In this study, hybrid materials composed of TiO2 and activated carbon derived from coffee husks (TiO2-AC) demonstrated high efficiency in removing organic pollutants, including methylene blue (MB), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and trimethoprim (TRI). The activated carbon was produced from coffee production by-products after extracting phenolic compounds and was activated using ZnCl2. The TiO2-AC hybrid materials were synthesized through the solvothermal method. These materials were characterized using various techniques: Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis to determine specific surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD) to analyze crystal structure, infrared spectroscopy (IR) to identify surface functional groups, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to examine surface morphology, and zeta potential measurements to assess surface charge. The BET specific surface area of the synthesized materials was 475 m2/g for activated carbon, 88 m2/g for TiO2-AC(1:3), and 48 m2/g for pure TiO2. The adsorption and photocatalytic kinetics of MB, CIP, and TRI degradation were evaluated using the synthesized hybrid materials. The results showed that pH significantly influenced degradation efficiency: the optimal photocatalytic activity for TRI and CIP was observed at pH 7, while MB degradation was most effective at pH 9.
The increasing demand for natural ingredients in cosmetic applications has highlighted Centella asiatica as a potential source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties. This study was evaluated the effect of maceration time on the extraction yield and antioxidant activity of C. asiatica using 70% ethanol as a solvent. Maceration periods of 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42 hours were investigated to determine the optimal extraction condition. The results showed that the 18-hour maceration produced the strongest antioxidant activity, indicated by the lowest IC50 value of approximately 25 µg/mL, whereas longer extraction times reduced activity due to possible degradation of bioactive compounds. FTIR analysis identified hydroxyl (O–H), carbonyl (C=O), and C–O functional groups associated with phenolic, flavonoid, and triterpenoid compounds. The extracts were incorporated into anti-aging cream formulations, which were evaluated for pH, viscosity, spreadability, moisture retention, and sensory properties. Formulation F4 exhibited the highest consumer acceptance with balanced physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant performance. These findings demonstrate that optimizing maceration time is essential for enhancing the bioactive potential of C. asiatica extracts for cosmetic applications.
This study evaluated the potential of the EM38-MK2 Electromagnetic Induction (EMI) device—applied for the first time in Viet Nam—to estimate soil water content (SWC) and porosity across three sites in Nghe An province, representing diverse terrains and soil conditions. Ridge regression models correlated EMI data with laboratory-analyzed soil properties. The results showed strong accuracy in predicting moisture content suitable for agricultural applications, whereas porosity predictions require further refinement. High-resolution maps generated at three different depths effectively captured spatial variations in soil properties, offering a faster, cost-effective alternative to traditional sampling. Future research recommendations include: integrating artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to improve soil property predictions; combining EMI with other geophysical techniques to provide complementary data and enhance prediction reliability; testing across diverse soil types nationwide; assessing the impact of environmental factors on EMI measurements and developing minimization strategies; creating user-friendly software and decision support systems for farmers and practitioners to interpret and utilize EMI data for informed management decisions.
This article proposes a new design for a double excitation synchronous machine. The end-shields with an L-shaped core are introduced to lower the magnetic resistance. The analyses are accomplished by using a three-dimensional finite element method, required by the truly three-dimensional flux paths of the machine. The length of the end shield was varied from 1 mm to 23 mm, and the resulting flux control curves were compared to those of the base model. The design with an end-shield length of 17 mm was chosen as the best compromise. Compared to the base model, this design widens the flux control range from 3.569 mWb to 3.883 mWb (+8.8 %) and increases the slope of the curve in the linear region from 0.367 mWb/A to 0.565 mWb/A (+53.9 %), at the cost of a mass increase from 17.36 kg to 18.16 kg (+4.6 %). The minimum flux achieved was 0.65 mWb at a field current of 4.3 A, instead of 7 A, indicating a significant 62% reduction in field winding copper losses.
Lectins are a diverse class of carbohydrate-binding proteins found throughout nature, known for their significant biological and therapeutic potential. They play crucial roles in immune modulation, pathogen recognition, antiviral defense, and cancer inhibition. Due to their biomedical importance, the purification of lectins in a pure and structurally intact form is essential for precise structural and functional studies. Among various purification methods, gel filtration chromatography (GFC) has proven to be a reliable and gentle technique for separating lectins according to molecular size while preserving their natural conformation and bioactivity. This review summarizes the use of GFC for lectin purification from diverse sources such as plants, fungi, algae, animals, and microorganisms. GFC effectively distinguishes monomeric, dimeric, and multimeric lectins, offering insights into their molecular weight, structural integrity, and homogeneity. Although the method maintains protein activity and compatibility with downstream analyses, it shows limited resolution for proteins of similar molecular size, often requiring additional purification steps. Overall, GFC remains a fundamental and versatile technique in lectin purification, contributing substantially to advancements in analytical chemistry, glycoscience, immunology, and pharmaceutical research. This review comprehensively summarizes the role of gel filtration chromatography as a gentle, size-based technique for purifying lectins from diverse biological sources while preserving their structural integrity and bioactivity.
