Transparent and visible light-activated antimicrobial air filters from electrospun crystal violet-embedded polyacrylonitrile nanofibers.

Bioaerosols pose significant risks to indoor environments and public health, driving interest in advanced antimicrobial air filtration technologies. Conventional antimicrobial filters often suffer from diminished efficacy over time and require additional binders to retain antimicrobial agents. This study introduces CV@PAN, a self-disinfecting nanofiber fabricated via electrospinning of crystal violet (CV) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN).

Roseateles microcysteis sp. nov., Isolated from Co-cultivation of Microcystis aeruginosa and Myriophyllum spicatum.

A novel rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative bacterial strain MS17 was obtained from a co-culture of Microcystis aeruginosa and Myriophyllum spicatum. The examination of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence showed a significant degree of similarity between strain MS17 and Paucibacter sediminis S2-9 (98.4%), Roseateles violae PFR6 (98.

Towards maximizing biomass and lipid productivity: high-throughput screening assay for prospecting heterotrophic growth for new microalgal isolates.

Background: Microalgae have emerged as sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels and high-value petrochemicals. Despite the commercial potential of microalgae, their low biomass productivity is a significant limiting factor for large-scale production. In the photoautotrophic cultivation of microalgae, achievable cell density levels depend on the light transmittance of the production system, which can significantly decrease the photosynthetic rate and biomass production.

Effect of rainfall in shaping microbial community during Microcystis bloom in Nakdong River, Korea.

Various environmental factors play a role in the formation and collapse of Microcystis blooms. This study investigates the impact of heavy rainfall on cyanobacterial abundance, microbial community composition, and functional dynamics in the Nakdong River, South Korea, during typical and exceptionally rainy years. The results reveal distinct responses to rainfall variations, particularly in cyanobacterial dominance and physicochemical characteristics.

Antibiofilm and antithrombotic hydrogel coating based on superhydrophilic zwitterionic carboxymethyl chitosan for blood-contacting devices.

Blood-contacting devices must be designed to minimize the risk of bloodstream-associated infections, thrombosis, and intimal lesions caused by surface friction. However, achieving effective prevention of both bloodstream-associated infections and thrombosis poses a challenge due to the conflicting nature of antibacterial and antithrombotic activities, specifically regarding electrostatic interactions. This study introduced a novel biocompatible hydrogel of sodium alginate and zwitterionic carboxymethyl chitosan (ZW@CMC) with antibacterial and antithrombotic activities for use in catheters.

Antimicrobial and Antifouling Effects of Petal-Like Nanostructure by Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly for Personal Protective Equipment.

Although the personal protective equipment (PPE) used by healthcare workers (HCWs) effectively blocks hazardous substances and pathogens, it does not fully rule out the possibility of infection, as pathogens surviving on the fabric surface pose a substantial risk of cross-infection through unintended means. Therefore, PPE materials that exhibit effective biocidal activity while minimizing contamination by viscous body fluids (e.g.

sp. nov., isolated from a eutrophic reservoir during the bloom period.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterial strain, HBC54, was isolated from periphyton during a bloom. Based on the results of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain HBC54 was closely related to 4Y4 (98.36 %), DSM 12444 (98.

Basic amino acid-mediated cationic amphiphilic surfaces for antimicrobial pH monitoring sensor with wound healing effects.

Background: The wound healing process is a complex cascade of physiological events, which are vulnerable to both our body status and external factors and whose impairment could lead to chronic wounds or wound healing impediments. Conventional wound healing materials are widely used in clinical management, however, they do not usually prevent wounds from being infected by bacteria or viruses. Therefore, simultaneous wound status monitoring and prevention of microbial infection are required to promote healing in clinical wound management.

Battery-Free, Wireless, Ionic Liquid Sensor Arrays to Monitor Pressure and Temperature of Patients in Bed and Wheelchair.

Repositioning is a common guideline for the prevention of pressure injuries of bedridden or wheelchair patients. However, frequent repositioning could deteriorate the quality of patient's life and induce secondary injuries. This paper introduces a method for continuous multi-site monitoring of pressure and temperature distribution from strategically deployed sensor arrays at skin interfaces via battery-free, wireless ionic liquid pressure sensors.

Transparent, Robust, and Photochemical Antibacterial Surface Based on Hydrogen Bonding between a Si-Al and Cationic Dye.

Healthcare-associated infections can occur and spread through direct contact with contaminated fomites in a hospital, such as mobile phones, tablets, computer keyboards, doorknobs, and other surfaces. Herein, this study shows a transparent, robust, and visible light-activated antibacterial surface based on hydrogen bonds between a transparent silica-alumina (Si-Al) sol-gel and a visible light-activated photosensitizer, such as crystal violet (CV). The study of the bonding mechanisms revealed that hydrogen bonding predominantly occurs between the N of CV and Al-OH.

Photobiocidal-triboelectric nanolayer coating of photosensitizer/silica-alumina for reusable and visible-light-driven antibacterial/antiviral air filters.

Outbreaks of airborne pathogens pose a major threat to public health. Here we present a single-step nanocoating process to endow commercial face mask filters with photobiocidal activity, triboelectric filtration capability, and washability. These functions were successfully achieved with a composite nanolayer of silica-alumina (Si-Al) sol-gel, crystal violet (CV) photosensitizer, and hydrophobic electronegative molecules of 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (PFOTES).

Amino acid-mediated negatively charged surface improve antifouling and tribological characteristics for medical applications.

To prevent infections associated with biomedical catheters, various antimicrobial coatings have been investigated. However, those materials do not provide consistent antibacterial effects or biocompatibility, generally, due to degradation of the coating materials, in vivo. Additionally, biomedical catheters must have low surface friction to reduce tribological damage.

Mini-laser based submicron aerosol generator for the simple and stable simulation of combustion particulate matter.

Air pollution causes millions of deaths every year. The aerosols, especially airborne nanoparticles generated by combustion, have detrimental effect on health. To protect public health against harmful aerosols, efforts to develop effective air cleaning technology have continued over the past several decades.

Battery-free, wireless soft sensors for continuous multi-site measurements of pressure and temperature from patients at risk for pressure injuries.

Capabilities for continuous monitoring of pressures and temperatures at critical skin interfaces can help to guide care strategies that minimize the potential for pressure injuries in hospitalized patients or in individuals confined to the bed. This paper introduces a soft, skin-mountable class of sensor system for this purpose. The design includes a pressure-responsive element based on membrane deflection and a battery-free, wireless mode of operation capable of multi-site measurements at strategic locations across the body.

Development of a Subpath Extrusion Tip and Die for Peripheral Inserted Central Catheter Shaft with Multi Lumen.

The tip and die for manufacturing multi-lumen catheter tubes should be designed considering the flow velocity of the molten polymer and the deformation of the final extruded tube. In this study, to manufacture non-circular double-lumen tubes for peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), three types of tip and die structures are proposed. The velocity field and swelling effect when the circular tip and die (CTD) are applied, which is the commonly used tip and die structure, are analyzed through numerical calculation.

Development of a novel nannochloropsis strain with enhanced violaxanthin yield for large-scale production.

Background: Nannochloropsis is a marine microalga that has been extensively studied. The major carotenoid produced by this group of microalgae is violaxanthin, which exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-photoaging, and antiproliferative activities. Therefore, it has a wide range of potential applications.

Influences of Absorbed Dose Rate on the Mechanical Properties and Fiber-Matrix Interaction of High-Density Polyethylene-Based Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Irradiated by Electron-Beam.

In this study, a high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-based carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) was irradiated by an electron-beam. To assess the absorbed dose rate influence on its mechanical properties, the beam energy and absorbed dose were fixed, while the absorbed dose rates were varied. The tensile strength (TS) and Young's modulus (YM) were evaluated.

Water-Repellent TiO-Organic Dye-Based Air Filters for Efficient Visible-Light-Activated Photochemical Inactivation against Bioaerosols.

Recently, bioaerosols, including the 2019 novel coronavirus, pose a serious threat to global public health. Herein, we introduce a visible-light-activated (VLA) antimicrobial air filter functionalized with titanium dioxide (TiO)-crystal violet (CV) nanocomposites facilitating abandoned visible light from sunlight or indoor lights. The TiO-CV based VLA antimicrobial air filters exhibit a potent inactivation rate of ∼99.

High-Throughput In Vitro Screening of Changed Algal Community Structure Using the PhotoBiobox.

In a previous study, the sequential optimization and regulation of environmental parameters using the PhotoBiobox were demonstrated with high-throughput screening tests. In this study, we estimated changes in the biovolume-based composition of a polyculture built in vitro and composed of three algal strains: sp., sp.

Functional expression of polyethylene terephthalate-degrading enzyme (PETase) in green microalgae.

Background: For decades, plastic has been a valuable global product due to its convenience and low price. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was one of the most popular materials for disposable bottles due to its beneficial properties, namely impact resistance, high clarity, and light weight. Increasing demand of plastic resulted in indiscriminate disposal by consumers, causing severe accumulation of plastic wastes.

Nitrogen modulation under chemostat cultivation mode induces biomass and lipid production by Chlorella vulgaris and reduces antenna pigment accumulation.

Algal growth limitation in large-scale cultivation mostly results from high level synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, owing to self-shading effects and attenuation of light distribution. To overcome this problem, here we investigated the influence of nitrogen modulation on changes in antenna pigments as well as biomass and lipid production by Chlorella vulgaris under a chemostat continuous cultivation mode. The production of algal antenna pigments, including chlorophylls and carotenoids, was promoted in a total nitrogen (TN) concentration-dependent manner.

Roll-to-roll processed, highly conductive, and flexible aluminum (Al) electrodes based on Al precursor inks.

In this study, a roll-to-roll (R2R) process for the large-scale fabrication of aluminum thin films on flexible polyimide (PI) films is proposed. The R2R machine for Al-film coating assembled in the current work uses a previously reported Al etherate-based precursor ink as the source. After the PI substrate is exposed to a diluted catalyst, the Al precursor ink is coated directly on to the substrate by a slit-die coating method.