Food Processing Waste in Vietnam: Utilization and Prospects in Food Industry for Sustainability Development

Vietnam is a country that produces a variety of agricultural products, including vegetables, tubers, fruits, and processed products. Along with the increase in population, the demand for consumers also increases, and the by-products of farming are increasing and being discharged into the environment. This is one of the critical research issues that need to be solved to ensure sustainability in agriculture. This review summarized recent studies on familiar sources of by-products in Vietnam, such as banana peels, citrus peels, dragon fruit skins, rice bran, and rice husks, and their potential in the food industry. Some solutions are also proposed to solve and turn this low-value raw material into a high-value product and serve a variety of products and consumers in the food industry. Especially after the COVID19 pandemic, the by-products contain valuable and reusable biological resources. These compounds could be future applications to support improving the consumer's immune system and various health benefits. Processed and utilized by-products from food production could not only help increase incomes for farmers, especially in developing countries like Vietnam but also could aid in ensuring food security and sustainability in agricultural production.

Integration of RFID strategic value attributes mechanism decision in apparel supply chain: fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS approach

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the radio frequency identification (RFID) strategic value attributes (RFIDSVAs) mechanism selections preferences and also integration of RFID tags with technology coordination tools (IRTWTCTs) alternatives ranking performance decisions in supply chain management (SCM). RFID-enabled techno-economic feasibility decisions are enhancing the SC visibility in apparel supply chains (ASCs). The RFIDSVAs mechanism selections have performed significant agility to strategic competitive advantages, namely, inventory visibility, multi-tags ownership transfer within trusted third party, etc.Design/methodology/approachFuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) and FAHP-fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) approaches have been used to evaluate the quantitative assessment of RFIDSVA mechanisms selection decision based on weight priority orders and IRTWTCTs alternatives selection in ASC networks. The comparison of FAHP and FAHP-FTOPSIS approaches to evaluate the integrated framework develop in RFIDSVAs mechanisms and IRTWTCTs alternatives selection decisions in Indian multi-tier ASC networks.FindingsThe result found that the FAHP-FTOPSIS approaches have used to prioritizing the RFIDSVA mechanism selection weights and also identify the IRTWTCTs alternatives ranking preferences order in apparel SCM. The comparison between the FAHP and FAHP-FTOPSIS approach to quantitative assessments from RFIDSVA mechanisms and IRTWTCTs alternatives selection decisions, which enable them SC agility potential across multi-tier visibility in ASC networks. ASC stakeholders can be benefited by techno-economic feasibility decisions, RFID-enabled shop floor activities, multi-tags ownerships transfer in SCs and knowledge-based cryptography tags/items separation in SCs.Research limitations/implicationsThe research work has considered only five RFIDSVA mechanisms and also three integration of RFIDTWTCTs alternatives in multi-tier ASC. The strategic competitive advantages are achieved by RFID-enabled break-even tags price decisions and also techno-economic feasibility decision by contractual design multi-tier SC stakeholder's involvements.Practical implicationsThe pilot project study explores that the quantitative assessment decision has based on RFID-enable techno-economic feasibility in ASCs. Stakeholders can be benefited by inventory control of the financial losses, reducing the inventory inaccuracies and multi-tags ownership transfer within trusted third-party traceability in ASC networks.Originality/valueThis study explores the RFID-enabled apparel SC process and activities visibility (natural fibre's fibre producer, fibre dyeing producer, yarn spinning producer, knitting and finishing producer).

ID: 215433 The History of Spinal Cord Stimulation to Treat Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Introduction: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common neuropathic syndrome seen in patients with diabetes. Roughly 30% of the diabetes patient population1 experience painful DPN symptoms including bilateral stabbing or burning pain in addition to numbness in the feet and lower legs. Traditionally painful DPN symptoms have been treated with conventional medical management (CMM) including glycemic control, general risk factor management, as well as pharmaceutical agents. These treatment approaches are often unsuccessful in the long-term1. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been demonstrated as an effective treatment for painful DPN of the lower extremities with multiple publications dating back to 1996 showing benefits of SCS for pain relief and improved Quality of Life (QoL) in DPN patients (Figure 1)2-18. Method(s): A systematic literature review of the robust body of evidence for SCS in the treatment of painful DPN was conducted. Publications were selected for inclusion by two independent reviewers using defined selection criteria. Additional relevant publications from outside the search dates were included. Result(s): SCS was first documented as an effective treatment for DPN in three single-arm studies published between 1996 and 20122,4,5, one of which was followed-up to thirty-six months18, and another to seven-years3. These studies paved the way for two RCTs published in 20146,7, one of which was followed-up to five-years in two publications8,10, and another7 was followed-up with analyses on QoL9 and an evaluation of the effects of burst SCS17. Two meta-analyses were published in 2020 and 202111,12. A post-hoc analysis of a multi-center single-arm study on high frequency (10kHz) SCS to treat DPN was published in 202013 and followed by an RCT published in 202114 with additional 1-year follow-up15,16. Collectively these studies demonstrate that SCS is an effective therapy for patients with painful DPN by reducing pain and increasing QoL for DPN patients (Figure 1). Conclusion(s): This review of a large body of evidence shows a decades-long history of the effectiveness of SCS for symptom relief in patients suffering from painful DPN. Future research on the effectiveness of new waveforms and novel methods of energy delivery to the spinal cord are needed. The study of outcomes in addition to pain relief is also needed, which may better illustrate the breadth of effects of SCS therapy on the underlying disease factors. Increasing awareness of the current evidence is essential to increasing therapy adoption by expanding payer support and influencing referring health care provider behavior. Disclosure: Eric Grigsby, MD: AE Mann Foundation: Consulting Fee: Self, Bioness Inc.: Consulting Fee: Self, Medallion Therapeutics: Consulting Fee: Self, Medtronic: Consulting Fee: Self, SPR Therapeutics: Consultant: Self, Tenex Health: Consultant: Self, Voyager Therapeutics: Consultant: Self, Xalud: Consulting Fee: Self, AE Mann Foundation: Consulting Fee: Self, Medallion Therapeutics: Consulting Fee: Self, Bioness Inc.: N/A: Self, Medallion Therapeutics: N/A: Self, SPR Therapeutics: N/A: Self, Abbott / St. Jude Medical: N/A: Self, Tenex: N/A: Self, Vertos: N/A: Self, Xalud: N/A: Self, AE Mann Foundation: Consulting Fee: Self, Bioness Inc.: Consulting Fee: Self, Medtronic, Inc.: N/A: Self, Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.: Trustee: Self, Flowonix Medical: Served on speakers' bureau: Self, Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Served on speakers' bureau: Self, Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Trustee: Self, Spinal Restoration, Inc.: Trustee: Self, Jazz Pharmaceuticals: N/A: Self, Alfred Mann Foundation: N/A: Self, Boston Scientific: N/A: Self, CNS Therapeutics: N/A: Self, Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.: N/A: Self, Flowonix Medical: N/A: Self, Jazz Pharmaceuticals: N/A: Self, Medtronic, Inc.: N/A: Self, Myoscience: N/A: Self, NeurAxon Inc.: N/A: Self, Spinal Restoration, Inc.: N/A: Self, St. Jude Medical, Inc.: N/A: Self, Abbott Laboratories: Consultant: Self, Alfred Mann Foundation: Consulting Fee: Self, Cervel Neurotech, Inc.: Consultant: Self, CNS Therapeutics: Consultant: Self, Covidien: Consultant: Self, Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultant: Self, Flowonix Medical: Consultant: Self, Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultant: Self, Mainstay Medical: Consultant: Self, Medtronic, Inc.: Consultant: Self, Myoscience: Consultant: Self, NeuroPhage Pharmaceuticals: Consultant: Self, Nevro Corp: Consultant: Self, Palyon: Consultant: Self, Spinal Modulation: Consultant: Self, SPR Therapeutics: Consultant: Self, St. Jude Medical, Inc.: Consultant: Self, Tenex Health, Inc.: Consultant: Self, VertiFlex Inc.: Consultant: Self, Vertos Medical, Inc.: Consultant: Self, Xalud Therapeutics, Inc.: Contracted Research: Self, Medtronic, Inc.: Served on speakers' bureau: Self, Flowonix Medical: Served on advisory board: Self, Medtronic, Inc.: N/A: Self, Jazz Pharmaceuticals: N/A: Self, Medtronic, Inc.: Ownership Interest: Own Stock, Stock Options, Future Stock Options: Self, Nevro Corp: Ownership Interest: Own Stock, Stock Options, Future Stock Options: Self, Rachel Slangen, PhD: None, Lisa Johanek, PhD: Medtronic: Salary/Employee: Self, Maddie LaRue, PHD: Medtronic: Employee:, Cecile de Vos, PhD: None, Melissa Murphy: Medtronic: Consulting Fee:, Relievant: Consulting Fee:Copyright © 2023

Optical fibers sensors for detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection

In this chapter, the main techniques that use light to monitor and detect viruses and biomolecules will be presented, including Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), Localized-Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), luminescence, and others. It will also be discussed the devices used to build biosensors and, in addition, the chemical modifications in waveguides to improve and innovate such technologies. Besides, it will also address how optical devices and materials are being explored in the detection and diagnosis of the new coronavirus, as some aspects related to the biological structure of SARS-CoV-2 and its detection. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023. All rights reserved.

Innovative Ingredients Fortified Nutrients Enriched Biscuits and Cookies: Quality and Sensory Analyses

Global suffering from COVID-19 has necessitated augmenting the immunity systems of humans through consumption of macro-micro-nutrients and antioxidant-enriched fortified foods. In this article, fortifications of popular bakery products, viz. biscuits, cookies, have been reviewed, encompassing the novel fortifying ingredients and innovative methods employed with an emphasis on the overall enrichment in the final product quality. A few notable features concerning novel fortified biscuit and fortified cookie have been decisively summarized. Wheat flour blended with 40% sesame-cake flour resulted in a fortified biscuit possessing higher protein (16.6%), crude fat (16.95%), and dietary fiber (8.2%) with acceptable sensory characteristics. About 9% toting up of chicken-eggshell dried-powder could result in high Ca content in biscuits with customary changes in texture and sensory properties. A remarkable 5% addition of bee pollen to wheat flour appreciably improved the nutrient compositions (carbohydrate 65.18%, protein 7.32%, and total dietary-fiber 1.47%) along with high polyphenol and antioxidant potentials. Notably, mixing fish fillet protein concentrate with wheat flour could yield enhanced nutritional content (protein 14.63-19.52%, fat 16.2-16.5%), as well as augmented amino acids. Remarkably, wheat flour fortified with fermented jack bean flour resulted in an overall fortified biscuit with substantial carbohydrate, crude protein, fat, fiber, ash, and appreciable macro-micro mineral contents and sensory characteristics. Innovative fortified cookies were made by blending wheat flour or Brewer's spent grain flour with one or more ingredients, e.g. full fat soya, mushroom, cardamom powder, moringa leaves, coconut, sweet potato flour rendering amplified values of nutrients, superior physical properties, increased mineral and flavonoid contents and organoleptic qualities.Copyright © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.

A Simple, Pipette-free, and Power-free Device for Virus Nucleic Acid Detection

A portable, inexpensive, and easy-to-manufacture microfluidic device is developed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 dsDNA fragments. In this device, four reaction chambers separated by carbon fiber rods are pre-loaded with isothermal amplification and CRISPR-Cas12a reagents. The reaction is carried out by simply pulling the rods, without the need for manual pipetting. To facilitate power-free pathogen detection, the entire detection is designed to be heated with a disposable hand warmer. After the CRISPR reaction, the fluorescence signal generated by positive samples is identified by naked eye, using an inexpensive flashlight. This simple and sensitive device will serve as a new model for the next-generation viral diagnostics in either hospital or resource-limited settings. © 2023 SPIE.

Use of polypropylene fibers extracted from recycled surgical face masks in cement mortar.

The use of personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly single-use surgical face masks (FMs), has increased drastically owing to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. This study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing recycled FM fibers in cement mortar. For this, FMs were used by removing the inner nose wires and ear loops and cutting them into two different sizes: 10 mm × 5 mm and 20 mm × 5 mm. The FMs were then introduced into five mixtures at 0 (control), 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.25 % by volume. The following mechanical properties of the mixtures were then tested: workability, density, porosity, water absorption, and the related strengths (compressive, direct tensile, and flexural). In addition, the microstructures of the mixtures were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. The results revealed that introducing FM fibers, particularly an FM with a 5 mm diameter and 10 mm length, in the mortar increased both the tensile and flexural strengths. Among the various combinations of FMs studied, a mixture containing 0.15 % FMs exhibited the best performance. The findings of this research reveal that FMs can be reused as fibers to enhance the tensile and flexural strengths of cement mortar.

Biodegradable Bio-based Material for Wearable Air Filtering Skin

COVID-19, imagine having a temporary lip sticker that offers the protection of an n95 mask without the uncomfortable bulk. Using green electrospun nanofibers the lip sticker filters the virus and can communicate geospatial data to your phone using embedded NFC technology. Available in different designs and skins, some fiber formations can display temperature changes on your face. This paper investigates several prototypes of the described product. © 2022 Owner/Author.

Autoimmune Peripheral Neuropathies

Autoimmune peripheral neuropathies (APNs) occur when immunological tolerance to peripheral nerve components (myelin, axon, or ganglionic neurons) is lost. The most common APNs are acute inflammatory polyneuropathies, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), immunoglobulin M (IgM)–anti–myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) antibody–mediated paraproteinemic neuropathy, and those caused by vasculitis or viral infections. Both cellular and humoral factors, either independently or in concert with each other, appear to play a role, but the specific immune mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Infectious agents, such as Campylobacter jejuni and Zika virus via molecular mimicry, and now COVID-19, are implicated in some GBS subtypes, but the factors that break tolerance in the other APNs remain unknown. In some acute or chronic APN, antibodies against peripheral nerve glycolipids or glycoproteins are pathogenic and well characterized. Pathogenic IgG4 antibodies against antigens at the nodes of Ranvier that cause disadhesion of nodal and paranodal proteins and conduction block define distinct CIDP subtypes, which respond only to rituximab. Some newly emerging, not pathogenic, autoantibodies more commonly seen in small fiber sensory neuropathies and neuropathic pains are briefly discussed. The current immunotherapies in all APNs are described based on controlled trials or clinical experience. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Advances in medical textiles

Medical textile is one of the technical textiles sectors, growing faster due to developments in polymer science and technology and innovation in forming new textile structures. In this review, current market trends for the growth of medical textiles for both pre and post covid pandemic periods were discussed. Focus is given to the classification of medical textiles and devices, specific requirements of fibers and widely used types of fibers, and advanced developments in this field, including nanofibers, bicomponent fibers, superabsorbent polymers, and conductive materials used in a wide range of advanced medical devices. Various fabric structures (woven/knitted/nonwoven/braided) have been in use in biomedical devices;however, recent 3D shaped structures such as spacer fabrics, and 3D-printed materials have profoundly marked their significance with its ability to adapt to specific needs of the medical community. Smart wearable sensor technologies for monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment are discussed and critically reviewed, enabling the readers to understand the complexity of the nature of interdisciplinary approaches required for developing such complex structures and systems. Antimicrobial agents (synthetic and natural/organic) used in the development of medical textiles mainly wound dressings, advances in antiadhesive textile coatings, and antimicrobial assessments of medical fabrics are critically reviewed. Finally, a case study on 3D printing of complex structures is presented to update modern developments using fine detail resolution (FDR), a selective laser sintering that uses carbon dioxide laser to produce delicate and complex 3D structures suitable for medical applications. It is anticipated that readers will benefit from this critical overview of trends in this sector and the multidisciplinary approaches needed to meet the demands of the ever-growing consumer base. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The separation membranes in artificial organs

Separation membranes play a crucial role in the functioning of artificial organs, such as hemodialysis machines, membrane oxygenators, and artificial liver models. The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of these technologies in the medical community. However, membrane technology in artificial organs faces significant challenges, such as the clearance of low-middle-molecule and protein-bound toxins and limited blood compatibility. In this review, we will discuss the separation mechanisms, separation performance, and biocompatibility of different types of separation membranes used in artificial organs. We will also highlight the opportunities and challenges for next-generation membrane technology in this field, including the need for improved clearance of toxins and increased blood compatibility, as well as the potential for microfluidic devices.

Pole-to-pole involvement of varicella zoster virus reactivation following COVID-19 vaccination.

The aim of this study is to report the clinical features, imaging findings including confocal imaging, corneal nerve fiber analysis, and management outcomes in a series of three cases of varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation following one dose of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. This was a retrospective and observational study. All the patients who developed uveitis post-vaccination were pooled together. Patients who had VZV reactivation were included. Two cases had polymerase chain reaction positive for VZV from aqueous humor. At the time of presentation, IgG and IgM spike protein antibodies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) were tested. Out of this pool, three patients with classical features to describe pole-to-pole manifestations were chosen. A 36-year-old lady with post-vaccination sclerokeratouveitis associated with reactivation of herpes zoster ophthalmicus, a 56-year-old lady with post-vaccination acute anterior uveitis associated with herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and a 43-year-old gentleman with post-vaccination acute retinal necrosis were included. We present a possible link between anti-SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccination and varicella zoster reactivation in these patients and also describe the clinical features, imaging findings including confocal imaging, corneal nerve fiber analysis, and management with detailed discussion.

Ultra-sensitive Detection of Alzheimer's Biosmarkers Using Plasmonic Optical Fiber Sensors

The emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic has drawn great attention to vulnerable people affected by major diseases. Among them, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent disease. However, a long-standing challenge is to achieve early diagnosis of AD by detecting biomarkers such as amyloid beta (Aβ42), thus avoiding the labor of specialized hospital personnel and the high cost of imaging examinations using positron emission tomography. In this paper, we report a straightforward approach to realize a non-invasive lab-around fiber (LaF) optical sensor for AD biomarker detection, which is based on a tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) combined with a nanoscale metallic thin film. We successfully demonstrated the detection of Aβ42 in complex biological matrices with a detection limit of 5 pg/mL. Therefore, our TFBG-SPR biosensor platform enables large-scale early disease screening and has great potential for clinical applications in early AD diagnosis. © 2022 IEEE.

Numerical Investigation on Silicon based Hollow Core Photonic Crystal Fiber for sensing Multiple Virus

In recent years, spread of infection due to virus became whirlwind and creates threat to life in multiple ways. Hence there is in need to sense virus as early as possible in easier way. In this work we propose a multi virus sensor which senses IBV, H5N1, H9N2, and H4N6.Very low refractive index is sensed in this work with increased birefringence due to its elliptical core, where the samples are infiltrated. Numerical analysis is done using Finite Element Method. Among these 4 viruses, IBV has higher sensitivity, birefringence and lower confinement loss which belong to COVID family.88.56% of sensitivity is obtained at 1550nm with low confinement loss. © 2022 IEEE.

Mucin-Inspired Single-Chain Polymer (MIP) Fibers as Potent SARS-CoV-2 Inhibitors.

Mucins are the key component of the defensive mucus barrier. They are extended fibers of very high molecular weight with diverse biological functions depending strongly on their specific structural parameters. Here, we present a mucin-inspired nanostructure, produced via a synthetic methodology to prepare methacrylate-based dendronized polysulfates (MIP-1) on a multi gram-scale with high molecular weight (MW=450 kDa) and thiol end-functionalized mucin-inspired polymer (MIP) via RAFT polymerization. Cryo-electron tomography (Cryo-ET) analysis of MIP-1 confirmed a mucin-mimetic wormlike single-chain fiber structure (length=144±59 nm) in aqueous solution. This biocompatible fiber showed promising activity against SARS-CoV-2 and its mutant strain, with a remarkable low half maximal (IC50 ) inhibitory concentration (IC50 =10.0 nM). Additionally, we investigate the impact of fiber length on SARS-CoV-2 inhibition by testing other functional polymers (MIPs) of varying fiber lengths.

Ultra-sensitive and specific detection of pathogenic nucleic acids using composite-excited hyperfine plasma spectroscopy combs sensitized by Au nanoarrays functionalized with 2D Ta2C-MXene.

Accurate and rapid screening techniques on a population scale are crucial for preventing and managing epidemics like COVID-19. The standard gold test for nucleic acids in pathogenic infections is primarily the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). However, this method is not suitable for widespread screening due to its reliance on large-scale equipment and time-consuming extraction and amplification processes. Here, we developed a collaborative system that combines high-load hybridization probes targeting N and OFR1a with Au NPs@Ta2C-M modified gold-coated tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) sensors to enable direct nucleic acid detection. Multiple activation sites of SARS-CoV-2 were saturable modified on the surface of a homogeneous arrayed AuNPs@Ta2C-M/Au structure based on a segmental modification approach. The combination of hybrid probe synergy and composite polarisation response in the excitation structure results in highly specific hybridization analysis and excellent signal transduction of trace target sequences. The system demonstrates excellent trace specificity, with a limit of detection of 0.2 pg/mL, and achieves a rapid response time of 1.5 min for clinical samples without amplification. The results showed high agreement with the RT-PCR test (Kappa index = 1). And the gradient-based detection of 10-in-1 mixed samples exhibits high-intensity interference immunity and excellent trace identification. Therefore, the proposed synergistic detection platform has a good tendency to curb the global spread of epidemics such as COVID-19.

Safety and efficacy of video DLT (VDLT) for lung isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

One lung ventilation (OLV) with collapse of the ipsilateral lung is a prerequisite for most thoracic surgical procedures. Double-lumen tube (DLT) is still the preferred method to isolate the lungs and fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) is the gold standard for the confirmation of correct placement of the DLT. However, both these procedures are considered as a high-aerosol-generating procedures and are hazardous to the health workers, particularly at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. We did nine thoracic surgery cases categorized as essential, requiring OLV during the ongoing period of the COVID-19 between April 2020 and May 2020 where we used Full view DLT for lung isolation. We present our case series which shows that the Full view VDLT can minimize or circumvent the use of FOB during OLV, and reduce the time taken to isolate the lungs thus reducing aerosol in the theater. None of the nine patients required FOB for confirmation of initial positioning nor for diagnosis of intraoperative malposition. The time taken to isolate the lungs was significantly less and the surgical positioning was done under real-time monitoring by visualizing the blue cuff distal to carina at all times. The real-time monitoring by the Full view VDLT offers the additional advantage of detecting any malposition even before it results in loss of isolation or desaturation. We conclude that the Full view VDLT is an efficient and safe alternative for lung isolation at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preparation of green-solvent-based polyamide nanofiber membrane and its air filtration performance

Objective The epidemic of COVID-19 and its variants is endangering human health. Wearing protective masks can effectively reduce the infection risk by resisting the inhalation of the polluted air containing the coronavirus. Electrospun polyamide nanofibers can be used as the core layer of protective masks and have lately received growing attention because of their high filtration performance and robust mechanical properties. However, existing electrospun polyamide nanofiber filters are usually prepared from toxic solvents which could cause severe environmental pollution and endanger workers' health, hence, their practical application should be restricted. Therefore, it is imperative to seek and develop green-solvent-based polyamide nanofiber filters. Method Innovative polyamide nanofiber filters were developed by direct electrospinning technique based on green solvents (Fig. 1). Ethanol as the solvent and water as the nonsolvent were adopted to prepare the green-solvent-based polyamide (GSPA) nanofibers by designing spinning solutions with different ethanol/water mass ratios (i.e., 10: 0, 9: 1, 8: 2, 7: 3, and 6: 4) . During electrospinning process, the working voltage, tip-to-collector distance, and solution extrusion speed were set as 30 kV, 15 cm and 1 mL/h, respectively. The nanofibers prepared with the different ethanol/water ratios were denoted as GSPA - 0, GSPA - 1, GSPA - 2, GSPA-3, and GSPA-4, respectively. Results It was found that water content had a great influence on the morphological structures of polyamide nanofibers (Fig. 2) - After introducing a small amount of water, the obtained GSPA - 1 nanofibers featuring thinner diameter of 332 nm were compared to the GSPA-0 nanofibers (499 nm). The enhanced conductivity (10. 5 μS/cm) of waterborne spinning solutions (Fig. 3) stimulated more charges on spinning jets and led to larger electrostatic force, thus greatly elongating the jets and thinning the fiber diameter. However, with the further increment of water concentrations from 20% to 40%, the obtained fibers exhibited an increased average diameter ranging from 443 to 1 553 nm, which was mainly attributed to the larger viscosity of spinning solutions. Although water cannot dissolve polyamide, homogenous waterborne polyamide/ethanol solutions can still be obtained with different ethanol/water mass ratios within a broad area in the stable region (Fig. 3) - The average pore size of GSPA -1 membranes decreased by 55% compared with that of GSPA-0 membranes, contributing to high filtration efficiency. Moreover, with different concentrations (10%, 20%, 30%) of water, the fluffy structure of GSPA nanofibers were achieved with a high porosity (> 80%), which would offer more passageways to transmit air rapidly. As the water concentration increased, the breaking strength of membranes increased at first and then decreased (Fig. 5), and the GSPA- 1 membranes exhibited the highest breaking strength of 5. 6 MPa, which was believed to be related to the enhanced entanglements and contacts among the adjacent fibers because of the small fiber diameter. The GSPA -1 membranes displayed the highest filtration efficiency (99. 02%) for the most penetration particles (PM0.3) by virtue of the small fiber diameter but suffered from poor permeability with a pressure drop of 158 Pa. Moreover, the GSPA- 1 membranes possessed the highest quality factor of 0. 029 3 Pa, suggesting the optimal filtration performance among different GSPA membranes. A high PM0.3 removal efficiency (>95%) was achieved for GSPA-1 filters under various airflow velocities ranging from 10 to 90 L/min (Fig. 7). Compared with conventional melt-blown fibers, the GSPA nanofibers featured a smaller diameter and higher Knudsen number (Fig. 8), and PM0.3 were captured mainly on the surfaces of green polyamide nanofibers (Fig. 9), demonstrating the higher adsorption ability benefiting from the larger specific surface area. Conclusion A cleaner production of polyamide nanofibers for air filtration was proposed by direct electrospinning based on green and sustaina le binary solvents of water and ethanol. For the first time, the structure including fiber diameter, porosity, and pore size of electrospun polyamide nanofibers were precisely tailored by manipulating water concentration in spinning solutions. The prepared environmentally friendly polyamide nanofiber filters feature the interconnected porous structure with the nanoscale ID building blocks (332 nm), mean pore size (0.7 μm), and porosity (84%), thus achieving efficient PM0.3 capture performance with the filtration efficiency of 99. 02% and pressure drop of 158 Pa, which could be comparable to previous toxic-solvent-processed nanofibers. Moreover, the GSPA nanofibers exhibit robust mechanical properties with an impressive breaking strength (5 . 6 MPa) and elongation (163. 9%), contributing to withstanding the external forces and deformation in the practical assembly and usage of resultant filters. It is envisaged that the green-solvent-based polyamide nanofibers could be used as promising candidates for next-generation air filters, and the proposed waterborne spinning strategy can provide valuable insights for cleaner production of advanced polyamide textiles. © 2023 China Textile Engineering Society. All rights reserved.

Impact of Advertising Expenditure on the Sales of the Textile Industry (A Case Study of Leading Textile Companies in Pakistan)

[...]there is apparel for sale that has a limited lifespan and is deemed disposable (Gözet, B., and Wilts, H., 2022). [...]the sector has faced challenges such as increased production costs, energy tariffs, pricing, a lack of raw materials, obsolete technology, and a lack of investment. The country is shifting from exporting raw materials to value-added products, with significant increases in exports of readymade garments, knitwear, bedwear, towels, and cotton textiles. [...]global input cost increases and currency rate changes have increased the export sector's working capital needs (Goheer, 2022).

ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF USING COVID-19 MEDICAL MASK WASTE WITH POLYPROPYLENE ON THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH AND SPLIT TENSILE STRENGTH OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONCRETE

The coronavirus causing the Covid-19 pandemic has been experienced by us since 2020, which has led to an increase in the use of disposable medical masks in Indonesia and even worldwide. Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer used as the main ingredient in medical masks that takes more than 25 years to decompose in landfills. This research offers an innovative way to use medical mask waste in high-performance concrete. The resulting medical mask waste is subjected to a sterilization process and cut into fibers to analyze the effect of its addition on the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of high-performance concrete. The research began with testing the physical and mechanical properties of the materials, designing a concrete mix using the absolute volume method, and taking samples for compression and splitting tests. The variation in the ratio of water-cement and pozzolanic materials w (c+p) is 0.32. As a result, the compressive strength of concrete increased with a fiber size of 5×0.5 cm and 2×0.5 cm. An increase is up to 7 % with an optimum value of 72.37 MPa with a fiber size of 2×0.5 cm and a content of 0.15 %. However, there was a decrease in the compressive strength with a 5×1 cm mask fiber size. The overall split tensile strength value of all variations in waste fiber size and content increased with an optimum value of 7.29 MPa at 0.20 % fiber content with a fiber size of 5×0.5 cm. This indicates that polypropylene fibers from medical mask waste have a positive effect on high-performance concrete, namely improve the properties of concrete with a low tensile strength, which is expected to inhibit the propagation and reduce the size of cracks in reinforced concrete structures © 2023