Enhancing weatherability and mechanical properties of tung oil wood finishes through natural rubber modification via the Diels-Alder reaction.

Tung oil is commonly utilized for coating protection in wooden products, often attracting attention for its appearance, antimicrobial capabilities, and insect-resistant coatings. However, its poor mechanical properties and poor weather resistance stem from excessive self-crosslinking of surplus conjugated double bonds and molecular chains, resulting in poor film wrinkling. Therefore, this study introduces natural rubber via the Diels-Alder reaction to consume the residual double bonds in tung oil, resulting in tung oil/natural rubber composite coatings (NRTO) with excellent mechanical properties and weather resistance. The results indicate that NRTO exhibits excellent mechanical properties, including high elongation (32 %) and strong adhesion (4.55 MPa). Furthermore, NRTO demonstrates outstanding acid resistance and UV aging resistance. Given its many benefits, NRTO film emerges as a promising candidate for substantially protecting wood surfaces in demanding environments.

Fabrication of antimicrobial and high-toughness poly (lactic acid) composite films using tung oil derivatives.

Tung oil derivatives are promising alternatives to traditional toxic plasticizers for improving the toughness of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) films. In this study, a tung oil-based quaternary ammonium salt (Q-ETO) was synthesized using a multi-step process involving epoxidation, ring opening, and substitution reactions. PLA based composite films with various amounts of Q-ETO were prepared by solvent casting. The impact of various amount of Q-ETO on PLA/Q-ETO composite films were evaluated with regard to their mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, water vapor permeability, optical properties, thermal stability, antibacterial properties, and leaching properties. The PLA/5%Q-ETO composite film yielded the highest elongation at break (82.52 ± 9.53 %), which was 153.67 % higher than that of pure PLA. All PLA composite films showed an antibacterial efficiency exceeding 90 % against both S. aureus and E. coli. Moreover, the PLA/Q-ETO composite film blocked the transmission of both ultraviolet and visible light while preventing the permeation of water vapor. The addition of Q-ETO only weakly affected the color and thermal stability of the PLA/Q-ETO composite film. Given the numerous advantages of the PLA composite film, it has significant potential for application as a food packaging material.

DNA derived N-doped 3D conductive network with enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability for membrane-less biofuel cells.

Enzymes are promising electrocatalysts in many biological processes. We proposed two strategies, co-immobilization and three-dimensional (3D) space design, to strengthen electron transfer (ET). In this research, DNA base and CNT were mixed in an aqueous solution; then the mixture was dried and ground. Finally, the powder was annealed in N2 to obtain DNA derived N-doped 3D conductive network (N-G@CNT). N-G@CNT immobilized mediators on itself through adsorption. Such 3D space structure shows high activity toward a set of critical electrochemical reactions and high-performance in enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs). It is found that N-G@CNT conductive network possesses an interconnected porous structure and well-developed porosity. As a result, the membrane-less EBFCs equipped with enzyme/mediator co-immobilization N-G@CNT bioelectrodes were measured in a model 5 mM glucose-containing aqueous solution, human serum, and rabbit whole blood, respectively, which can generate 0.34, 0.078, and 0.15 mW cm-2 power density, respectively. The constant-current discharge method carried out in a model 5 mM glucose-containing aqueous solution shows that the discharge time reached 19 h at a discharge current density of 0.01 mA cm-2. The membrane EBFCs can deliver a high open circuit voltage of 0.68 V, a short-circuit current density of 2 mA cm-2, and a maximum power density of 0.5 mW cm-2.

Adsorption behavior of isocyanate/ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid-functionalized graphene oxides for Cu2+ removal.

A special adsorption of Cu2+ removal is demonstrated using specifically functionalized graphene oxide (GO)/isocyanate (MDI) composites, on which ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) is grafted via amidation and carbamate reaction. The structure and morphology of GO and functionalized composites (EDTA/MDI/GO) were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). This study investigated the adsorption and desorption behaviors of heavy metal cations and the effects of solution conditions such as pH on Cu2+ removal. The experimental results illustrated that after introducing EDTA and MDI into the GO, the maximum adsorption capacity reached 254.2 ± 10.4 mg/g within 180 min, obviously higher than the GO prepared without these additions (136.5 ± 7.2 mg/g). The EDTA/MDI/GO adsorption kinetics and equilibrium adsorption isotherm fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.995) and Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.986) well, respectively. Furthermore, EDTA/MDI/GO also displayed good reusability for the efficient removal of Cu2+ after being washed with HCl, suggesting potential application in Cu2+ cleanup.

Brazilian Green Propolis Extract Synergizes with Protoporphyrin IX-mediated Photodynamic Therapy via Enhancement of Intracellular Accumulation of Protoporphyrin IX and Attenuation of NF-κB and COX-2.

Brazilian green propolis (BGP) is noted for its impressive antitumor effects and has been used as a folk medicine in various cultures for many years. It has been demonstrated that BGP could enhance the cytotoxic effect of cytostatic drugs on tumor cells. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic approach used against malignant cells. To assess the synergistic effect of BGP extract on protoporphyrin IX (PpIX)-mediated photocytotoxicity, MTT assays were performed using A431 and HeLa cells. TUNEL assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining were performed to confirm the induction of apoptosis. Western blotting analysis was performed to examine the pro-apoptotic proteins, anti-apoptotic proteins and inflammation related proteins in A431 cells. Intracellular accumulation of PpIX was examined by flow cytometry. The synergistic effect of BGP extract in PpIX-PDT was also evaluated with a xenograft model. Our findings reveal that BGP extract increased PpIX-mediated photocytotoxicity in A431 and HeLa cells. PpIX-PDT with BGP extract treatment resulted in a decrease in Bcl-xL and an increase in NOXA, Bax and caspase-3 cleavage. The protein expression levels of p-IKKα/ß, NF-κB and COX-2 were upregulated by PpIX-PDT but significantly attenuated when in combination with BGP extract. BGP extract was also found to significantly enhance the intracellular accumulation of PpIX in A431 cells. BGP extract increased PpIX-mediated photocytotoxicity in a xenograft model as well. Our findings provide evidence for a synergistic effect of BGP extract in PpIX-PDT both in vitro and in vivo.

Perinatal findings and molecular cytogenetic analysis of trisomy 16q and 22q13.3 deletion.

OBJECTIVES: To present the perinatal findings and molecular cytogenetic analysis of a case with concomitant trisomy 16q and 22q13.3 deletion of paternal origin. CASE AND METHODS: A 24-year-old pregnant woman was referred at 30 weeks' gestation for suspected fetal abnormalities. Sonographic examination revealed decreased fetal movement, dolicocephaly, an asymmetric skull, and intrauterine growth restriction. Prenatal karyotyping was suggested but was declined. A female baby was delivered vaginally at 39 weeks' gestation with a body weight of 2180 g. The neonate presented generalized hypotonia with frequent apneic episodes and died at 1.5 months of age. Additional physical abnormalities included epicanthal folds, ptosis, frontal bossing with an enlarged metopic suture, bitemporal narrowing, hypertelorism, epicanthal folds, a pointed chin, micrognathia, prominent ears with preauricular pits, and clinodactyly. The karyotype from peripheral blood lymphocytes was 46,XX,der(22)t(16;22)(q12.1;q13.3)pat. The microdeletion at 22q13.3 was investigated by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis using the LSI DiGeorge/VCFS region/ARSA dual color DNA probe and the 22q telomeric probe, of which only the latter was able to detect the subtle deletion. Molecular analysis using polymorphic microsatellite markers indicated that the breakpoint at 22q13.31 was located between loci D22S1171 (present) and D22S1168 (absent). CONCLUSION: The use of LSI DiGeorge/VCFS region/ARSA dual color DNA probes to examine distal 22q would miss some subtle terminal deletions of 22q13. However, the use of 22q telomeric probes would detect these minute deletions. Fetuses having trisomy 16q and 22q13.3 deletion may prenatally manifest decreased fetal movement, dolicocephaly, an asymmetric skull, and intrauterine growth restriction and postnatally present generalized hypotonia with frequent apneic episodes.