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Fulltext A Review of State-of-the-Art Microfluidic Technologies for Environmental Applications: Detection and Remediation

Yew M, Ren Y, Koh KS, Sun C, Snape C

Glob Chall, 2019 Jan;3(1):1800060.
PMID: 31565355 DOI: 10.1002/gch2.201800060

Microfluidic systems have advanced beyond natural and life science applications and lab-on-a-chip uses. A growing trend of employing microfluidic technologies for environmental detection has emerged thanks to the precision, time-effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of advanced microfluidic systems. This paper reviews state-of-the-art microfluidic technologies for environmental applications, such as on-site environmental monitoring and detection. Microdevices are extensively used in collecting environmental samples as a means to facilitate detection and quantification of targeted components with minimal quantities of samples. Likewise, microfluidic-inspired approaches for separation and treatment of contaminated water and air, such as the removal of heavy metals and waterborne pathogens from wastewater and carbon capture are also investigated.
Microfluidic formation of highly monodispersed multiple cored droplets using needle-based system in parallel mode

Lian Z, Chan Y, Luo Y, Yang X, Koh KS, Wang J, et al.

Electrophoresis, 2020 06;41(10-11):891-901.
PMID: 31998972 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201900403

Scale-up in droplet microfluidics achieved by increasing the number of devices running in parallel or increasing the droplet makers in the same device can compromise the narrow droplet-size distribution, or requires high fabrication cost, when glass- or polymer-based microdevices are used. This paper reports a novel way using parallelization of needle-based microfluidic systems to form highly monodispersed droplets with enhanced production rates yet in cost-effective way, even when forming higher order emulsions with complex inner structure. Parallelization of multiple needle-based devices could be realized by applying commercially available two-way connecters and 3D-printed four-way connectors. The production rates of droplets could be enhanced around fourfold (over 660 droplets/min) to eightfold (over 1300 droplets/min) by two-way connecters and four-way connectors, respectively, for the production of the same kind of droplets than a single droplet maker (160 droplets/min). Additionally, parallelization of four-needle sets with each needle specification ranging from 34G to 20G allows for simultaneous generation of four groups of PDMS microdroplets with each group having distinct size yet high monodispersity (CV < 3%). Up to six cores can be encapsulated in double emulsion using two parallelly connected devices via tuning the capillary number of middle phase in a range of 1.31 × 10-4 to 4.64 × 10-4 . This study leads to enhanced production yields of droplets and enables the formation of groups of droplets simultaneously to meet extensive needs of biomedical and environmental applications, such as microcapsules with variable dosages for drug delivery or drug screening, or microcapsules with wide range of absorbent loadings for water treatment.
Effect of variation in basic emulsion structure and polysaccharide content on the physicochemical properties and structure of composite-based emulsion gels as cube fat mimetics

Ren Y, Wei L, Hao Yoong J, Miao Z, Li H, Cao J, et al.

Food Chem, 2024 Feb 15;434:137450.
PMID: 37722331 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137450

This study aimed to reveal the effect of different basic emulsion structures (W/O/W and O/W) and polysaccharide additions on protein-polysaccharide composite-based emulsion gels utilizing soybean protein isolate, palm oil and konjac glucomannan. The results of texture profile, rheological tests, microstructure observations, and oral tribology showed that basic emulsion structures and konjac glucomannan addition had significant effect on the emulsion gels' properties, while the impact of konjac glucomannan addition was stronger. W/O/W double emulsion gels (DEG) exhibited lower oral friction coefficients and obtained higher scores for oiliness and juiciness during the sensory evaluation. However, O/W single emulsion gels (SEG) displayed a firmer texture and higher chewiness, a 29.62% and 49.57% increase compared to the DEG at 7% konjac glucomannan addition on the hardness and chewiness respectively. It has demonstrated the emulsion gels' potential as cube fat mimetics and feasibility of adjusting their properties by changing the basic emulsion structure.
Contemporaneous and temporal network analysis of complex Posttraumatic stress disorder among Chinese college students with Childhood adversity: A longitudinal study

Liu A, Ren Y, Yang S, Li Z, Zhu Z, Zhang LM, et al.

Psychiatry Res, 2024 Mar 24;336:115872.
PMID: 38581767 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115872

OBJECTIVE: To enhance understanding of the longitudinal progression of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) symptoms, this longitudinal study examined how CPTSD symptoms interact over time in Chinese college students with childhood trauma.
METHODS: From 18,933 college students who took part in two surveys 12 months apart, 4,006 participants who reported adverse childhood experiences were screened. Cross-sectional network comparisons and cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) analysis characterized interactions among CPTSD symptoms.
RESULTS: In the cross-sectional networks, feeling like a failure and avoid activities reminiscent of the trauma were the central symptoms. Takes long time to calm down and exaggerated startle are important bridge symptoms in the two networks respectively. The comparison of cross-sectional networks indicates that the global network strength was stable. The findings of the CLPN model reveal that feel worthless and feel like a failure had the highest "out" expected influence; exaggerated startle and avoid thoughts and feelings about the trauma had the highest "in" expected influence.
CONCLUSIONS: By conducting cross-sectional network analyses, the study illuminated the attributes of CPTSD networks across various time points. Additionally, the CLPN analysis uncovered the longitudinal patterns of CPTSD symptoms.
Characterization and determination of casein glycomacropeptide in dairy products by UHPLC-MS/MS based on its characteristic peptide

Chen Q, Lai S, Dong L, Liu Y, Pan D, Wu Z, et al.

Food Chem, 2024 Jan 01;430:137049.
PMID: 37544157 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137049

The ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) method was built to quantify the casein glycomacropeptide (CGMP) in bovine dairy products accurately based on targeted proteomics. Qualitative analysis of theoretical peptides was carried out using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and protein software. Isotope-labeled characteristic peptides were acquired via the labeled amino acid condensation method to correct the matrix effects. Peptide MAIPPK was the representative characteristic peptide for distinguishing the CGMP from κ-casein through trypsin digestion. After optimizing the pre-treatment conditions, the final 8% oxidant concentration was selected and the 10% formic acid concentration with 2.5 h oxidation time. Moreover, the results of methodological verification showed that the recovery rate was 103.7%, meanwhile the precision of inter-day and intra-day was less than 5%. In conclusion, the research demonstrated the characteristic peptide MAIPPK could quantitatively applied to detect CGMP in dairy products.
Fulltext Dead trees as an indicator in tourism risk monitoring at primate ecotourism sites

Yang B, Hong B, Anderson JR, Fu WW, Ren Y, Gou NN, et al.

Curr Zool, 2023 Feb;69(1):103-105.
PMID: 36974153 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac020
Recent advances in the control of volatile organic compounds emissions from indoor wood-based panels: A comprehensive review

Yang Y, Zhang Z, Zhang L, Song F, Ren Y, Zhang X, et al.

Sci Total Environ, 2023 Aug 01;884:163741.
PMID: 37120025 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163741

Wood-based panels provide efficient alternatives to materials such as plastics derived from traditional petroleum sources and thereby help to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, using indoor manufactured panel products also results in significant emissions of volatile organic compounds including olefins, aromatic and ester compounds, which negatively affect human health. This paper highlights recent developments and notable achievements in the field of indoor hazardous air treatment technologies to guide future research toward environmentally friendly and economically feasible directions that may have a significant impact on the improvement of human settlements. Summarizing and synthesizing the principles, advantages, and limitations of different technologies can assist policymakers and engineers in identifying the most appropriate technology for a particular air pollution control program based on criteria such as cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and environmental impact. In addition, insights into the development of indoor air pollution control technologies are provided and potential areas for innovation, improvement of existing technologies, and development of new technologies are identified. Finally, the authors also hope that this sub-paper will raise public awareness of indoor air pollution issues and promote a better understanding of the importance of indoor air pollution control technologies for public health, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
Comparison of common human respiratory pathogens among hospitalized children aged ≤ 6 years in Hainan Island, China, during spring and early summer in 2019-2021

Mai W, Ren Y, Tian X, Al-Mahdi AY, Peng R, An J, et al.

J Med Virol, 2023 Apr;95(4):e28692.
PMID: 36946502 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28692

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and related public health intervention measures have been reported to have resulted in the reduction of infections caused by influenza viruses and other common respiratory viruses. However, the influence may be varied in areas that have different ecological, economic, and social conditions. This study investigated the changing epidemiology of 8 common respiratory pathogens, including Influenza A (IFVA), Influenza B (IFVB), Respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), rhinovirus (RV), Human metapneumovirus Adenovirus, Human bocavirus, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, among hospitalized children during spring and early summer in 2019-2021 in two hospitals in Hainan Island, China, in the COVID-19 pandemic era. The results revealed a significant reduction in the prevalence of IFVA and IFVB in 2020 and 2021 than in 2019, whereas the prevalence of HRSV increased, and it became the dominant viral pathogen in 2021. RV was one of the leading pathogens in the 3 year period, where no significant difference was observed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close relationships among the circulating respiratory viruses. Large scale studies are needed to study the changing epidemiology of seasonal respiratory viruses to inform responses to future respiratory virus pandemics.