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Incense burning is practiced alongside many sacred rituals across different regions of the world. Invariable constituents of incense brands are 21% (by weight) herbal and wood powder, 33% bamboo stick, 35% fragrance material, and 11% adhesive powder. Major incense-combustion outputs include particulate matter (PM), volatile organic content, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The relative toxicity of these products is an implicit function of particle size and incomplete combustion, which in turn vary for a specific incense brand. Lately, the attention given to the Air Quality Index by international regulatory bodies has created concern about mounting PM toxicity. The uncharacteristically small physical dimensions of these entities complicates their detection, and with no effect of gravity PM fractions rapidly contribute to oxidative stress, enhancing random biochemical reactions upon being inhaled. Incense burning generates four times the PM extent (45 mg•g ) of cigarettes (~10 mg•g ). Several poisonous gases, such as CO, CO , NO , and SO , and the unavoidable challenge of disposing of the burnt incense ash further add to the toxicity. Taken together, these issues demonstrate that incense burning warrants prompt attention. The aim of this article is to highlight the toxicity of incense-combustion materials on the environment and human health. This discussion could be significant in framing future policy regarding ecofriendly incense manufacture and reduced usage.

This study investigates the effects of long jute (LJ) fiber reinforcement on the mechanical, thermal and sound transmission loss (STL) properties of polypropylene (PP)‐based biocomposites. Long fiber thermoplastics (LFT) are increasingly used in various industries, including automotive applications, due to their superior mechanical performance and lightweight characteristics. The biocomposites were fabricated using an LFT‐G production line, incorporating different weight fractions of LJ fibers (20, 30, and 40 wt.%) into PP. The sound insulation properties of the composites were analyzed through STL measurements. Compared to neat PP, PP‐40LJ exhibited an STL increase of approximately 45% at 100 Hz and 55% at 1000 Hz, indicating improved frequency‐dependent sound attenuation with increasing jute fiber content. Mechanical characterization was performed through tensile, flexural, and impact tests, while morphological analysis was conducted via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermomechanical performance was significantly enhanced, as evidenced by an increase in heat distortion temperature (HDT) from 57.9°C to 126.6°C and Vicat softening temperature (VST) up to 104.4°C, indicating a higher service temperature for the composites. These findings highlight the potential of LJ fiber‐reinforced PP composites for lightweight applications requiring enhanced sound insulation and thermal properties. Long jute fibers improved PP's sound insulation performance significantly. HDT and VST values increased with higher jute fiber content in PP. Tensile and flexural strengths increased, but elongation at break decreased. High jute content reduced unnotched impact strength due to fiber agglomeration. SEM showed weak fiber‐matrix adhesion affecting impact resistance.

The share of digital printing on flexible plastic packaging has been increasing rapidly in response to the market demand for agility in Japan. To meet all these challenges, our response is the aqueous inkjet ink “LUNAJET®”. By combining aqueous pigment nanodispersions with precise interfacial control technologies, “LUNAJET®” can contribute to the rapid digitization of flexible package printing while, at the same time, improving the environmental performance. Our analysis includes an evaluation of the environmental impact due to the conversion from gravure printing with an analog press to digital printing using an inkjet printer with water-based inks. In addition, inventory analyses and characterizations were carried out. It is shown that a 75% reduction in CO2 emissions and 33% reduction in VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions can be expected, particularly in small-lot printing, where digital printing is most desirable. An environmental impact assessment was conducted in Japan, based upon the LIME3 (life cycle impact assessment method based on endpoint modeling version 3) approach. It was found that the waste reduction rate for aqueous inkjet printing, compared to analog printing, was as high as 57% for small-lot production, assuming a large variety of products; surprisingly, the reduction rate remained at 15%, even for long production runs. As the market rushes to embrace digital printing technologies for packaging, these results indicate that implementing inkjet printing using aqueous ink for flexible plastic substrates can reduce waste and decrease the environmental burden, both for short as well as long printing runs.

We have demonstrated that our patented, crosslinked, sol–gel, epoxy–thiol silicates made from the combination of (a) tetraethoxysilane (TEOS, T), 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS, G), and the (b) sulfur-containing 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS, S) with TEOS in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio form the 1:1 TGST (crosslinked epoxy and thiol silicates) coating, which can be successfully utilized for the corrosion protection of low-carbon steel. Alcohols that are a by-product of sol–gel reactions influence the network formation, crosslinking density, and formulation stability, are volatile organic contents, and are regulated in the coatings industry. To improve environmental sustainability, a series of low-alcohol (LA) formulations with TG:ST ratios of 3:1 to 1:3 was prepared to investigate the microstructural development and crosslinking reactions emerging from the interplay of the hydrophobic thiol and polar epoxy silicates induced by the low-alcohol environment. The impact on crosslinking density was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Raman, XPS, viscosity, and pot-life measurements. Low-alcohol TGST (LA(TGST)) formulations were compared, using the example of 1:1 TGST, to corresponding TGST formulations where alcohols were retained. The reduced impact of LA(TGST) formulations on global warming was quantified. The glossy and scratch-resistant LA(TGST) coatings showed 71% enhanced corrosion protection compared to the non-crosslinked hybrids.

In our present work, we have attempted to develop a low volatile organic containing, ecofriendly resin from a natural resource maintaining the quality and desired properties for printing ink applications. Guar Gum, a natural polysaccharide was used in place of pentaerythritol in the recipe. It was used during trans-esterification reaction to synthesize rosin modified phenolic resin for printing ink. A conventional rosin modified phenolic resin, using pentaerytritol, was also synthesized for comparison. Guar Gum having multiple hydroxyl groups was able to produce resin with higher molecular weight and high solvent tolerance value which makes the ecofriendly resin as potential binder for printing ink application with excellent print quality. The modified resin was characterized using various analytical techniques to find the influence of the polysaccharide on the final properties. A detailed kinetic study was also carried out in order to justify the reaction mechanism.

Context: Propolis has promising biological activities. Propolis samples from the Northeast of Bahia, Brazil – sample A from Ribeira do Pombal and B, from Tucano – were investigated, with new information regarding their biological activities.Objective: This paper describes the chemical profile, antioxidant, anti-glycation and cytotoxic activities of these propolis samples.Material and methods: Ethanol extracts of these propolis samples (EEP) and their fractions were analyzed to determine total phenolic content (TPC); antioxidant capacity through DPPH•, FRAP and lipid peroxidation; anti-glycation activity, by an in vitro glucose (10 mg/mL) bovine serum albumine (1 mg/mL) assay, during 7 d; cytotoxic activity on cancer (SF295, HCT-116, OVCAR-8, MDA-MB435, MX-1, MCF7, HL60, JURKAT, MOLT-4, K562, PC3, DU145) and normal cell lines (V79) at 0.04–25 μg/mL concentrations, for 72 h. The determination of primary phenols by ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and volatile organic compounds content by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were also performed.Results: The EEP polar fractions exhibited up to 90% protection against lipid peroxidation. The IC50 value for anti-glycation activity of EEP was between 16.5 and 19.2 μg/mL, close to aminoguanidine (IC50 = 7.7 μg/mL). The use of UHPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS allowed the identification of 12 bioactive phenols in the EEP and 24 volatile compounds, all already reported.Conclusions: The samples present good antioxidant/anti-glycation/cytotoxic activities and a plethora of biologically active compounds. These results suggest a potential role of propolis in targeting ageing and diseases associated with oxidative and carbonylic stress, aggregating value to them.

Pluchea lanceolata (DC.) Oliv. & Hiern (Rasana) is an important medicinal plant due to its usage in number of Ayurvedic formulations. First time, chemical composition of essential oil from the aerial part of P. lanceolata was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and NMR spectroscopy. Ex-vivo cholinesterase inhibitory activity of the essential oil was also evaluated using mouse brain homogenate. The major components were linalool (32.2%), β-caryophyllene (8.5%), α-terpineol (8.0%), spathulenol (7.4%), linalylacetate (5.6%), naphthalene, 1,6-dimethyl-4-(1-methylethyl)- (4.3%), α-copaene (3.6%), epi-cubebol (3.6%) and trans-α-bergamontene (3.1%). The experimental results showed that hydrodistilate of P. lanceolata significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity (IC 50 value 2.54 ± 0.03 µg/mL).

This chapter indicates some general challenges and problems and a few topics that have not been dealt with, but which are nevertheless important. Sustainability and durability have become important issues for nearly all polymer coatings. In this respect there are four items that carry weight: toxicity and environment; volatile organic contents (VOC); energy and sustainability including renewability. The problems are not only due to the polymeric components of a coating. For nontransparent coatings the inorganic oxide TiO 2 is, arguably, the most important pigment component. A major problem for the areas of weathering is that the mechanisms are typically rather specific for a particular material class, or even for a specific material, thus also limiting the scope of the applicability of solutions found. Proper, efficient application is a prerequisite for a polymer coating. Coatings can also help to improve energy efficiency more generally. Examples are coatings for heat reflection or for IR absorption.

Background Liquidambar species are rich sources of essential oils, with applications in cosmetics, perfumes, and pharmaceuticals. Traditionally, the industrial utilization of Liquidambar essential oil has focused on extraction from the resin, while the full potential of their leaf-derived essential oils remains underexplored. This study systematically compares the essential oil composition, sensory characteristics, and aroma profiles of leaves from various Liquidambar species, including hybrid sweetgum, using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). A precise internal standard method was conducted to identify progenies exhibiting heterosis in volatile content from a hybrid sweetgum population of 110 full-sib progenies. Results A total of 44 volatile compounds were identified, with monoterpenes ( α -pinene, β -pinene, d-limonene) dominating Liquidambar styraciflua , Liquidambar formosan a and hybrid sweetgum, while Liquidambar orientalis exhibited a unique d-Camphene-rich profile. Hybrid sweetgum progenies exhibiting heterosis in essential oil content were found, with several progenies significantly exceeding the average level. Sensory analysis, combined with odor activity value (OAV) calculations, revealed species-specific aroma profiles: L. styraciflua and hybrid sweetgum were characterized by citrus/herbaceous notes (high d-limonene OAV = 11.07), whereas L. orientalis exhibited pungent camphoraceous tones (d-camphene OAV = 15.9). Multivariate analyses identified eight key volatile compounds with high variable influence on projection (VIP > 1). Conclusions This study highlights the hybrid sweetgum population as a promising genetic resource for high essential oil yield, with seven elite progenies showing industrial potential. The distinct volatile profiles of Liquidambar species, particularly the d-camphene dominance in L. orientalis , underscore genus-wide metabolic diversity.

Nectar yeasts can significantly influence the scent of floral nectar and therefore the foraging behavior of flower-visiting insects. While these effects likely depend on nectar chemistry and yeast species, their joint impact on nectar volatile profiles and associated insect responses remain poorly understood. Here, we used four synthetic nectar types varying in sugar and amino acid concentration and two specialist nectar yeasts ( Metschnikowia gruessii and Metschnikowia reukaufii ) to investigate how nectar composition and yeast species affect volatile profiles and the olfactory responses of the generalist aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi . Olfactometer assays showed that A. ervi females significantly preferred fermented nectars with high amino acid-low sugar content (HL) and low amino acid-high sugar (LH) content, regardless being fermented by M. gruessii or M. reukaufii , over non-inoculated nectars. This effect was not observed for nectars with low amino acid-low sugar (LL) and high amino acid-high sugar (HH) content . Moreover, LL nectar fermented with M. gruessii became even repellent to the parasitoids. GC–MS analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) revealed that VOC profiles of fermented nectars depended significantly on nectar type (i.e., chemical composition), yeast species, and their interaction. Whereas propyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, styrene, α-guaiene and pentyl-octanoate were associated with the LH fermented nectars, ethyl acetate and E -methyl isoeugenol were mainly associated with the HL fermented nectars, suggesting possible involvement in A. ervi attraction to these nectars. In contrast, isopropyl-hexadecanoate was associated with the non-attractive or repellent LL fermented nectars. Altogether, our results indicate that nectar composition has a strong impact on nectar scent when fermented by specialist nectar yeasts and subsequently on insect foraging behavior.