Production of Silver Nano-Inks and Surface Coatings for Anti-Microbial Food Packaging and Its Ecological Impact.

Food spoilage is an ongoing global issue that contributes to rising carbon dioxide emissions and increased demand for food processing. This work developed anti-bacterial coatings utilising inkjet printing of silver nano-inks onto food-grade polymer packaging, with the potential to enhance food safety and reduce food spoilage. Silver nano-inks were synthesised via laser ablation synthesis in solution (LaSiS) and ultrasound pyrolysis (USP). The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) produced using LaSiS and USP were characterised using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometry and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The laser ablation technique, operated under recirculation mode, produced nanoparticles with a small size distribution with an average diameter ranging from 7-30 nm. Silver nano-ink was synthesised by blending isopropanol with nanoparticles dispersed in deionised water. The silver nano-inks were printed on plasma-cleaned cyclo-olefin polymer. Irrespective of the production methods, all silver nanoparticles exhibited strong antibacterial activity against E. coli with a zone of inhibition exceeding 6 mm. Furthermore, silver nano-inks printed cyclo-olefin polymer reduced the bacterial cell population from 1235 (±45) × 106 cell/mL to 960 (±110) × 106 cell/mL. The bactericidal performance of silver-coated polymer was comparable to that of the penicillin-coated polymer, wherein a reduction in bacterial population from 1235 (±45) × 106 cell/mL to 830 (±70) × 106 cell/mL was observed. Finally, the ecotoxicity of the silver nano-ink printed cyclo-olefin polymer was tested with daphniids, a species of water flea, to simulate the release of coated packaging into a freshwater environment.

Demonstration of an optical biosensor for the detection of faecal indicator bacteria in freshwater and coastal bathing areas.

ColiSense, an early warning system developed for Escherichia coli detection, is assessed using environmental samples. The system relies on the detection of ß-glucuronidase (GUS), a biomarker enzyme for E. coli. In contrast with other rapid GUS-based methods, ColiSense is the only method that uses 6-chloro-4-methyl-umbelliferyl-ß-D-glucuronide (6-CMUG) as a fluorogenic substrate. The system measures a direct kinetic response of extracted GUS, and the detection was carried out in the absence of particles or bacteria. It is necessary to evaluate the system with environmental samples to establish the relationship between faecal indicator bacteria E. coli and the response measured by the ColiSense. This paper presents the results of tests carried out with the ColiSense system for 2 trials, one conducted with freshwater samples collected from rivers in the Dublin area and a second conducted with seawater samples from coastal areas collected over the bathing season. A positive linear correlation was found between E. coli (MPN 100 mL-1) and ColiSense response (R2 = 0.85, N = 125, p < 0.01) for the seawater sample. A ColiSense response threshold was identified as 0-1.8 pmol min-1 100 mL-1, equivalent to 0-500 E. coli 100 mL-1. Using this threshold, 96.8% of the samples were correctly classified as being above or below 500 E. coli 100 mL-1 by the ColiSense system. Results presented demonstrate that the ColiSense system can be used as an early warning tool with potential for active management of bathing areas by providing results in 75 min from sample collection.

Laryngoscope burn risk in neonatal intubation.

LARYNGOSCOPE BURNS IN NEONATAL INTUBATION: Following burns during neonatal intubation, we mounted an in vitro study of laryngoscopes to determine the temperatures reached during clinical use. The temperature of 10 different bulb laryngoscopes heads and two fibre optic heads were measured with a thermocouple, once opened, and upon closing. Within 60 s, all ten laryngoscopes, with light-bulb sources, had gained significant heat to cause thermal injury to neonatal skin. Laryngoscopes with LED light source and fibre optic heads did not. CONCLUSION: We recommend that the bulb laryngoscope blade, if used, is not left open prior to intubation and that it is closed between intubation attempts. What is Known: • The preterm epidermis is particularly vulnerable to injury. What is New: • Bulb laryngoscope light bulbs consistently reach temperatures sufficient to burn neonatal skin in less than 100 s in an in vitro study. • Bulb light safety advice should be incorporated into intubation guidelines.

Response of a Zn2TiO4 Gas Sensor to Propanol at Room Temperature.

In this study, three different compositions of ZnO and TiO2 powders were cold compressed and then heated at 1250 °C for five hours. The samples were ground to powder form. The powders were mixed with 5 wt % of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) as binder and 1.5 wt % carbon black and ethylene-glyco-lmono-butyl-ether as a solvent to form screen-printed pastes. The prepared pastes were screen printed on the top of alumina substrates containing arrays of three copper electrodes. The three fabricated sensors were tested to detect propanol at room temperature at two different concentration ranges. The first concentration range was from 500 to 3000 ppm while the second concentration range was from 2500 to 5000 ppm, with testing taking place in steps of 500 ppm. The response of the sensors was found to increase monotonically in response to the increment in the propanol concentration. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the prepared samples were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The sensors displayed good sensitivity to propanol vapors at room temperature. Operation under room-temperature conditions make these sensors novel, as other metal oxide sensors operate only at high temperature.

Estimation of Aluminum, Arsenic, Lead and Nickel Status in the Samples of Different Cigarettes and their Effect on Human Health of Irish Smoker Hypertensive Consumers.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking interferes with the metal homeostasis of the human body, which plays a crucial role for maintaining health. A significant flux of heavy metals, among other toxins, reaches the lungs through smoking. In the present study, the relationship between toxic element (TE) exposure via cigarette smoking and hypertension incidence in population living in Dublin, Ireland is investigated. METHODS: The toxic elements arsenic (As), aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) were determined in biological (scalp hair and, blood) samples of patients diagnosed with hypertension who are smokers living in Dublin, Ireland. These results were compared with age- and sex-matched healthy, nonsmoker controls. The different brands of cigarettes (filler tobacco, filter, and ash) consumed by the studied population were also analyzed for As, Al, Ni, and Pb. The concentrations of TEs in biological samples and different components of the cigarettes were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked using certified reference materials. RESULTS: The recovery of all the studied elements was found to be in the range of 97.8% - 99.6% in certified reference materials. The filler tobacco of different branded cigarettes contains As, Al, Ni, and Pb concentrations in the ranges of 0.432 - 0.727 µg, 360 - 496 µg, 0.715 - 1.52 µg, and 0.378 - 1.16 µg/cigarette, respectively. The results of this study showed that the mean values of Al, As, Ni, and Pb were significantly higher in scalp hair and blood samples of hypertensive patients in relation to healthy controls, while the difference was significant in the case of smoker patients (p < 0.001). The levels of TEs were 2 - 3-fold higher in scalp hair and blood samples of non-hypertensive smoker subjects as compared to nonsmoker controls. CONCLUSIONS: The high exposure of toxic metals as a result of cigarette smoking may be synergistic with risk factors associated with hypertension.

Evaluation of trace and toxic elements in the samples of different cigarettes and their impact on human health of Irish diabetes mellitus patients.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, trace and toxic elements were determined in scalp hair and blood samples of patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) who are smokers living in Dublin, Ireland. These results were compared to age- and gender-matched healthy, non-smoker controls. In this study, these toxic metals (Cu, Cd, Fe, Ni, and Pb) were also determined in different components of imported branded cigarettes, including the filler tobacco (FT), filter (before and after normal smoking by a single volunteer), and ash. METHODS: The concentrations of trace and toxic elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked using certified reference materials and by the conventional wet acid digestion method on the same certified reference material and on real samples. The recovery of all the studied elements was found to be in the range of 96.41-99.7% in certified reference material. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that the mean values of cadmium, copper, iron, nickel, and lead were significantly higher (p < 0.001), in scalp hair and blood samples of diabetic patients as compared to referents of both genders. The smoker referents and DM patients have two to three times higher values of these elements than those subjects who were not smokers, whereas, the concentrations of zinc and chromium were lower in the scalp hair and blood samples of diabetic patients as compared to referents. The concentrations/percentage of trace and toxic metals in different components of cigarettes were calculated with respect to their total contents in FT of all branded cigarettes before smoking, while smoke concentration was calculated by subtracting the filter and ash contents from the filler tobacco content of each branded cigarette. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that increased toxic elements and decreased essential elements as a result of cigarette smoking, are associated with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, these elements may play a role in the development and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus.

Estimation of toxic elements in the samples of different cigarettes and their effect on the essential elemental status in the biological samples of Irish smoker rheumatoid arthritis consumers.

Cigarette smoking interferes with the metal homeostasis of the human body, which plays a crucial role for maintaining the health. A significant flux of heavy metals, among other toxins, reaches the lungs through smoking. In the present study, the relationship between toxic element (TE) exposure via cigarette smoking and rheumatoid arthritis incidence in population living in Dublin, Ireland, is investigated. The trace {zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and selenium (Se)} and toxic elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) were determined in biological (scalp hair and blood) samples of patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, who are smokers living in Dublin, Ireland. These results were compared with age- and sex-matched healthy, nonsmoker controls. The different brands of cigarette (filler tobacco, filter, and ash) consumed by the studied population were also analyzed for As, Cd, Hg, and Pb. The concentrations of trace and TEs in biological samples and different components of cigarette were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked using certified reference materials. The recovery of all the studied elements was found to be in the range of 96.4-99.8% in certified reference materials. The filler tobacco of different branded cigarettes contains Hg, As, Cd, and Pb concentrations in the ranges of 9.55-12.4 ng, 0.432-0.727 µg, 1.70-2.12 µg, and 0.378-1.16 µg/cigarette, respectively. The results of this study showed that the mean values of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were significantly higher in scalp hair and blood samples of rheumatoid arthritis patients as compare to healthy controls, while Zn, Cu, Mn, and Se concentrations were found to be lower in rheumatoid arthritis patients, the difference was significant in the case of smoker patients (p<0.001). The levels of four toxic elements were 2-3-folds higher in scalp hair and blood samples of nonrheumatoid arthritis smoker subjects as compared to nonsmoker controls. The high exposure of toxic metals as a result of cigarette smoking may be synergistic with risk factors associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Focussed ion beam serial sectioning and imaging of monolithic materials for 3D reconstruction and morphological parameter evaluation.

A new characterisation method, based on the utilisation of focussed ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), has been employed for the evaluation of morphological parameters in porous monolithic materials. Sample FIB serial sectioning, SEM imaging and image processing techniques were used to extract the pore boundaries and reconstruct the 3D porous structure of carbon and silica-based monoliths. Since silica is a non-conducting material, a commercial silica monolith modified with activated carbon was employed instead to minimise the charge build-up during FIB sectioning. This work therefore presents a novel methodology that can be successfully employed for 3D reconstruction of porous monolithic materials which are or can be made conductive through surface or bulk modification. Furthermore, the 3D reconstructions were used for calculation of the monolith macroporosity, which was in good agreement with the porosity values obtained by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP).

Relationship between toxic metals exposure via cigarette smoking and rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) has increased among people who smoke tobacco. In the present study, the association between toxic metals exposure via cigarette smoking and rheumatoid arthritis incidence in the population living in Dublin, Ireland, is investigated. The different brands of cigarettes (filler tobacco, filter and ash) consumed by the population studied were analysed for Cd, Ni, and Pb. METHODS: The concentrations of toxic elements in biological samples and different components of cigarettes were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked using certified reference materials. RESULTS: The filler tobacco of different branded cigarettes contain Cd, Ni, and Pb concentrations in the ranges of 1.73-2.02, 0.715-1.52, and 0.378-1.16 µg/cigarette, respectively. The results of this study showed that the mean values of cadmium nickel, and lead were significantly higher in scalp hair and blood samples of rheumatoid arthritis patients when related to healthy controls, while the difference was significant in the case of smoker patients (p < 0.001). The levels of all three toxic metals were 2- to 3-fold higher in scalp hair and blood samples of non arthritis smoker subjects as compared to nonsmoker controls. CONCLUSIONS: The high exposure of toxic metals as a result of cigarette smoking may be synergistic with risk factors associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Calcia magnesia alumino silicate (CMAS) corrosion attack on thermally sprayed thermal barrier coatings: a comprehensive review.

Calcia-Magnesia-Alumino Silicate (CMAS) is a form of molten siliceous residue generated at elevated temperatures within aeroengines. CMAS adheres to the surface of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) and has the potential to cause significant damage to engine components, resulting in TBC failures. The aviation industry has long recognized CMAS as a substantial threat to aircraft engines, and this threat persists today. A substantial amount of research has been carried out, primarily focusing on gaining a fundamental understanding of the degradation mechanism of traditional TBCs manufactured using air plasma spraying (APS) and electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) technologies after CMAS attack. A thorough understanding of why CMAS forms, its role in causing severe spallation, and how to prevent it is of significant concern both academically and industrially. This review article provides a detailed examination of the chemistry of CMAS and the resulting degradation mechanisms that the TBC may encounter throughout the aeroengine service life. This article also explores recent research, incorporating case studies, on the impact of CMAS attack on the resulting chemical and structural modifications of the ceramic topcoats. Current strategies designed to mitigate CMAS infiltration and perspectives for enhanced mitigation are discussed.

Powder Bed Fusion-Laser Beam of IN939: The Effect of Process Parameters on the Relative Density, Defect Formation, Surface Roughness and Microstructure.

This study investigates the effects of process parameters in the powder bed fusion-laser beam (PBF-LB) process on IN939 samples. The parameters examined include laser power (160, 180, and 200 W), laser scanning speed (400, 800, and 1200 mm/s), and hatch distance (50, 80, and 110 µm). The study focuses on how these parameters affect surface roughness, relative density, defect formation, and the microstructure of the samples. Surface roughness analysis revealed that the average surface roughness (Sa) values of the sample ranged from 4.6 µm to 9.5 µm, while the average height difference (Sz) varied from 78.7 µm to 176.7 µm. Furthermore, increasing the hatch distance from 50 µm to 110 µm while maintaining constant laser power and scanning speed led to a decrease in surface roughness. Relative density analysis indicated that the highest relative density was 99.35%, and the lowest was 93.56%. Additionally, the average porosity values were calculated, with the lowest being 0.06% and the highest reaching 9.18%. Although some samples had identical average porosity values, they differed in porosity/mm2 and average Feret size. Variations in relative density and average porosity were noted in samples with the same volumetric energy density (VED) due to different process parameters. High VED led to large, irregular pores in several samples. Microcracks, less than 50 µm in length, were present, indicating solidification cracks. The microstructural analysis of the XZ planes revealed arc-shaped melt pools, columnar elongated grains aligned with the build direction, and cellular structures with columnar dendrites. This study provides insights for optimizing PBF-LB process parameters to enhance the quality of IN939 components.

Parametric investigation of ultrashort pulsed laser surface texturing on aluminium alloy 7075 for hydrophobicity enhancement.

Hydrophobicity plays a pivotal role in mitigating surface fouling, corrosion, and icing in critical marine and aerospace environments. By employing ultrafast laser texturing, the characteristic properties of a material's surface can be modified. This work investigates the potential of an advanced ultrafast laser texturing manufacturing process to enhance the hydrophobicity of aluminium alloy 7075. The surface properties were characterized using goniometry, 3D profilometry, SEM, and XPS analysis. The findings from this study show that the laser process parameters play a crucial role in the manufacturing of the required surface structures. Numerical optimization with response surface optimization was conducted to maximize the contact angle on these surfaces. The maximum water contact angle achieved was 142º, with an average height roughness (Sa) of 0.87 ± 0.075 µm, maximum height roughness (Sz) of 19.4 ± 2.12 µm, and texture aspect ratio of 0.042. This sample was manufactured with the process parameters of 3W laser power, 0.08 mm hatch distance, and a 3 mm/s scan speed. This study highlights the importance of laser process parameters in the manufacturing of the required surface structures and presents a parametric modeling approach that can be used to optimize the laser process parameters to obtain a specific surface morphology and hydrophobicity. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00170-024-12971-8.

In-process phase growth measurement technique in the fabrication of monolithic porous layer open tubular (monoPLOT) columns using capacitively coupled contactless conductivity.

A technique for the in-process measurement of polymer stationary phase growth inside fused silica capillaries during the fabrication of monolithic porous layer open tubular (monoPLOT) columns is presented. In this work, capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) was applied as an online measurement tool for porous polymer layer growth within fused silica capillaries. The relationship between effective capillary diameter and C4D response was investigated for two polymers, butyl methacrylate-ethylene dimethacrylate (BuMA-EDMA) and polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) over a range of capillary diameters and layer thicknesses. The described technique can be used with both thermal and photo-initiated approaches for monoPLOT fabrication and provides an accurate, real-time measurement of the porous layer growth within the capillary, which should vastly improve column-to-column reproducibility. The technique was shown to be very precise, with a measured %RSD < 10%.

Laser nanostructured gold biosensor for proto-oncogene detection.

The advancement of biosensor research has been a primary driving force in the continuing progress of modern medical science. While traditional nanofabrication methods have long been the foundation of biosensor research, recent years have seen a shift in the field of nanofabrication towards laser-based techniques. Here we report a gold-based biosensor, with a limit of detection (LoD) 3.18 µM, developed using environmentally friendly Laser Ablation Synthesis in Liquid (LASiS) and Confined Atmospheric Pulsed-laser (CAP) deposition techniques for the first time. The sensors were able detect a DNA fragment corresponding to the longest unpaired sequence of the c-Myc gene, indicating their potential for detecting such fragments in the ctDNA signature of various cancers. The LoD of the developed novel biosensor highlights its reliability and sensitivity as an analytical platform. The reproducibility of the sensor was examined via the production and testing of 200 sensors with the same fabrication methodology. This work offers a scalable, and green approach to fabricating viable biosensors capable of detecting clinically relevant oncogenic targets.

The Porosity Design and Deformation Behavior Analysis of Additively Manufactured Bone Scaffolds through Finite Element Modelling and Mechanical Property Investigations.

Additively manufactured synthetic bone scaffolds have emerged as promising candidates for the replacement and regeneration of damaged and diseased bones. By employing optimal pore architecture, including pore morphology, sizes, and porosities, 3D-printed scaffolds can closely mimic the mechanical properties of natural bone and withstand external loads. This study aims to investigate the deformation pattern exhibited by polymeric bone scaffolds fabricated using the PolyJet (PJ) 3D printing technique. Cubic and hexagonal closed-packed uniform scaffolds with porosities of 30%, 50%, and 70% are utilized in finite element (FE) models. The crushable foam plasticity model is employed to analyze the scaffolds' mechanical response under quasi-static compression. Experimental validation of the FE results demonstrates a favorable agreement, with an average percentage error of 12.27% ± 7.1%. Moreover, the yield strength and elastic modulus of the scaffolds are evaluated and compared, revealing notable differences between cubic and hexagonal closed-packed designs. The 30%, 50%, and 70% porous cubic pore-shaped bone scaffolds exhibit significantly higher yield strengths of 46.89%, 58.29%, and 66.09%, respectively, compared to the hexagonal closed-packed bone scaffolds at percentage strains of 5%, 6%, and 7%. Similarly, the elastic modulus of the 30%, 50%, and 70% porous cubic pore-shaped bone scaffolds is 42.68%, 59.70%, and 58.18% higher, respectively, than the hexagonal closed-packed bone scaffolds at the same percentage strain levels. Furthermore, it is observed in comparison with our previous study the µSLA-printed bone scaffolds demonstrate 1.5 times higher elastic moduli and yield strengths compared to the PJ-printed bone scaffolds.

A review of physical, chemical and biological synthesis methods of bimetallic nanoparticles and applications in sensing, water treatment, biomedicine, catalysis and hydrogen storage.

This article provides an in-depth analysis of various fabrication methods of bimetallic nanoparticles (BNP), including chemical, biological, and physical techniques. The review explores BNP's diverse uses, from well-known applications such as sensing water treatment and biomedical uses to less-studied areas like breath sensing for diabetes monitoring and hydrogen storage. It cites results from over 1000 researchers worldwide and >300 peer-reviewed articles. Additionally, the article discusses current trends, actionable recommendations, and the importance of synthetic analysis for industry players looking to optimize manufacturing techniques for specific applications. The article also evaluates the pros and cons of various fabrication methods, highlighting the potential of plant extract synthesis for mass production of capped BNPs. However, it warns that this method may not be suitable for certain applications requiring ligand-free surfaces. In contrast, physical methods like laser ablation offer better control and reactivity, especially for applications where ligand-free surfaces are critical. The report underscores the environmental benefits of plant extract synthesis compared to chemical methods that use hazardous chemicals and pose risks to extraction, production, and disposal. The article emphasizes the need for life cycle assessment (LCA) articles in the literature, given the growing volume of research on nanotechnology materials. This article caters to researchers at all stages and applies to various fields applying nanomaterials.

Bioactive Ingredients from Dairy-Based Lactic Acid Bacterial Fermentations for Functional Food Production and Their Health Effects.

Lactic acid bacteria are traditionally applied in a variety of fermented food products, and they have the ability to produce a wide range of bioactive ingredients during fermentation, including vitamins, bacteriocins, bioactive peptides, and bioactive compounds. The bioactivity and health benefits associated with these ingredients have garnered interest in applications in the functional dairy market and have relevance both as components produced in situ and as functional additives. This review provides a brief description of the regulations regarding the functional food market in the European Union, as well as an overview of some of the functional dairy products currently available in the Irish and European markets. A better understanding of the production of these ingredients excreted by lactic acid bacteria can further drive the development and innovation of the continuously growing functional food market.

Bi-directional Scan Pattern Effects on Residual Stresses and Distortion in As-built Nitinol Parts: A Trend Analysis Simulation Study.

In this paper, a part-scale simulation study on the effects of bi-directional scanning patterns (BDSP) on residual stress and distortion formation in additively manufactured Nitinol (NiTi) parts is presented. The additive manufacturing technique of focus is powder bed fusion using a laser beam (PBF-LB), and simulation was performed using Ansys Additive Print software. The numerical approach adopted in the simulation was based on the isotropic inherent strain model, due to prohibitive material property requirements and computational limitations of full-fledged part-scale 3D thermomechanical finite element approaches. In this work, reconstructed 2D and 3D thermograms (heat maps) from in situ melt pool thermal radiation data, the predicted residual stresses, and distortions from the simulation study were correlated for PBF-LB processed NiTi samples using selected BDSPs. The distortion and residual stress distribution were found to vary greatly between BDSPs with no laser scan vector rotations per new layer, whereas negligible variations were observed for BDSPs with laser scan vector rotations per new layer. The striking similarities between the reconstructed thermograms of the first few layers and the simulated stress contours of the first lumped layer provide a practical understanding of the temperature gradient mechanism of residual stress formation in PBF-LB processed NiTi. This study provides a qualitative, yet practical insight towards understanding the trends of formation and evolution of residual stress and distortion, due to scanning patterns.

Steps toward a digital twin for functional food production with increased health benefits.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) is a commensal bacterium with health-promoting properties and with a wide range of applications within the food industry. To improve and optimize the control of L. rhamnosus biomass production in batch and fed-batch bioprocesses, this study proposes the application of artificial neural network (ANN) modelling to improve process control and monitoring, with potential future implementation as a basis for a digital twin. Three ANNs were developed using historical data from ten bioprocesses. These ANNs were designed to predict the biomass in batch bioprocesses with different media compositions, predict biomass in fed-batch bioprocesses, and predict the growth rate in fed-batch bioprocesses. The immunomodulatory effect of the L. rhamnosus samples was examined and found to elicit an anti-inflammatory response as evidenced by the inhibition of IL-6 and TNF-α secretion. Overall, the findings of this study reinforce the potential of ANN modelling for bioprocess optimization aimed at improved control for maximising the volumetric productivity of L. rhamnosus as an immunomodulatory agent with applications in the functional food industry.

Effect of Heat Treatment Time and Temperature on the Microstructure and Shape Memory Properties of Nitinol Wires.

In this study, the effect of heat treatment parameters on the optimized performance of Ni-rich nickel-titanium wires (NiTi/Nitinol) were investigated that were intended for application as actuators across various industries. In this instance, the maximum recovery strain and actuation angle achievable by a nitinol wire were employed as indicators of optimal performance. Nitinol wires were heat treated at different temperatures, 400-500 °C, and times, 30-120 min, to study the effects of these heat treatment parameters on the actuation performance and properties of the nitinol wires. Assessment covered changes in density, hardness, phase transition temperatures, microstructure, and alloy composition resulting from these heat treatments. DSC analysis revealed a decrease in the austenite transformation temperature, which transitioned from 42.8 °C to 24.39 °C with an increase in heat treatment temperature from 400 °C to 500 °C and was attributed to the formation of Ni4Ti3 precipitates. Increasing the heat treatment time led to an increase in the austenite transformation temperature. A negative correlation between the hardness of the heat-treated samples and the heat treatment temperature was found. This trend can be attributed to the formation and growth of Ni4Ti3 precipitates, which in turn affect the matrix properties. A novel approach involving image analysis was utilized as a simple yet robust analysis method for measurement of recovery strain for the wires as they underwent actuation. It was found that increasing heat treatment temperature from 400 °C to 500 °C above 30 min raised recovery strain from 0.001 to 0.01, thereby maximizing the shape memory effect.