Plastic production has greatly increased in the past decades and has become central to modern human life. Realization is dawning that plastics break down into smaller pieces resulting in micro- or nanoplastics (MNP) that can enter humans directly via the environment. Indeed, MNP have been detected in every part of the human body, including the placenta, which is concerning for development. Early developmental stages are crucial for proper growth and genome programming. Environmental disruptors in MNP can have detrimental effects during this critical window as well and can increase the risk of developing disease and dysfunction. In addition, MNP may impact situations in which developmental pathways are reactivated after birth such as during organ repair. Currently, there is no overview of how MNP can impair (human) development and repair. Therefore, we provide an extensive overview of available evidence on MNP impacting developmental and regenerative processes in various organs in humans and rodent models. In addition, we have included the impact of some additives that can leach from these MNP. We conclude that MNP and their additives can have modulating effects on developing and regenerating organs.

Plastics are an emerging class of environmental contaminants whose impacts are not yet fully understood. Trace elements, another class of environmental contaminant and commonly associated with plastics, have been widely researched and are known to be toxic to organisms. However, the combined impacts of these two contaminants on the environment remain unclear. Here, we reviewed the current knowledge of the types and concentrations of trace elements associated with plastics, the role of plastics in creating new exposure routes, the processes involved in the release of trace elements from plastics, and the transport of plastics through environmental compartments. Trace elements inherent in plastics, due to addition during manufacture for formation or functional properties, are typically present at higher concentrations than those that are acquired from the environment, and consequently are likely to have greater impacts. Trace elements are continuously released into environmental matrices from plastics but may be released at higher concentrations when exposed to rapid changes in environmental conditions (pH, ionic strength, redox potential, salinity, UV levels). Plastics potentially provide additional exposure routes for organisms to trace elements. For example, exposure to trace elements may occur when organisms ingest plastics, use them for shelter and nest building or as a surface to attach onto. Further research to improve our understanding of this complex contaminant should focus on environmentally relevant studies on trace element release and their effects.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a live culture of Aspergillus oryzae (A; CCT4359) and fibrolytic enzyme (E; Fibrozyme Alltech Inc.) on fibre digestibility by a gas production bioassay and in vitro degradation of maize silage and sugarcane silage. A completely randomized design trial was performed to evaluate: A doses (0, 20, 60 and 100 mg/l), E doses (0, 160, 320 and 480 mg/l) and roughage source (R; maize and sugarcane silage) in a 4 × 4 × 2 factorial arrangement. The inclusion of increasing doses of A and E increased dry matter and neutral detergent fibre in vitro digestibility linearly, but for E this effect occurred only in maize silage. There was a linear increase in the potential for gas production at the highest dose of A only in sugarcane silage, with no effect on lag time (L). Increasing doses of E increased the volume of gases produced linearly, and a trend of linear reduction of L, regardless of the roughage. There was a linear reduction in ammonia-nitrogen concentration in response to increasing doses of A and E, and an increase in acetic acid concentration at the highest dose of A, regardless of roughage. The additives had no synergistic effect on gas production and digestibility, but were efficient in altering the fermentative pattern, demonstrating the potential to increase fibre degradation.

This study aimed to examine the effects of re-ensiling time and Lactobacillus buchneri on the fermentation profile, chemical composition and aerobic stability of sugarcane silages. The experiment was set up as a repeated measure design consisting of four air-exposure periods (EP)(0, 6, 12, and 24 h) microbial additive (A) (L. buchneri; or lack of there), with five replicates. Sugarcane was ground through a stationary forage chopper and ensiled in four plastic drums of 200-L capacity. After 210 days of storage, the drums were opened and half of the silage mass was treated with L. buchneri at the concentration of 105 cfu/g of forage. Subsequently, the silages were divided into stacks. The re-ensiling process was started immediately, at 0, 6, 12 and 24-hour intervals, by transferring the material to PVC mini-silos. Silos were opened after 120 days of re-ensiling. The use of L. buchneri reduced butyrate concentration but did not change ethanol or acetic acid concentrations and aerobic stability. An interaction effect between L. buchneri and re-ensiling time was observed for dry matter (DM) losses and composition. Lactobacillus buchneri is not effective in improving aerobic stability in re-ensiled sugarcane silages. However, less DM is lost in silages treated with L. buchneri and exposed to air for 24 h. Re-ensiling sugar cane in up to 24 h of exposure to air does not change final product quality.

This study, conducted at the São Paulo State University feedlot, Dracena campus, Brazil, was designed as a completely randomized block with 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effects of adding functional oils (FO) or sodium monensin (MON) on feedlot performance, carcass traits, feeding behaviour and rumen morphometrics of Nellore cattle. Ninety-six 20-mo-old Nellore bulls (365.52 ± 39.19 kg) were randomly allocated to 24 pens (n = 4/pen), which were assigned to the treatments: (1) Control (no feed additives); (2) FO (500 ppm); (3) MON (27 ppm); and (4) MON + FO (27 + 500 ppm, respectively). Each treatment was replicated 6 times, and cattle were fed for 105 days. From 0 to 28 days on feed, cattle fed FO had lower dry matter intake (DMI) variation, sorted for medium particles and presented smaller papillae width. The feeding of FO did not negatively impact feedlot performance overall. When MON was added to the diet, cattle had lower DMI overall and 12th rib fat daily gain, and improved gain to feed ratio. The addition of MON to diets improved feedlot performance but reduced the rate of carcass fat deposition. The few effects observed when FO was added to diets were not sufficient to impact feedlot performance.

Titanium and its alloys are probably the most suitable materials for selective laser melting (SLM) additive manufacturing to process. However, the high cost of raw powder materials limits the industrial application of as-printed Ti products. In this study, we have formulated a cost-affordable Ti–TiB composite powder for SLM, to simultaneously achieve excellent mechanical performance and cost effectiveness. The optimization of the processing parameters will be shown to lead to high relative density (99.3%) for the as-printed Ti–TiB composites containing (0.5, 1, and 2 wt%) TiB2. Furthermore, by incorporating TiB2, the as-printed composites exhibit much improved fracture strength (up to 1813 MPa) and microhardness (up to 412 HV), among which the Ti–0.5 wt% TiB2 has demonstrated a great combination of strength (1007 and 1646 MPa as yield and fracture strengths, respectively) and tensile ductility (~8%). The solidification pathway for the Ti–TiB composite during SLM has been investigated, and the underlying mechanism for achieving high yield strength is discussed based on existing models for shear-lag strengthening, grain refinement, and dispersion strengthening.

Polymeric conjugated materials are very promising for developing future soft material-based semiconductors, conductors, electronic and optoelectronic devices due to their inherent advantages such as lightweight, flexible shape, low-cost, ease of processability, ease of scalability, etc. There are a number of ways to tune material properties via post-processing treatments such as annealing, solvent additives, or doping. One challenge of solution processed organic thin film electronics is the repeatable and well-defined morphological control of the resulting films after deposition. In this study, we observed how the addition of diiodo-alkanes to poly-3-hexyl-thiophene (P3HT) solutions effect the formation of resulting thin films. These additives have various boiling points that will affect the drying properties of cast thin films. We also sought to observe if any halogen bonding interaction between iodine and sulfur occurs and if this interaction can be used to promote polymer morphological self-assembly. Techniques such as UV/Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Atomic Force Microscopy were used to probe the evolution of the film morphology as the additives were added to the solutions. 1,8-diiodooctane doped films showed the best overall device performance. This could be due to its favorable interaction with the side chain of P3HT as seen in it morphological properties. This study may result in a new technique that can be used to enhance the solid-state morphology of thin films for high performance electronic applications.

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) and Hybrid LICs (H-LICs) were assembled as three-layered pouch cells in an asymmetric configuration employing Faradaic pre-lithiated hard carbon anodes and non-Faradaic ion adsorption-desorption activated carbon (AC) cathodes for LICs and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4-LFP)/AC composite cathodes for H-LICs. The room temperature rate performance was evaluated after the initial LIC and H-LIC cell formation as a function of the electrolyte additives. The capacity retention was measured after charging at high temperature conditions, while the design factor explored was electrolyte additive formulation, with a focus on their stability. The high temperature potential holds simulate electrochemical energy materials under extreme environments and act to accelerate the failure mechanisms associated with cell degradation to determine robust electrolyte/additive combinations.

Since ancient times, lubricants have been used to reduce friction and wear problems of mechanical systems. However, nowadays, there is a constant effort to improve their performance through additives so that they can accomplish properly in this modern world. In that sense, in this study, it was proposed the use of Poly(ε-Caprolactone) (PCL) as a biodegradable additive in Castor oil. The effect that this additive has on the tribological properties of AISI 4140 steel/Al2O3 tribosystem was analyzed. For this purpose, PCL was dissolved in Castor oil at 65 °C for 15 minutes. Later, once the lubricant formulations got into room temperature, friction tests were conducted with a ball-on-disk configuration. Several experiments were systematically carried out in order to study the factors that could influence the performance of the tribological system, for instance: additive concentration, velocity, temperature, and wear track radius. The kinetic friction coefficient was used to analyze the results as an output variable. The parameters in which the best friction behavior was observed were employed again to compare the efficiency of the polymeric additive by profoundly analyzing and comparing the wear response of the system. The PCL additive showed great results by decreasing friction up to 30% compared to the neat Castor oil. Nevertheless, as the opposite effect, this additive increased the steel wear to almost half an order of magnitude. Given the above, this investigation showed that, with further studies, Poly(ε-Caprolactone) could be used as an additive in vegetable oil-based lubricants for the improvement of friction performance.

We attempt to reveal how electrolyte additives affect the structural evolution of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film on the anode surface of a lithium-ion secondary battery. Employing the hybrid Monte-Carlo/molecular-dynamics method, we theoretically investigate the SEI film structures in organic liquid-electrolyte systems with and without an organosilicon additive. The results show that the excessive growth of the SEI film is suppressed by introducing the organosilicon additives. It is further elucidated that the decomposition products of the organosilicon molecules are stably aggregated in the vicinity of the anode surface, and protect the electrolyte solvents and the lithium salts from the further reductive decomposition. These findings imply that the organosilicon additive possibly improves the cycle performance of LIBs owing to the formation of the effective SEI film.

Special needs patients often require specific dental treatments and modified restorative materials that reduce clinical discomfort. Starting from glass ionomer cements (GICs), some different fillers were added to improve their mechanical and clinical performances. The effect of nanohydroxyapatite, antibiotic, and mucosal defensive agent on the mechanical and thermal properties of GICs was investigated. Compressive tests, calorimetric analysis, and morphological investigation were conducted. The middle percentages of fillers increased the elastic modulus while the highest decreases are recorded for highest percentages. Filler and environment also influence the compressive strengths and toughness. The introduction of fillers led to a reduction of the enthalpy with a maximum decrease with the middle percentage. The morphological characterization showed a good dispersion of the fillers. The filler percentages should be selected with a compromise between the elastic modulus, the compressive strength, and the curing time. Obtaining new materials with good clinical and mechanical properties can represent an innovative aspect of this work with positive implication in clinical practice, mainly in uncollaborative patients in which the use of traditional protocols is problematic.

Graphene and graphene oxide are being investigated for use in drug delivery systems, bioimaging, and antimicrobial applications. However, their effects, if any, on healthy cells need to be established before they can be deemed safe for therapeutic use. This research tested whether graphene oxide (GO) and/or partially reduced graphene oxide (pRGO) exhibit antimicrobial properties on Staphylococcus aureus; and also examined the growth and proliferation of dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes in media modified with graphene oxide or partially reduced graphene oxide. Staphylococcus aureus was able to proliferate in both GO and pRGO- modified growth media as well as on gelatin made with GO and pRGO solutions. Both GO and pRGO increased dermal fibroblast doubling time and displayed lower cell counts compared to the control, with pRGO exerting a more pronounced effect than GO. After 4 days of keratinocyte incubation, GO and pRGO showed cell counts 75-80% less than the control. Cell counts of test samples dropped even lower by day 5 while the control cell count increased, suggesting that more investigation into the properties as well as the safety of graphene and its derivatives needs to be done before it is implemented for medical applications.

The food processing industry highlights the daily generation of large amounts of eggshell solid residue. In this way, this residue becomes a non renewable raw material to be reused as an additive in red ceramics, in order to reduce the volume of disposal to the environment and improve the physical properties of the product. The objective of this work was to evaluate the forming moisture, linear shrinkage of drying and shrinkage of drying burning of ceramic test pieces (CS’s) with formulations with 2% and 3% of white eggshell residue (ER) incorporated in clay. The clay and ER were collected in the city of Pelotas-RS. The ER sample was analyzed by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). After pressing, natural and artificial drying was carried out and the CS’s were burned. These were evaluated through normative parameters C-020/95, C-021/95 and C-026/95. The values obtained for the forming moisture were between 5.82 and 8.78%, for the linear shrinkage of drying between 0.10 and 0.43% and, for the linear contraction burning between -0.29 and 0.08%. The results showed that the addition of ER to the ceramic mass helped in the reduction of the forming moisture and the linear shrinkage of the ceramic test pieces.

Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of triglycerides, free fatty acids (FFA), and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) on the foliar absorption, translocation, and phytotoxicity of quizalofop. Absorption, translocation, and phytotoxicity of quizalofop in oats were greater when quizalofop was applied with FFA or FAME than with their respective triglycerides. Triglycerides and FFA generally enhanced quizalofop absorption and translocation more when they contained unsaturated than saturated fatty acids. Methylation of the fatty acids reduced differences among fatty acids, but methyl stearate and methyl linolenate enhanced absorption of quizalofop less than the other FAME for oats and yellow foxtail. Quizalofop absorption and phytotoxicity to oats were greater when applied with sunflower oil, sunflower oil FFA, and sunflower oil FAME than with the corresponding linseed oil derivatives. Emulsifier generally reduced differences between linseed oil and sunflower oil derivatives in their enhancement of absorption, translocation, and phytotoxicity of quizalofop.

Experiments were conducted in the greenhouse and the field to determine if a seaweed extract and its component alginates could enhance the activity of sethoxydim on barley (five- to six-leaf stage). In greenhouse trials, sethoxydim with 0.5% oil concentrate was applied at 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15 kg ai/ha; in field trials, sethoxydim with 0.5% oil concentrate was applied at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 kg/ha. In both sets of trials the seaweed extract was applied at a rate of 1 and 2 L/ha, and the alginates were applied at 250 and 500 g/ha. When either the seaweed extract, or the calcium ammonium salt of alginic acid was used as an adjuvant a significant increase in sethoxydim activity was usually observed. At the highest rates of these adjuvants, sethoxydim (0.2 kg/ha) activity increased from 59% control (1321 g/m2 fresh weight) with only oil concentrate, to 87% control (224 g/m2 fresh weight) with seaweed extract, or 89% control (184 g/m2 fresh weight) with the calcium ammonium salt of alginic acid. Sodium salts of alginic acid, both low and medium viscosity, were much less effective.

The phytotoxicity of the butyl ester of fluazifop to quackgrass was enhanced by the addition of a nonionic surfactant and an oil additive either alone or in mixture to the spray solution. The enhancement caused by the surfactant was consistently greater than that caused by the oil additive. A higher level of quackgrass control was achieved at the carrier volumes of 100, 200, or 400 L/ha, than at 800 L/ha. Quackgrass growth inhibition was greater following application of small herbicide droplets which averaged 0.25 μl compared to larger herbicide droplets at each herbicide application rate. When droplet concentration was varied and different doses of the herbicides applied to plants, no significant differences were noted at the highest dose. However, at intermediate dose treatments, the least concentrated droplets (2.5 μg/μl) were most phytotoxic. Herbicide droplets placed at basal areas of leaves were more phytotoxic than when placed at lamina apices and middle areas. This effect was most pronounced on adaxial rather than abaxial surfaces. In general, application of droplets to younger leaves resulted in greater phytotoxicity than treatment of older leaves.

Field experiments were conducted at the Lacombe Research Station from 1989 to 1991 to determine the influence of various adjuvants on sethoxydim activity. In all experiments sethoxydim was applied at 100 g ai ha-1 to green foxtail, wheat, wild oat, and barley seeded in a canola crop. Of the four grass species, green foxtail was the most susceptible and barley was the least susceptible to sethoxydim. CC 16255 was the most effective adjuvant followed by either of two sources of ammonium sulphate (liquid or granular) and then Merge. Liquid and granular forms of ammonium sulphate were equally effective in enhancing sethoxydim activity. Several other adjuvants, including Enhance, Savol, and XE 1167, were moderately effective in the enhancement of sethoxydim activity. Adding Canplus 411 to Merge was not usually beneficial, but additions of Canplus 411 to Enhance often increased sethoxydim activity compared with sethoxydim and Enhance alone. Agral 90 and LI-700 were of little or no value as adjuvants with sethoxydim.

Field studies were established to evaluate several new herbicides for preplant incorporated and postemergence shattercane control in soybeans. Imazethapyr applied postemergence controlled shattercane most consistently. The type of adjuvant tank mixed with sethoxydim did not influence shattercane control, panicle production, or soybean yields. Preplant incorporated applications of imazethapyr, imazaquin, or clomazone either alone or tank mixed with trifluralin or pendimethalin gave inconsistent shattercane control and soybean yields compared to handweeded plots.

Field experiments were conducted at Kalispell, MT, to determine the optimum adjuvant combination for wild oat control in peppermint with quizalofop. Quizalofop was applied to four- and eight-leaf wild oat plants at 20 and 50 g ai/ha with either a nonionic surfactant (NIS) or methylated seed oil (MSO) alone or in combination with 28% urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) liquid fertilizer. Differences among adjuvants were most apparent when quizalofop was applied at the lowest rate. MSO was more effective than NIS for enhancing quizalofop activity. Quizalofop efficacy with both adjuvants increased when applied with UAN. Greater than 90% wild oat control was obtained with the lowest rate when applied with MSO plus UAN to four-leaf wild oat plants. These results demonstrate the potential to improve the consistency of weed control as well as reduce postemergence herbicide rates when applied with the proper adjuvant combination.

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of carbon chain length and percent ethoxylation of primary linear ethoxylated alcohols on postemergence control of johnsongrass and quackgrass with primisulfuron. Control of johnsongrass and quackgrass was greatest with primisulfuron plus the experimental ethoxylated alcohols 1412-60 and 1412-70 which had chain lengths of 14 and 12 carbon atoms (60:40 ratio) and 60 or 70% ethoxylation. Control of these two weed species decreased when primisulfuron was applied with ethoxylated linear alcohols of similar chain lengths but decreased percent ethoxylation or with alcohols of similar percent ethoxylation but decreased carbon chain length. Quackgrass and johnsongrass control with primisulfuron plus 1412-60 or 1412-70 was equal to or greater than the control obtained with primisulfuron plus the commercial adjuvants of the nonionic, organosilicone, sunflower methyl ester, or crop oil concentrate types. The experimental adjuvant 1412-70 provided equal or greater uptake and translocation of 14C-primisulfuron in johnsongrass and quackgrass compared to four commercial adjuvants.