Adding Value in Production of Multifunctional Polylactide (PLA)–ZnO Nanocomposite Films through Alternative Manufacturing Methods

Due to the added value conferred by zinc oxide (ZnO) nanofiller, e.g., UV protection, antibacterial action, gas-barrier properties, poly(lactic acid) (PLA)–ZnO nanocomposites show increased interest for utilization as films, textile fibers, and injection molding items. The study highlights the beneficial effects of premixing ZnO in PLA under given conditions and its use as masterbatch (MB), a very promising alternative manufacturing technique. This approach allows reducing the residence time at high processing temperature of the thermo-sensitive PLA matrix in contact of ZnO nanoparticles known for their aptitude to promote degradation effects onto the polyester chains. Various PLA–ZnO MBs containing high contents of silane-treated ZnO nanoparticles (up to 40 wt.% nanofiller specifically treated with triethoxycaprylylsilane) were produced by melt-compounding using twin-screw extruders. Subsequently, the selected MBs were melt blended with pristine PLA to produce nanocomposite films containing 1–3 wt.% ZnO. By comparison to the more traditional multi-step process, the MB approach allowed the production of nanocomposites (films) having improved processing and enhanced properties: PLA chains displaying higher molecular weights, improved thermal stability, fine nanofiller distribution, and thermo-mechanical characteristic features, while the UV protection was confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy measurements. The MB alternative is viewed as a promising flexible technique able to open new perspectives to produce more competitive multifunctional PLA–ZnO nanocomposites.     

Characterization of Food Packaging Films with Blackcurrant Fruit Waste as a Source of Antioxidant and Color Sensing Intelligent Material

Chitosan and pectin films were enriched with blackcurrant pomace powder (10 and 20% (w/w)), as bio-based material, to minimize food production losses and to increase the functional properties of produced films aimed at food coatings and wrappers. Water vapor permeability of active films increased up to 25%, moisture content for 27% in pectin-based ones, but water solubility was not significantly modified. Mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break and Young’s modulus) were mainly decreased due to the residual insoluble particles present in blackcurrant waste. FTIR analysis showed no significant changes between the film samples. The degradation temperatures, determined by DSC, were reduced by 18 °C for chitosan-based samples and of 32 °C lower for the pectin-based samples with blackcurrant powder, indicating a disturbance in polymer stability. The antioxidant activity of active films was increased up to 30-fold. Lightness and redness of dry films significantly changed depending on the polymer type. Significant color changes, especially in chitosan film formulations, were observed after exposure to different pH buffers. This effect is further explored in formulations that were used as color change indicators for intelligent biopackaging.     

Recent breakthroughs of antibacterial and antiviral protective polymeric materials during COVID-19 pandemic and after pandemic: Coating,packaging, and textile applications

The global epidemic owing to COVID-19 has generated awareness to ensuring best practices for avoiding the microorganism spread. Indeed, because of the increase in infections caused by bacteria and viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, the global demand for antimicrobial materials is growing. New technologies by using polymeric systems are of great interest. Virus transmission by contaminated surfaces leads to the spread of infectious diseases, so antimicrobial coatings are significant in this regard. Moreover, antimicrobial food packaging is beneficial to prevent the spread of microorganisms during food processing and transportation. Furthermore, antimicrobial textiles show an effective role. We aim to provide a review of prepared antimicrobial polymeric materials for use in coating, food packaging, and textile during the COVID-19 pandemic and after pandemic.     

Potential Achilles heels of SARS-CoV-2 are best displayed by the base order-dependent component of RNA folding energy

The base order-dependent component of folding energy has revealed a highly conserved region in HIV-1 genomes that associates with RNA structure. This corresponds to a packaging signal that is recognized by the nucleocapsid domain of the Gag polyprotein. Long viewed as a potential HIV-1 "Achilles heel," the signal can be targeted by a new antiviral compound. Although SARS-CoV-2 differs in many respects from HIV-1, the same technology displays regions with a high base order-dependent folding energy component, which are also highly conserved. This indicates structural invariance (SI) sustained by natural selection. While the regions are often also protein-encoding (e. g. NSP3, ORF3a), we suggest that their nucleic acid level functions can be considered potential "Achilles heels" for SARS-CoV-2, perhaps susceptible to therapies like those envisaged for AIDS. The ribosomal frameshifting element scored well, but higher SI scores were obtained in other regions, including those encoding NSP13 and the nucleocapsid (N) protein.     

Antimicrobial Food Packaging with Biodegradable Polymers and Bacteriocins

Innovations in food and drink packaging result mainly from the needs and requirements of consumers, which are influenced by changing global trends. Antimicrobial and active packaging are at the forefront of current research and development for food packaging. One of the few natural polymers on the market with antimicrobial properties is biodegradable and biocompatible chitosan. It is formed as a result of chitin deacetylation. Due to these properties, the production of chitosan alone or a composite film based on chitosan is of great interest to scientists and industrialists from various fields. Chitosan films have the potential to be used as a packaging material to maintain the quality and microbiological safety of food. In addition, chitosan is widely used in antimicrobial films against a wide range of pathogenic and food spoilage microbes. Polylactic acid (PLA) is considered one of the most promising and environmentally friendly polymers due to its physical and chemical properties, including renewable, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and is considered safe (GRAS). There is great interest among scientists in the study of PLA as an alternative food packaging film with improved properties to increase its usability for food packaging applications. The aim of this review article is to draw attention to the existing possibilities of using various components in combination with chitosan, PLA, or bacteriocins to improve the properties of packaging in new food packaging technologies. Consequently, they can be a promising solution to improve the quality, delay the spoilage of packaged food, as well as increase the safety and shelf life of food.     

Sensitive determination of sulfonamides in environmental water by capillary electrophoresis coupled with both silvering detection window and in‐capillary optical fiber light‐emitting diode‐induced fluorescence detector

A new detector, silvering detection window and in‐capillary optical fiber light‐emitting diode‐induced fluorescence detector (SDW‐ICOF‐LED‐IFD), is introduced for capillary electrophoresis (CE). The strategy of the work was that half surface of the detection window was coated with silver mirror, which could reflect the undetected fluorescence to the photomultiplier tube to be detected, consequently enhancing the detection sensitivity. Sulfonamides (SAs) are important antibiotics that achieved great applications in many fields. However, they pose a serious threat on the environment and human health when they enter into the environment. The SDW‐ICOF‐LED‐IFD‐CE system was used to determine fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐labeled sulfadoxine (SDM), sulfaguanidine (SGD) and sulfamonomethoxine sodium (SMM‐Na) in environmental water. The detection results obtained by the SDW‐ICOF‐LED‐IFD‐CE system were compared to those acquired by the CE with in‐capillary optical fiber light‐emitting diode‐induced fluorescence detection (ICOF‐LED‐IFD‐CE). The limits of detection (LODs) of SDW‐ICOF‐LED‐IFD‐CE and ICOF‐LED‐IFD‐CE were 1.0–2.0 nM and 2.5–7.7 nM (S/N = 3), respectively. The intraday (n = 6) and interday (n = 6) precision of migration time and corresponding peak area for both types of CE were all less than 0.86% and 3.68%, respectively. The accuracy of the proposed method was judged by employing standard addition method, and recoveries obtained were in the range of 92.5–102.9%. The results indicated that the sensitivity of the SDW‐ICOF‐LED‐IFD‐CE system was improved, and that its reproducibility and accuracy were satisfactory. It was successfully applied to analyze SAs in environmental water.     

一种抗高阶旁路攻击的LED密码算法

LED密码算法是2011年提出的超轻量级密码算法,主要是为资源受限下物联网加密应用研发的.轻量级密码算法结构相对简单,更容易被旁路攻击成功.随机掩码是一种有效抗旁路攻击的方法,在深入LED密码算法结构研究的基础上,提出一种全随机掩码的LED密码算法CMLED.论述了CMLED算法的设计方法,从形式化方面给出了抗高阶旁路攻击选择掩码的原则.同时,对全随机掩码的CMLED与原始算法进行了硬件资源占用与加密效率对比,实验表明CMLED仍然可以高效地在智能卡上实现.     

Spectral and defect analysis of Cu-doped combustion synthesized new SrAl4O7 phosphor

A simple solution combustion synthesis route for preparation of Cu-doped SrAl₄O₇ has been described. Average particle size of 33 nm and platelet-like morphology has been observed. ESR studies confirm the presence of Cu in polycrystalline SrAl₄O₇. Bright-green luminescence under near-UV irradiation arising due to transition between Cu⁺ levels with microsecond level decay time makes it suitable for application in phosphor converted light emitting diode (LED). TL measurements show broad glow peaks which when deconvoluted indicate activation energies in the range of 0.6-1.1 eV and elucidate the trapping dynamics.     

A potential red-emitting phosphor CaSrAl2SiO7:Eu for near-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes

A novel red-emitting phosphor CaSrAl₂SiO₇:Eu³⁺ was firstly synthesized through the high temperature solid state reaction at 1300 °C. The structure, diffuse reflection spectra, photoluminescence spectra, color-coordinate parameters and quantum efficiencies (QE) of phosphors were investigated. The obtained CaSrAl₂SiO₇:Eu³⁺ phosphors have the same structure with that of the Ca₂Al₂SiO₇ and Sr₂Al₂SiO₇ phosphor, which have the melilite structure. Optical properties were studied as a function of Eu³⁺ concentration x, when x>0.14, the intensity of absorption of the f–f transitions of Eu³⁺ at 393 nm is stronger than that of the broad charge transfer transition band (CTB) around 254 nm, and which matches well with the output lights of NUV–LEDs, whereas, the concentration of Eu³⁺x≤0.14, the absorption of 393 nm is weaker than that of CTB. The underlying reason of Eu³⁺ concentration on their luminescent properties was investigated and discussed in detail. As a result, comparing with the commercial red phosphor Y₂O₂S:Eu³⁺, the CaSrAl₂SiO₇:xEu³⁺ (x>0.14) phosphor exhibited excellent color purity and much higher brightness and could be considered as promising red phosphors for NUV–LEDs.     

光电耦合器封装及相关失效机理

与一般的半导体器件相比,光电耦合器的工作原理、结构和封装设计独具特色。光耦的失效机理除与单独的LED、三极管相同外,还有它独有的失效机理。在简单介绍光耦的工作原理与封装结构的基础上,重点分析了几种与光耦封装有关的失效机理:导光胶或反射胶工艺控制不佳导致胶开裂、起皮;光耦内部材料间热膨胀系数不匹配,内部电连接开路;内部沾污产生腐蚀;塑料和内部有机胶吸潮发生"爆米花效应";外部电路异常导致光耦失效。并针对各种失效机理提出了改进措施。