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Boosting Membrane Interactions and Antimicrobial Effects of Photocatalytic Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles by Peptide Coating
No full textPhotocatalytic nanoparticles offer antimicrobial effects under illumination due to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), capable of degrading bacterial membranes. ROS may, however, also degrade human cell membranes and trigger toxicity. Since antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) may display excellent selectivity between human cells and bacteria, these may offer opportunities to effectively “target” nanoparticles to bacterial membranes for increased selectivity. Investigating this, photocatalytic TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) are coated with the AMP LL-37, and ROS generation is found by C11-BODIPY to be essentially unaffected after AMP coating. Furthermore, peptide-coated TiO2 NPs retain their positive ζ-potential also after 1–2 h of UV illumination, showing peptide degradation to be sufficiently limited to allow peptide-mediated targeting. In line with this, quartz crystal microbalance measurements show peptide coating to promote membrane binding of TiO2 NPs, particularly so for bacteria-like anionic and cholesterol-void membranes. As a result, membrane degradation during illumination is strongly promoted for such membranes, but not so for mammalian-like membranes. The mechanisms of these effects are elucidated by neutron reflectometry. Analogously, LL-37 coating promoted membrane rupture by TiO2 NPs for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, but not for human monocytes. These findings demonstrate that AMP coating may selectively boost the antimicrobial effects of photocatalytic NPs. The authors thank ILL (Proposal number 9‐13‐924) and ISIS (https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2210096) for access to neutron beam time and solid‐liquid interface cells. The research was funded by the Swedish Research Council (Grant numbers 2021–05498; MM, LC), Independent Research Fund Denmark (Grant number 9040‐00020B; MM and EPO), as well as the LEO Foundation Center for Cutaneous Drug Delivery (Grant number 15007; MP and MM). The Swedish Research Council and the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research were also acknowledged for access to nCHREM via ARTEMI, the Swedish National Infrastructure in Advanced Electron Microscopy (Grants No. 2021‐00171 and No. RIF21‐0026). Funding Sources: Neutron beam time was awarded at ILL (Proposal number 9‐13‐924) and ISIS (RB2210096). The research was funded by the Swedish Research Council (Grant numbers 2021–05498; MM, LC), the Independent Research Fund Denmark (Grant number 9040‐00020B; MM, EPO, and LC), as well as the LEO Foundation Center for Cutaneous Drug Delivery (Grant number 15007; MP, MM).</p
A new method and first results for comparing emissions of fumes during construction of asphalt surfaces
No full textA novel laboratory methodology for analysing hot asphalt fumes from various paving materials is presented and evaluated. This method facilitates comparative assessments, aiming to enhance occupational safety for asphalt workers and ensure safe implementation of new paving materials. Comparative analyses of emissions to air were conducted on standard asphalt and rubber-modified asphalt at different temperatures. The temperature significantly influences PAH emissions. Rubber-modified asphalt demonstrated higher PAH emissions at equivalent temperatures compared to standard asphalt, predominantly naphthalene. Even heavier PAHs as benzo(a)pyrene were occasionally high. Notably, at recommended working temperatures the standard asphalt resulted in higher emissions, comprising heavier PAHs compared to rubber asphalt. © 2024 The AuthorsThis work was supported by VINNOVA and performed in cooperation with PEAB Asphalt AB and Rang-Sells. The authors would like to thank Lars Jansson and Lennart Holmqvist from PEAB Asphalt AB for their interest, knowledge and support in the lab.</p
FRIC webinar: Effekten av Bjørnis - Studie av effekten av Bjørnis på brannsikkerheten i norske husstander
No full textDate: 13 februar 2024, kl 11.</p
Inorganic Chemistry during Pyrolysis, Gasification, and Oxyfuel Combustion of Kraft Pulping Black Liquor
No full textChanged utilization of black liquor in the pulp and paper industry has the potential to offer simplified carbon capture and, thus, negative net emissions from these large point sources. This can be achieved either by adapting existing recovery boilers to oxyfuel combustion or by replacing them with black liquor gasification technology. In this work, the chemistry during black liquor conversion was therefore studied in detail under different atmospheres relevant for pyrolysis, gasification, and oxyfuel combustion. Experiments were performed using environmental scanning transmission electron microscopy (ESTEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), supported with thermodynamic equilibrium calculations (TECs) to understand and interpret the results. Black liquor conversion was found to be generally similar in air and oxyfuel atmospheres containing approximately 20-25 mol % oxygen. The results however indicated that there was a higher probability of forming carbonates in the melt at higher carbon dioxide (CO2) partial pressures, which in addition was found to be associated with potentially higher sulfur loss during black liquor conversion. Both of these characteristics can negatively affect the chemical recycling at the pulp mill by increasing the need for lime and makeup chemicals.This work was made possible through funding from the Swedish Energy Agency’s initiative “The Industrial Leap”, project P2020-90041.</p
Advanced sorting technologies in the waste sector : Case studies compilation
No full textThe use of AI and digital tools will have an impact on the waste and energy sector. When applied to waste sorting, advance sorted technologies should allow to increase the type and number of materials that can be separated, improve quality, optimize process in terms of efficiency, time,and costs; but they will also reduce the need for humans (manual sorting) in this work environment as they will turn into mostly automatized processes, having a positive impact on social aspects. The use of cutting-edge technology results in a double environmental positive effect: (i) material is recovered to be sent to recycling preventing the extraction of virgin material/new resources; (ii) some of the material recovered escapes from being landfilled or incinerated and avoiding incineration of recyclable waste fractions such as fossil-derived plastics leads to a mitigation of the CO2 emissions from the WtE plants limiting this pathway to unrecyclable fractions.This report is a compilation of case studies highlighting the use of new technologies in the waste management industry for increasing material recovery of recyclable waste fractions that otherwise might go to energy recovery or be landfilled. The material sorted contributes to reach the recycling targets set by, for instance, EU. The cases included in this compilation are: SITE ZERO (Svensk Plaståtervinning i Motola AB): The smart sorting technology in Site Zero, a state-of-the-art plastic sorting plant in Sweden, aims to realize a circular economy for plastic packaging. It has the capacity to receive all the plastic packaging generated by the Swedish households; and sorts mixed plastic packaging from households into 12 different fractions. The novelty of this plant relies on the combination of different technologies.AMP ONE Cleveland (AMP): This facility is a showcase for the use of AI-powered sortation to increase recycling rates and economically recover recyclables in the USA. It sorts all traditional recyclable products (i.e. HDPE, PP), but also sorts custom streams such as bales by colour and opacity, pyrolysis feedstock, and methanolysis feedstock
Key economic figures of the blue economy in Sweden : Data brief
No full textThe purpose of this data brief is to compile existing data on the size, contribution, and distribution of the Swedish Blue Economy within the national economy, addressing internal knowledge gaps and informing future work of the Living Labs in C2B2
Measurement properties of the Body Awareness Scale Movement Quality (BAS MQ) in persons on the autism spectrum : A preliminary Rasch analysis
No full textBackground: Persons on the autism spectrum exhibit poorer body awareness than neurotypical persons. Since movement quality may be regarded as an expression of body awareness, assessment of movement quality is important. Sound assessments of measurement properties are essential if reliable decisions about body awareness interventions for persons on the autism spectrum are to be made, but there is insufficient research. Objective: To assess measurement properties of the Body Awareness Scale Movement Quality (BAS MQ) in an autism and a neurotypical reference group. Methods: Persons on the autism spectrum (n=108) and neurotypical references (n=32) were included. All were assessed with BAS MQ. Data were analyzed according to the Rasch model. Results: BAS MQ was found to have acceptable unidimensionality, supported by the fit statistics. The hierarchical ordering showed that coordination ability was the most difficult, followed by stability and relating. Response category functioning worked as intended for 19 out of 23 items. There were few difficult items, which decreased targeting. Reliability measures were good. BAS MQ discriminated between the autism and the reference groups, with the autism group exhibiting poorer movement quality, reflecting clinical observations and previous research. Conclusions: BAS MQ was found to have acceptable measurement properties, though suffering from problems with targeting item difficulty to person ability for persons on the autism spectrum. The BAS MQ may, along with experienced movement quality, contribute to clinically relevant information of persons on the autism spectrum, although we encourage refinements and further analyses to improve its measurement properties. We acknowledge all the participants. The study was supported by the Faculty of Medicine at Lund University, Sweden and funded by Habilitation & Health in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden; the Skaraborg Institute for Research and Development, Sweden; and the Renee Eander Fund, Sweden. The funding sources had no active involvement in the conduct of the research.</p
Effects of Gas Layer Thickness on Capillary Interactions at Superhydrophobic Surfaces
No full textStrongly attractive forces act between superhydrophobic surfaces across water due to the formation of a bridging gas capillary. Upon separation, the attraction can range up to tens of micrometers as the gas capillary grows, while gas molecules accumulate in the capillary. We argue that most of these molecules come from the pre-existing gaseous layer found at and within the superhydrophobic coating. In this study, we investigate how the capillary size and the resulting capillary forces are affected by the thickness of the gaseous layer. To this end, we prepared superhydrophobic coatings with different thicknesses by utilizing different numbers of coating cycles of a liquid flame spraying technique. Laser scanning confocal microscopy confirmed an increase in gas layer thickness with an increasing number of coating cycles. Force measurements between such coatings and a hydrophobic colloidal probe revealed attractive forces caused by bridging gas capillaries, and both the capillary size and the range of attraction increased with increasing thickness of the pre-existing gas layer. Hence, our data suggest that the amount of available gas at and in the superhydrophobic coating determines the force range and capillary growth. © 2024 The Authors.Paxton Juuti and Janne Haapanen (Tampere University, Tampere, Finland) are acknowledged for preparing the LFS coatings and Oskar Karlsson (Swerim, Stockholm, Sweden) for cross-sectional SEM imaging. M.E. thanks SSF, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (grant no. FID15-0029) and Omya International AG for funding. H.T. acknowledges the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for financial support. D.V. would like to acknowledge financial support via the Priority Programme 2171. A.S. is a researcher in Pro2BE at Karlstad University, a research environment for processes and products for a circular forest-based bioeconomy. </p
Pain Relieving Light - (How) Is it Possible?
No full textAbout 15% of the population suffer from migraines and it is estimated that about 40% of all people with migraines would benefit from preventive treatment, but only 3-13% use it. Migraine is a huge burden for society and individuals. Migraines can be intensified by light, and some patients need to stay in a dark room until the attack is over. People with this type of photosensitivity show a clear preference for light color, specifically green, which has been shown to be more comfortable and even pain relieving in some cases. We will present a feasibility study with the aim of preparing a series of experiments to investigate if regular short-term green-light-exposure can prevent migraines. We will present findings from the literature, developed light equipment, and plans for future testing of migraine friendly light solutions
Intratumoral delivery of the chitin-derived C100 adjuvant promotes robust STING, IFNAR, and CD8+ T cell-dependent anti-tumor immunity
No full textStimulator of IFN genes (STING) is a promising target for adjuvants utilized in in situ cancer vaccination approaches. However, key barriers remain for clinical translation, including low cellular uptake and accessibility, STING variability necessitating personalized STING agonists, and interferon (IFN)-independent signals that can promote tumor growth. Here, we identify C100, a highly deacetylated chitin-derived polymer (HDCP), as an attractive alternative to conventional STING agonists. C100 promotes potent anti-tumor immune responses, outperforming less deacetylated HDCPs, with therapeutic efficacy dependent on STING and IFN alpha/beta receptor (IFNAR) signaling and CD8+ T cell mediators. Additionally, C100 injection synergizes with systemic checkpoint blockade targeting PD-1. Mechanistically, C100 triggers mitochondrial stress and DNA damage to exclusively activate the IFN arm of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway and elicit sustained IFNAR signaling. Altogether, these results reveal an effective STING- and IFNAR-dependent adjuvant for in situ cancer vaccines with a defined mechanism and distinct properties that overcome common limitations of existing STING therapeutics. We thank Prof. Roger Greenberg for the Tmem173/ B16F10 cells utilized inthis study. We thank Dr. Barry Moran, manager of the Flow Cytometry Facilityat the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, and Comparative MedicineUnit staff at the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute for their valuable assistance. E.C.L., R.W.W., J.L.T., and N.M.W. received support from SFI investigator award 12/1A/1421 and Frontiers of the future award 19/FFP/6484.R.W.W. received support from IRC GOIPG/2019/4236. We thank Dr. JohnBrowne and Prof. Stephen Gordon at University College Dublin for providingaccess to NanoString and help with sample preparation and data analysis.</p