Integrating 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and Metabolomics Analysis to Reveal the Mechanism of L-Proline in Preventing Autism-like Behavior in Mice.

Background/objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social interaction and repetitive stereotyped behavior. Effective interventions for the core autistic symptoms are currently limited.

Methods: This study employed a valproic acid (VPA)-induced mouse model of ASD to assess the preventative effects of L-proline supplementation on ASD-like behaviors.

Polysaccharide Modulates Characteristic Bacteria and Metabolites, Improving the Immune Function of Healthy Mice.

Objectives: Polysaccharides from are known to have several bioactive effects. Previous studies have found that low-molecular-weight polysaccharide (GP1) is degraded by and promotes the production of beneficial bacteria and metabolites, which improves immune disorder and intestinal injury, and then enhances the body's immune regulation ability. However, the immune regulation effect of GP1 on a healthy body has not been studied.

Plant-Based Functional Foods from Borneo.

Borneo, the third-largest island in the world, is shared between Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), Indonesia (Kalimantan) and Brunei. As a biodiversity hotspot, it is home to about 15,000 flowering plants and 3000 tree species, of which many are endemic to the region. Locally derived plant-based foods are gaining popularity due to their lower environmental impact, contribution to food sustainability and health benefits.

An Overview of Potential Applications of Environmentally Friendly Hybrid Polymeric Materials.

The applications of polymeric materials are being constantly reviewed and improved. In the present world, the word hybrid, and the general idea of combining two or more inherently different approaches, designs, and materials is gaining significant attention. The area of sustainable materials with a low environmental impact is also rapidly evolving with many new discoveries, including the use of materials of a natural origin and countless combinations thereof.

Recent Advancements of Bio-Derived Flame Retardants for Polymeric Materials.

The sustainable flame retardancy of polymeric materials is a key focus for the direction of the next generation in the field of fire safety. Bio-derived flame retardants are gaining attention as environmentally friendly additives due to their low ecological impact and decreasing costs. These compounds can enhance char formation in polymeric materials by swelling upon heating, attributed to their functional groups.

Prediction Model for Flake Line Defects in Metallic Injection Molding: Considering Skin-Core Velocity and Alignment.

Metallic injection molding combines aluminum flake metallic pigments with polymers to directly produce components with metallic luster, improving production efficiency and reducing environmental impact. However, flake line defects that occur in regions where ribs or flow paths intersect remain a significant challenge. This study proposes a velocity model that considers the flow characteristics between the surface and core layers and an alignment model that incorporates the orientation of aluminum flakes to predict appearance defects.

Impact of Thermal Treatment and Aging on Lignin Properties in Spruce Wood: Pathways to Value-Added Applications.

Thermal modification is an environmentally friendly process that does not utilize chemical agents to enhance the stability and durability of wood. The use of thermally modified wood results in a significantly extended lifespan compared with untreated wood, with minimal maintenance requirements, thereby reducing the carbon footprint. This study examines the impact of varying modification temperatures (160, 180, and 210 °C) on the lignin of spruce wood using the ThermoWood process and following the accelerated aging of thermally modified wood.

Cellulose-Based Aerogels for Environmentally Sustainable Applications: A Review of the Production, Modification, and Sorption of Environmental Contaminants.

Environmental pollution, stemming from the disposal of contaminants, poses severe threats to ecosystems and human health. The emergence of a new class of pollutants, termed emerging contaminants (ECs), in soil, water, and air has raised global concerns, aligning with the UN 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals. Aerogels, three-dimensional structures with high porosity and low density, offer promise in addressing this issue.

Zero Waste Concept in Production of PLA Biocomposites Reinforced with Fibers Derived from Wild Plant ( L.) and Energy Crop ( (L.) Rusby).

This research follows the principles of circular economy through the zero waste concept and cascade approach performed in two steps. Our paper focuses on the first step and explores the characteristics of developed biocomposite materials made from a biodegradable poly(lactic acid) polymer (PLA) reinforced with natural fibers isolated from the second generation of biomass (agricultural biomass and weeds). Two plants, L.

Multiscale Numerical Study of Enhanced Ductility Ratios and Capacity in Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Concrete Beams for Safety Design.

Rigid reinforced concrete (RC) frames are generally adopted as stiff elements to make the building structures resistant to seismic forces. However, a method has yet to be fully sought to provide earthquake resistance through optimizing beam and column performance in a rigid frame. Due to its high corrosion resistance, the integration of CFRP offers an opportunity to reduce frequent repairs and increase durability.

Preparation and Performance Research of Pb(II)-Imprinted Acrylonitrile-Co-Acrylic Acid Composite Material with Modified Sand Particles as Carrier.

Lead (Pb) is classified as a prevalent metallic pollutant, significantly impacting the ecological environment, especially human health. Consequently, it is crucial to develop adsorbent materials that are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and which possess high selectivity. This study aims to fabricate a Pb(II)-imprinted acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid composite material by using modified sand particles as the carrier, and then to investigate its properties.

Flexural Response Comparison of Nylon-Based 3D-Printed Glass Fiber Composites and Epoxy-Based Conventional Glass Fiber Composites in Cementitious and Polymer Concretes.

With 3D printing technology, fiber-reinforced polymer composites can be printed with radical shapes and properties, resulting in varied mechanical performances. Their high strength, light weight, and corrosion resistance are already advantages that make them viable for physical civil infrastructure. It is important to understand these composites' behavior when used in concrete, as their association can impact debonding failures and overall structural performance.

Antioxidant Particleboards Produced from Forest By-Products with Application in the Food Packaging Industry.

The food packaging industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy, with a large contribution to environmental concerns due to the extensive use of fossil-derived materials. Combining wood-based materials, such as particleboards, with bio-adhesives may offer a great opportunity to develop sustainable packaging solutions with active antioxidant properties. In the present work, a phenolic extract of poplar bark was produced and bio-adhesives were formulated using citric acid as a cross-linker.

Thermosetting Resin for Plug and Abandonment of Oil Wells with Reduced Environmental Impact.

Plug and abandonment of offshore oil wells is a costly and time-consuming process, yet it is necessary for the ever-increasing number of mature fields in the region of the Danish North Sea, as well as globally. Current practices ensuring durable solutions for the complete zonal isolation of oil wells have a large environmental impact. This paper proposes a novel resin that could be mixed on the platform and pumped into the tubing in a liquid state.

Improved Biomineralization Using Cellulose Acetate/Magnetic Nanoparticles Composite Membranes.

Following implantation, infections, inflammatory reactions, corrosion, mismatches in the elastic modulus, stress shielding and excessive wear are the most frequent reasons for orthopedic implant failure. Natural polymer-based coatings showed especially good results in achieving better cell attachment, growth and tissue-implant integration, and it was found that the inclusions of nanosized fillers in the coating structure improves biomineralization and consequently implant osseointegration, as the nanoparticles represent calcium phosphate nucleation centers and lead to the deposition of highly organized hydroxyapatite crystallites on the implant surface. In this study, magnetic nanoparticles synthesized by the co-precipitation method were used for the preparation of cellulose acetate composite coatings through the phase-inversion method.

Electrochemical Performance of Guanidinium Salt-Added PVP/PEO Solid Polymer Electrolyte with Superior Power Density.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) for symmetrical supercapacitors are proposed herein with activated carbon as electrodes and optimized solid polymer electrolyte membranes, which serve as the separators and electrolytes. We propose the design of a low-cost solid polymer electrolyte consisting of guanidinium nitrate (GuN) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). Using the solution casting approach, blended polymer electrolytes with varying GuN weight percentage ratios of PVP and PEO are prepared.

Active Polylactide-poly(ethylene glycol) Films Loaded with Olive Leaf Extract for Food Packaging-Antibacterial Activity, Surface, Thermal and Mechanical Evaluation.

As the demand for sustainable and innovative solutions in food packaging continues to grow, this study endeavors to introduce a comprehensive exploration of novel active materials. Specifically, we focus on characterizing polylactide-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA/PEG) films filled with olive leaf extract (OLE; ) obtained via solvent evaporation. Examined properties include surface structure, thermal degradation and mechanical attributes, as well as antibacterial activity.

Optimization Study of a High-Efficiency Preservative for Ammonia-Free Concentrated Natural Rubber Latex.

Ammonia is commonly used as a preservative in the production of concentrated natural rubber latex (CNRL) and latex products; however, it poses a serious risk to human health and the environment. In this study, we investigated a thioacetamide derivative (TD) as a preservative of ammonia-free CNRL and the optimization of a stabilization system comprising potassium hydroxide (KOH), lauric acid (LA), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to enhance its preservation effect. The results revealed that an optimal amount of TD (0.

Direct Ink Writing 3D Printing Polytetrafluoroethylene/Polydimethylsiloxane Membrane with Anisotropic Surface Wettability and Its Application in Oil-Water Separation.

Biological surfaces with physical discontinuity or chemical heterogeneity possess special wettability in the form of anisotropic wetting behavior. However, there are several challenges in designing and manufacturing samples with anisotropic wettability. This study investigates the fabrication of PTFE/PDMS grid membranes using Direct Ink Writing (DIW) 3D printing for oil-water separation applications.

Microbial-Derived Biopolymers: A Pathway to Sustainable Civil Engineering.

Modern innovations increasingly prioritize eco-friendliness, aiming to pave the way for a sustainable future. The field of civil engineering is no exception to this approach, and, in fact, it is associated with almost every sustainable development goal framed by the United Nations. Therefore, the sector has a pivotal role in achieving these goals.

Changes in the Antibacterial Performance of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites Induced by Additive Manufacturing Processing.

The idea supporting the investigation of the current manuscript was to develop customized filters for air conditioners with different pore percentages and geometry with the additional advantage of presenting antibacterial performance. This property was expected due to the reinforcement of Cu nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polyurethane (TPU). The filaments were characterized by their chemical composition, thermal and mechanical properties, and antibacterial behavior before and after processing by fused filament fabrication.

Comparing Hydrolysable and Condensed Tannins for Tannin Protein-Based Foams.

Tannin-based foams have gained attention as a potential bio-based alternative to conventional synthetic foams. Traditionally, namely condensed tannins (CT) have been used, leaving the potential of hydrolysable tannins (HT) largely unexplored. This study compared the performance of chestnut (HT) and quebracho (CT) in tannin-protein-based foams at different tannin ratios.

Optimizing Soil Stabilization with Chitosan: Investigating Acid Concentration, Temperature, and Long-Term Strength.

Civil and geotechnical researchers are searching for economical alternatives to replace traditional soil stabilizers such as cement, which have negative impacts on the environment. Chitosan biopolymer has shown its capacity to efficiently minimize soil erosion, reduce hydraulic conductivity, and adsorb heavy metals in soil that is contaminated. This research used unconfined compression strength (UCS) to investigate the impact of chitosan content, long-term strength assessment, acid concentration, and temperature on the improvement of soil strength.

The Effectiveness of Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Extraction Methods in Gram-Negative U.

Bioplastics are emerging as a promising solution to reduce pollution caused by petroleum-based plastics. Among them, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) stand out as viable biotechnological alternatives, though their commercialization is limited by expensive downstream processes. Traditional PHA extraction methods often involve toxic solvents and high energy consumption, underscoring the need for more sustainable approaches.

The Influence of Iron Particles and Polyethylene Glycol on Selected Properties of Polylactide-Based Composites.

This article presents the characteristics of composites comprising polylactide combined with iron powder, from 1 to 10 wt.%, and nanoiron powders with a mass fraction from 0.1 to 1.