active ingredients. The former effectively destroys the cell wall structure and promotes the intermolecular diffusion based on the cavitation, thermal and mechanical effect of ultrasonic, while the latter breaks the material based on strong shear force between the rotor and stator. Their combinations (HUAE and UHAE) enhance the damage to the cell wall of raw materials and improve the extraction efficiency by the synergistic effect. The results showed that using 60% acetone (V : V) as extraction solvent, solid-liquid ratio of 1:5 g mL⁻¹, ultrasonic temperature of 80 ℃, ultrasonic time of 80 min, ultrasonic power of 225 W, and then homogenizing at 10,000 rpm for 10 min, the total flavonoid content of CM reached the maximum value of 551.99 ± 12.69 mg Rutin g⁻¹ dry weight (dw), while the total phenolic content reached the maximum value of 289.48 ± 4.41 mg GAE g⁻¹ dw at 10,000 rpm for 5 min, which may be related to the oxidative degradation of polyphenols caused by the increase of polyphenol oxidase with the extension of homogenization time. This study provides a technical guarantee for the further utilization of phenolic substances in CM.     

Extrudate snacks from rice flour and oyster mushroom powder: Physico-chemical and functional properties characterization and storability evaluation

Ready-to-eat extrudate was prepared from the blend of rice flour and oyster mushroom powder. Process parameters for development of snack were screw speed of 250–350 ​rev/min, feed moisture content of 15–25% (d.b.) and the percentage of oyster mushroom powder in rice flour was maintained in the range of 5–15%. Response surface methodology with the central composite rotatable design was used for the study. The effects of process parameters on the physico-chemical and functional properties were analyzed. It was observed that the screw speed of 330 ​rev/min, feed moisture content of 20% and the percentage of mushroom powder in rice flour of 6.6% gave the most acceptable quality product. The storability of the developed product was checked in three packaging materials, viz. polypropylene (PP), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and metalized propylene (MPP) pouches for three months and it was recommended to store the rice flour-mushroom extruded snack in MPP pouches for better retention of quality. The contemporary work on extrudate snacks from the blend of rice flour and oyster mushroom powder is a good piece of work quite useful for industry dealing with ready-to-eat extrudate products.     

42T水冷磁体容器模态及抗震分析

42 T水冷磁体是我国稳态强磁场实验室在建的设计指标最强的高场水冷磁体装置.本文聚焦于42 T水冷磁体容器在本地7级地震这一极端工况下结构强度可靠性研究.首先基于有限元分析软件对水冷磁体容器进行高压工况下的应力分析，再通过自重分析研究其20阶非零模态的固有频率；根据前20阶固有频率，获得地震水平反应谱值，再结合Response Spectrum模块模拟地震作用下42 T容器的响应谱分析.结果显示，在3 MPa水压工况下容器最大应力为115 MPa,在地震谱激励下产生的最大等效应力为1.69 MPa,最大位移为0.016 mm, 304不锈钢材料许用应力为137 MPa,故42 T水冷磁体容器设计符合7级地震工况要求.     

Retarding the Shuttling Ions in the Electrochromic TiO2 with Extensive Crystallographic Imperfections

To understand the role of structure imperfections on the performance of electrochromic transition metal oxide (ETMO) is challenging for the design of efficient smart windows. Herein, we investigate the performance evolution with tunable crystallographic imperfections for rutile TiO₂ nanowire film (TNF). Structure imperfections, originating mainly from the copious oxygen deficiency, are apt to cumulatively retard the shuttling ions, resulting in the response rate for raw TNF being less than the half that of TNF annealed at 500 °C. We describe ion accommodation sites as a convolution of normal site and abnormal site, in which the normal site performs reversible coloration but the abnormal site contributes only to charge storage, which gives a rationale for the non-linear coloration and rate capability loss. These findings give a clear picture of the ion shuttling process, which is insightful for enhancing the electrochromic performance via structure reprogramming.     

An Isotope-Labeled Single-Cell Raman Spectroscopy Approach for Tracking the Physiological Evolution Trajectory of Bacteria toward Antibiotic Resistance

Understanding evolution of antibiotic resistance is vital for containing its global spread. Yet our ability to in situ track highly heterogeneous and dynamic evolution is very limited. Here, we present a new single-cell approach integrating D₂O-labeled Raman spectroscopy, advanced multivariate analysis, and genotypic profiling to in situ track physiological evolution trajectory toward resistance. Physiological diversification of individual cells from isogenic population with cyclic ampicillin treatment is captured. Advanced multivariate analysis of spectral changes classifies all individual cells into four subsets of sensitive, intrinsic tolerant, evolved tolerant and resistant. Remarkably, their dynamic shifts with evolution are depicted and spectral markers of each state are identified. Genotypic analysis validates the phenotypic shift and provides insights into the underlying genetic basis. The new platform advances rapid phenotyping resistance evolution and guides evolution control.     

Optimization of methylene blue removal from aqueous solutions using activated carbon derived from coffee ground pyrolysis: A response surface methodology (RSM) approach for natural and cost-effective adsorption

This study aimed to examine the impact of operational factors on the adsorption capacity of methylene blue (MB) using a natural and cost-effective adsorbent, activated carbon from coffee grounds (CAP). The three-factor Box-Behnken design of the response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize this economically viable process with maximum efficiency. Through extensive experiments, the factors influencing the adsorption process were identified, their interactions were measured, and a mathematical model was developed. The experiment evaluated the quantity of MB adsorbed by CAP based on pH (2.5–10), initial MB concentration (10–100 mg/L), and CAP adsorbent amount (0.05–0.1 g/L). The results revealed that both concentration and mass significantly influenced the decoloration enhancement. Optimal conditions for achieving a 91 % degradation efficiency were determined as 0.05 g/L adsorbent weight, 100 mg/L dye concentration, and pH 2.5, with a desirability score of approximately 0.986, aligning closely with the predictions of the BBD model. In conclusion, this research addresses a research gap by demonstrating the high effectiveness of the CAP adsorbent in removing dyes from textiles.     

Discovery of a novel visible-light-active photodetector based on bismuth ferrite: constructing and optimizing the Cr-doped-BiFeO3/NiO thin film heterostructure

Bismuth ferrite (BFO) with narrow bandgap (<2.70 eV) is an uprising star in the application of optoelectronic conversion in visible (Vis) region. Fe-site doping by transition metals is a recognized strategy to reduce leakage current in order to create more qualified BFO-based optoelectronic devices. We aim to constitute the heterostructure of BiFe_1-xCr_xO₃ (BFCO) coupling to hole-transporter NiO, serving as Vis-active photodetector with superior photoresponse speed. The influence of Cr doping ratio on BFCO is systematically investigated, indicating that doping Cr can effectively restrain not only the reduction of Fe³⁺ state but also the generation of oxygen vacancies. Moreover, by taking advantage of desirable energy-band alignment, BFCO/NiO heterojunction can reach the optimized response time constants of photocurrent rising and decay, i.e., τ_r and τ_d are, respectively, lowered down to 0.23 and 0.38 ms, which are almost two order-of-magnitude lower than that of pure-BFO/NiO and also more than one order-of-magnitude lower than that of single-layer BFCO film. It confirms an overwhelming photoresponse performance over other Vis-active counterparts. Herein, we for the first time achieve the Vis photodetector based on BFCO, by virtue of functional interfacial structure of BFCO-NiO to energetically separate photogenerated electron–hole pairs as well as improve charge carrier transportation.     

Sonoprocessing improves phenolics profile,antioxidant capacity,structure, and product qualities of purple corn pericarp extract

For the first time, purple corn pericarp (PCP) was converted to polyphenol-rich extract using two-pot ultrasound extraction technique. According to Plackett-Burman design (PBD), the significant extraction factors were ethanol concentration, extraction time, temperature, and ultrasonic amplitude that affected total anthocyanins (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC), and condensed tannins (CT). These parameters were further optimized using the Box-Behnken design (BBD) method for response surface methodology (RSM). The RSM showed a linear curvature for TAC and a quadratic curvature for TPC and CT with a lack of fit > 0.05. Under the optimum conditions (ethanol (50%, v/v), time (21 min), temperature (28 °C), and ultrasonic amplitude (50%)), a maximum TAC, TPC, and CT of 34.99 g cyanidin/kg, 121.26 g GAE/kg, and 260.59 of EE/kg, respectively were obtained with a desirability value 0.952. Comparing UAE to microwave extraction (MAE), it was found that although UAE had a lower extraction yield, TAC, TPC, and CT, the UAE gave a higher individual anthocyanin, flavonoid, phenolic acid profile, and antioxidant activity. The UAE took 21 min, whereas MAE took 30 min for maximum extraction. Regarding product qualities, UAE extract was superior, with a lower total color change (ΔE) and a higher chromaticity. Structural characterization using SEM showed that MAE extract had severe creases and ruptures, whereas UAE extract had less noticeable alterations and was attested by an optical profilometer. This shows that ultrasound, might be used to extract phenolics from PCP as it requires lesser time and improves phenolics, structure, and product qualities.     

Pathway and mechanism study on improvement of N2 selectivity of catalytic denitrification

Recently, nitrate pollution has attracted more public attention. In order to truly remove nitrate and reduce total nitrate content (TN) in water body, more harmless N₂ should be converted from nitrate. Studies on catalytic removal of nitrate in wastewater have been carried out. However, the catalytic performance still needs to be significantly improved, especially the N₂ selectivity. According to these, strategies that enable to efficiently improve N₂ selectivity of catalytic denitrification were explored in this paper. Results implied that the catalyst with composite carrier that possesses porous structure, large surface area, excellent electronic properties, and stable physical–chemical property tends to have better catalytic performance. It is suggested that acid washing by 2 mol/L HCl for certain carriers be applied to enhancement of N₂ selectivity. Additionally, higher N₂ conversion was also achieved by addition of sodium bis-2-ethylhexyl sulphosuccinate (AOT) onto Pd with the formation of Pd_AOT-Cu catalyst, which may be ascribed to the AOT that partially shields Pd active sites and inhibits hydrogen spillover from Pd to Cu. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was utilized for experimental design and prediction of the optimal parameters. More N₂ was obtained under the predicted optimal conditions: 5.0 pH, 135 min time, 3.1 Pd: Cu, and 3.1 g/L Fe⁽⁰⁾.