From Spent Black and Green Tea to Potential Health Boosters: Optimization of Polyphenol Extraction and Assessment of Their Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities.

Tea, one of the most popular beverages worldwide, generates a substantial amount of spent leaves, often directly discarded although they may still contain valuable compounds. This study aims to optimize the extraction of polyphenols from spent black tea (SBT) and spent green tea (SGT) leaves while also exploring their antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Response surface methodology was utilized to determine the optimal experimental conditions for extracting polyphenols from SBT and SGT.

Preparation of chitosan/lignin nanoparticles-based nanocomposite films with high-performance and improved physicochemical properties for food packaging applications.

Chitosan (CH)-based composite films have attracted increasing attention as promising green food packaging materials due to their biodegradability and ease of fabrication. Additionally, lignin (LN) has been widely used as additive for chitosan-based films to improve their physicochemical properties. In this study, a series of composite films made of chitosan nanoparticles (NCH) as a matrix and alkali lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) as functional filler were prepared.

Optimized Extraction of Polyphenols from Kiwifruit Peels and Their Biological Activities.

(1) Background: Kiwifruit is a globally valued fruit. Its industrial processing produces a substantial amount of waste, particularly peels, which present an appealing potential source of bioactive compounds. This study focuses on optimizing the extraction of phenolics from kiwi peels using a water bath (WB) and infrared irradiation (IR) and assessing their biological activities.

Optimization of Bioactive Compound Extraction from Iranian Brown Macroalgae with Ultrasound and Microwave Methods Using Fuzzy Logic.

In this study, three extraction methods of bioactive compounds from the brown algae were ranked using the fuzzy weighting system in two stages, ranking between different conditions and choosing the optimal conditions for each extraction method separately. The inputs included extraction yield (EY), antioxidant activity (DPPH), total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC), total phlorotannin content (TPhC), time, temperature, power, and cost. The top ranks of the first phase output included: Maceration Extraction (ME) with a score of 52.

Silk Foams with Metallic Nanoparticles as Scaffolds for Soft Tissue Regeneration.

Tissue regeneration can be achieved by providing endogenous cells with a biomaterial scaffold that supports their adhesion and proliferation, as well as the synthesis and deposition of an extracellular matrix (ECM). In this work, silk fibroin protein foams were formed by lyophilization to generate tissue engineering scaffolds. Three types of medically relevant nanoparticles (NPs) (iron oxide, gold and silver) were added to this biomaterial to assess the ability of silk foams to be functionalized with these NPs.

Thermogravimetric analysis and kinetic modeling of the pyrolysis of different biomass types by means of model-fitting, model-free and network modeling approaches.

This work aims at comparing the ability of 7 modeling approaches to simulate the pyrolysis kinetics of spruce wood, wheat straw, swine manure, miscanthus and switchgrass. Measurements were taken using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) with 4 heating rates comprised between 5 and 30 K min. The obtained results were processed using 3 isoconversional methods (Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW) and Friedman), 1-step and 3-step Kissinger models, as well as an advanced fitting method recently proposed by Bondarchuk et al.

Isolation and Structural Characterization of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent Lignin from Brewer's Spent Grains.

Brewer's spent grains (BSG) offer valuable opportunities for valorization beyond its conventional use as animal feed. Among its components, lignin-a natural polymer with inherent antioxidant properties-holds significant industrial potential. This work investigates the use of microwave-assisted extraction combined with acidic natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs) for efficient lignin recovery, evaluating three different NaDES formulations.

Lipidomic analyses reveal distinctive variations in homeoviscous adaptation among clinical strains of , providing insights from an environmental adaptation perspective.

is known for its antibiotic resistance and is increasingly found outside of healthcare settings. To survive colder temperatures, bacteria, including , adapt by modifying glycerophospholipids (GPL) to maintain membrane flexibility. This study examines the lipid composition of six clinical strains, including the virulent AB5075, at two temperatures.

Comparison of hydroxyapatite and honeycomb micro-structure in bone tissue engineering using electrospun beads-on-string fibers.

Thick honeycomb-like electrospun scaffold with nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite (nHA) recently demonstrated its potential to promote proliferation and differentiation of a murine embryonic cell line (C3H10T1/2) to osteoblasts. In order to distinguish the respective effects of the structure and the composition on cell differentiation, beads-on-string fibers were used to manufacture thick honeycomb-like scaffolds without nHA. Mechanical and biological impacts of those beads-on string fibers were evaluated.

A Flexible Double-Sided Curvature Sensor Array for Use in Soft Robotics.

This paper describes the design, fabrication, integration, characterization, and demonstration of a novel flexible double-sided curvature sensor array for use in soft robotics. The paper explores the performance and potential applications of a piezoresistive sensor array consisting of four gold strain gauges on a flexible polyimide (PI) substrate arranged in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. Multiple sensor strips were arranged like the fingers of a hand.

Integrated Biorefinery for a Next-Generation Methanization Process Focusing on Volatile Fatty Acid Valorization: A Critical Review.

This review addresses the critical issue of a rapidly increasing worldwide waste stream and the need for sustainable management. The paper proposes an integrated transformation toward a next-generation methanization process, which leads not only to treating waste but also to converting it into higher value compounds and greener energy. Although the current and commonly used anaerobic digestion process is useful for biogas production, it presents limitations of resource exploitation and some negative environmental impacts.

Biomimetic and Nonbiomimetic Approaches in Dura Substitutes: The Influence of Mechanical Properties.

The dura mater, the furthest and strongest layer of the meninges, is crucial for protecting the brain and spinal cord. Its biomechanical behavior is vital, as any alterations can compromise biological functions. In recent decades, interest in the dura mater has increased due to the need for hermetic closure of dural defects prompting the development of several substitutes.

Sugar-Based Surfactants: Effects of Structural Features on the Physicochemical Properties of Sugar Esters and Their Comparison to Commercial Octyl Glycosides.

Two series of sugar esters with alkyl chain lengths varying from 5 to 12 carbon atoms, and with a head group consisting of glucose or galactose moieties, were synthesized. Equilibrium surface tension isotherms were measured, yielding critical micellar concentration (CMC) surface tensions at CMC (γcmc) and minimum areas at the air-water interface (Amin). In addition, Krafft temperatures (Tks) were measured to characterize the ability of molecules to dissolve in water, which is essential in numerous applications.

A Novel Method to Enhance the Mechanical Properties of Polyacrylonitrile Nanofiber Mats: An Experimental and Numerical Investigation.

This study addresses the challenge of enhancing the transverse mechanical properties of oriented polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers, which are known for their excellent longitudinal tensile strength, without significantly compromising their inherent porosity, which is essential for effective filtration. This study explores the effects of doping PAN nanofiber composites with varying concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (0.5%, 1%, and 2%), introduced into the PAN matrix via a dip-coating method.

Transcriptomic profiling analysis of the effect of palmitic acid on 3D spheroids of β-like cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is posing a serious public health concern with a considerable impact on human life and health expenditures worldwide. The disease develops when insulin plasma level is insufficient for coping insulin resistance, caused by the decline of pancreatic β-cell function and mass. In β-cells, the lipotoxicity exerted by saturated free fatty acids in particular palmitate (PA), which is chronically elevated in T2D, plays a major role in β-cell dysfunction and mass.

A Finite Element Method for Determining the Mechanical Properties of Electrospun Nanofibrous Mats.

This study focuses on the mechanical properties of electrospun nanofibrous mats, highlighting the importance of the characteristics of single nanofibers in determining the overall mechanical behavior of the mats. Recognizing the significant impacts of the diameter and structural properties of the nanofibers, this research introduces a novel methodology for deriving the effects of the mechanical properties of single nanofibers on the aggregate mechanical performance of electrospun oriented nanofiber mats. For this purpose, a finite element method (FEM) model is developed to simulate the elastoplastic response of the mats, incorporating the influence of structural parameters on mechanical properties.

Optimization of Aqueous Extraction of Polyphenols from Seeds Using Response Surface Methodology and Assessment of Biological Activity.

(1) Background: Cumin seeds, extracted from the plant , are abundant in phenolic compounds and have been extensively researched for their chemical makeup and biological effects. The objective of this research is to enhance the water extraction of polyphenols through the water bath (WB) technique and to evaluate the antiradical, antibacterial, and anticancer effects of the extract. (2) Methods: Response Surface Methodology was used to find the best parameters to extract polyphenols.

The microalga as a cell supportive building block for tissue engineering.

Background: constitutes, in its most simplified form, a cellularized spheroid built around and stabilised by a form of primitive extracellular matrix (ECM).

Methods: We developed a modular approach to soft tissue engineering, by compact stacking V. -based building blocks.

Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy: Cellular mechanisms, image analysis, and computational models: A review.

The muscle is the principal tissue that is capable to transform potential energy into kinetic energy. This process is due to the transformation of chemical energy into mechanical energy to enhance the movements and all the daily activities. However, muscular tissues can be affected by some pathologies associated with genetic alterations that affect the expression of proteins.

Free and Bound Phenolic Profiles and Antioxidant Activities in Melon ( L.) Pulp: Comparative Study on Six Widely Consumed Varieties Planted in Hainan Province.

Bound phenolic compounds in the melon pulp have seldom been investigated. This study revealed considerable differences in the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of the free and bound phenolic extracts in the pulps of six melon varieties from Hainan Province, China. Naixiangmi and Yugu demonstrated the highest free TPC, while Meilong showed the highest bound and total TPC and antioxidant activity.

Coculture model of a liver sinusoidal endothelial cell barrier and HepG2/C3a spheroids-on-chip in an advanced fluidic platform.

The liver is one of the main organs involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics and a key organ in toxicity studies. Prior to accessing the hepatocytes, xenobiotics pass through the hepatic sinusoid formed by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). The LSECs barrier regulates the kinetics and concentrations of the xenobiotics before their metabolic processing by the hepatocytes.

Fluid Mechanics of Droplet Spreading of Chitosan/PVA-Based Spray Coating Solution on Banana Peels with Different Wettability.

The spreading behavior of a coating solution is an important factor in determining the effectiveness of spraying applications. It determines how evenly the droplets spread on the substrate surface and how quickly they form a uniform film. Fluid mechanics principles govern it, including surface tension, viscosity, and the interaction between the liquid and the solid surface.

Comparative Study of Single-stranded Oligonucleotides Secondary Structure Prediction Tools.

Background: Single-stranded nucleic acids (ssNAs) have important biological roles and a high biotechnological potential linked to their ability to bind to numerous molecular targets. This depends on the different spatial conformations they can assume. The first level of ssNAs spatial organisation corresponds to their base pairs pattern, i.