The food industry progressively requires innovative and environmentally safe packaging materials with increased physical, mechanical, and barrier properties. Due to its unique properties, cellulose has several potential applications in the food industry as a packaging material, stabilizing agent, and functional food ingredient. A coffee pod is a filter of cellulosic, non-rigid, ready-made material containing ground portions and pressed coffee prepared in dedicated machines. In our study, we obtained, with homogenization and sonication, cellulose micro/nanoparticles from three different coffee pods. It is known that nanoparticulate systems can enter live cells and, if ingested, could exert alterations in gastrointestinal tract cells. Our work aims to investigate the response of HT-29 cells to cellulose nanoparticles from coffee pods. In particular, the subcellular effects between coffee-embedded nanocellulose (CENC) and cellulose nanoparticles (NC) were compared. Finally, we analysed the pathologic condition (Cytolethal Distending Toxin (CDT) from Campylobacter jejuni) on the same cells conditioned by NC and CENC. We evidenced that, for the cellular functional features analysed, NC and CENC pre-treatments do not worsen cell response to the C. jejuni CDT, also pointing out an improvement of the autophagic flux, particularly for CENC preconditioning.
MXenes are one of the most important classes of materials discussed worldwide by many researchers of diverse fields for diverse applications in recent years. It is a nanomaterial with a wide range of applications due to its multiple forms and structures with fascinating properties, for example, high surface area and porosity, biocompatibility, ease of fictionalizing with various active chemical moieties, benefit of high metallic conductivity, activated metallic hydroxide sites, and sensitivity to moisture. MXenes have great chances for potential applications in environmental issues, water purification, biological applications, and energy storage devices and sensors. MXenes show great selectivity towards the absorption of heavy metals and a good capability to reduce chemical and biological pollutants present in the water. The present review article critically analyzed advancements in water purification using the adsorption and reduction abilities of MXenes and their composites. The mechanism of various procedures, important challenges, and associated problems using MXene and their composites are discussed in detail. The future research directions can be extracted from this article efficiently and comprehensively. The energy storage issues of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, batteries other than lithium-ion batteries, and electrochemical capacitors are also discussed in detail.
Water splitting, the process of converting water into hydrogen and oxygen gases, has garnered significant attention as a promising avenue for sustainable energy production. One area of focus has been the development of efficient and cost-effective catalysts for water splitting. Researchers have explored catalysts based on abundant and inexpensive materials such as nickel, iron, and cobalt, which have demonstrated improved performance and stability. These catalysts show promise for large-scale implementation and offer potential for reducing the reliance on expensive and scarce materials. Another avenue of research involves photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells, which utilize solar energy to drive the water-splitting reaction. Scientists have been working on designing novel materials, including metal oxides and semiconductors, to enhance light absorption and charge separation properties. These advancements in PEC technology aim to maximize the conversion of sunlight into chemical energy. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, artificial photosynthesis approaches have also gained traction. By integrating light-absorbing materials, catalysts, and membranes, these systems aim to mimic the complex processes of natural photosynthesis and produce hydrogen fuel from water. The development of efficient and stable artificial photosynthesis systems holds promise for sustainable and clean energy production. Tandem cells, which combine multiple light-absorbing materials with different bandgaps, have emerged as a strategy to enhance the efficiency of water-splitting systems. By capturing a broader range of the solar spectrum, tandem cells optimize light absorption and improve overall system performance. Lastly, advancements in electrocatalysis have played a critical role in water splitting. Researchers have focused on developing advanced electrocatalysts with high activity, selectivity, and stability for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). These electrocatalysts contribute to overall water-splitting efficiency and pave the way for practical implementation.
This systematic literature review examines the convergence of entrepreneurship and information technology between 2005 and 2024. It investigates how the emergence of information technologies such as social networks, smart devices, big data, and cloud computing have transformed business operations and entrepreneurial approaches. The study use technologies such as Bibliometrix to analyze academic literature and identify research trends, knowledge structures, and their evolutionary routes. During the specified time frame, a grand total of 292 articles were published by 777 writers. These publications have played a key role in redirecting academic focus from traditional entrepreneurship to the field of digital entrepreneurship and the applications of information technology. A thematic analysis uncovers a shift from theoretical investigation to practical implementations and multidisciplinary research, while a co-citation analysis highlights important contributors and influential works. This study emphasizes the crucial importance of information technology in influencing entrepreneurial behaviors and strategic business decisions. It also offers valuable insights for future research and entrepreneurial practice in the information age.
This study evaluated the efficiency and productivity of the manufacturing industries of Singapore. Singapore is one of the world’s most competitive countries and manufacturing giants. All 21 manufacturing industries as classified by Singapore’s Department of Statistics were included in the study as decision-making units (DMUs). Using the Malmquist DEA on data spanning 2015–2021, we found that excerpt for the Paper and Paper product industry, all industries recorded positive total factor productivity (TFP). TFP ranged from 0.977 to 1.481. In terms of technical efficiency, 14 out of 21 industries showed positive efficiency change. The highest TFP was recorded in 2020 and the lowest in 2016. By measuring and improving efficiency, industries in Singapore can achieve cost savings, increase output, and enhance their competitiveness in the global marketplace. In addition, efficiency measurement can help policymakers identify potential areas for improvement and develop targeted policies to promote sustainable economic growth. Given these benefits, performance measurement is inevitable for industries and policymakers in Singapore to achieve economic objectives. Manufacturing industries need to find ways to manage the size and scale of operations as we flag this as an area for improvement.
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