Synthesis of Nanocomposite Nanocellulose From Durio zibethinus L. and TiO2 NPs as Potential Food Packaging Antibacterial (E. coli Wild Type and Resistance)
According to the 印尼n Association of Olefin Aromatic and Plastic Industries/INAPLAS, 2019 national plastic consumption still relies on plastic packaging at 65% and surprisingly, around 60% of plastic waste is absorbed by the food and beverage industry. The waste has been widely sought to be environmentally friendly, one of which is by developing biodegradable packaging. The purpose of this research is to make durian peel cellulose nanocomposites impregnated with TiO2 NPs, to form antibacterial properties against E. coli wild type and resistance. In this research, there are research methods consisting of nanocomposite synthesis, PSA test, FTIR, physical characteristics test and resistance test. The results analyzed that the nanocomposite nanocellulose-TiO2 NPs was successfully made using a 1:1 ratio and had a particle size of 458.7 nm based on the PSA test, which is classified as a nano size. The success of nanocomposite synthesis was proven by the results of FTIR analysis, which showed the formation of 698.65cm-1 and 1633.99cm-1 spectra, indicating the peak of TiO2 NPs and O-H functional groups on TiO2 NPs, as well as 1028.98cm-1 and 1158.42cm-1 showing C-O and C-O-C bonds in cellulose. The antibacterial test performed showed no significant activity in disc diffusion and well diffusion tests against E. coli wild type and resistance. This is potentially caused by inhomogeneous particle size variation. Physical characteristics test showed that the tensile strength test (0.075 > 0.0125 MPa) Durio Nano-Pack is superior to styrofoam, but the compressive strength test (0.125 > 0.875 MPa) shows the opposite. In this study, nanocomposite has a potential innovation that provides good mechanical properties and has a dual function mechanically as bio-based food packaging and chemically as antibacterial. Further research is needed to improve the particle size homogeneity of nanocomposites, modify the impregnation method, so that it has the potential to develop multifunctional materials that excel in various applications.
Mattress Ventilation System
One of the worldwide hidden problems with lack of attention is Bedsores. Simply, These are ulcers, that happen on the areas of the skin that are under pressure while lying on the bed for a prolonged time. This can be infected to anyone in the world. The common group who face these bed sores are..... •Elderly patients, •Spinal cord injury patients, •Stroke patients, •Coma patients, •People who have faced accidents Bed sores develop when the blood supply is cut off for more than 2-3 hours to the skin, (Position changing time depends on the patient's condition) The continuous pressure is the cause for that and also the temperature generated between the skin and the bed surface increases the metabolism of the tissues. When the skin temperature increases by 1°C, the risk of bed sores increases approximately 14 times. So, The skin temperature in the range of 29.4°C to 37.1°C is correlated with the tissue damage score. Not only that shearing and moisture are the other considerable factors for this problem. This infection has 4 stages. Sometimes in the 4th stage of the bed sores can cause death.
Evaluating the Impact of the AI-Powered Interactive Journal “I Am Great Because of Me” on Reducing Impostor Syndrome Among High Performing Students
Impostor Syndrome, a psychological phenomenon where individuals doubt their abilities despite evident achievements, can hinder personal and academic development. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the interactive journal “I am Great Because of Me”, integrated with artificial intelligence (AI), in addressing Impostor Syndrome among high-performing students. The journal features innovative tools such as the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) test accessible via QR code, self-acknowledgement pages, and virtual consultations powered by AI chatbots. These elements aim to support self-reflection, provide real-time diagnostics, and deliver actionable recommendations for users. The ADDIE model was employed for the journal's development, incorporating feedback from experts and users. Likert scales and Cohen’s D analysis were used to evaluate satisfaction, usability, and impact. Results showed that 90.1% of students expressed high satisfaction with the journal’s accessibility, interactivity, and capacity to enhance self-awareness and motivation. A pre-test and post-test conducted on the intervention group revealed a significant reduction in Impostor Syndrome by 42.5%, with an effect size of 2.84, categorized as "very large." Features such as the self-acknowledgement worksheets helped students recognize their strengths, while AI consultations offered additional psychological support. Expert validation emphasized the journal’s clarity, relevance, and objectivity, noting the absence of bias in AI-driven suggestions. The journal was praised for its accurate content, ease of use, interactivity, and the protection of user data, ensuring a safe and private environment for self-development. Students found the journal beneficial not only for addressing Impostor Syndrome but also for fostering personal growth and self-confidence. This research demonstrates the potential of combining psychological theories with AI-driven tools in education. The journal “I am Great Because of Me” effectively aids students in overcoming Impostor Syndrome and improving self-perception. It serves as a scalable solution for schools and individuals aiming to tackle similar psychological challenges. Future studies are encouraged to explore its application in broader contexts to maximize its impact.
Eradicating Cystic Fibrosis Biofilms by a Novel Non-Toxic, Multi-Pathway Salicylate Therapy
1.1. Cystic Fibrosis Biofilms Biofilms are bacterial aggregates in a matrix of polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids (Donlan, 2002). They account for 80% of all chronic infections and cause over 500,000 deaths annually. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder characterized by mucus accumulation in the respiratory tracts (Morrison et al., 2020). This impairs mucociliary clearance, allowing chronic colonization by bacterial biofilms, leading to fatal respiratory failure, lung scarring, and necrosis of pulmonary epithelial tissues (Martin et al., 2021). 1.2. Obstacles in Current Treatments Three major therapies are used against CF biofilms: (1) aminoglycoside antibiotics like tobramycin, (2)non-aminoglycoside antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and vancomycin, and (3) non-antibiotic therapies including flushing, chlorination, and ultraviolet disinfection. These have two major flaws. First, they are cytotoxic; 30% of patients experience acute kidney injury after three days of intravenous aminoglycoside therapy (Joyce et al., 2017). Furthermore, non-aminoglycoside therapies can cause phospholipid buildup in lysosomes of proximal tubule epithelial cells, accounting for 10-20% of acute renal failure cases. Second, antibiotic resistance due to horizontal gene transfer and mutations has significantly reduced treatment effectiveness. Therefore, cystic fibrosis biofilms remain a critical threat with few effective treatments. 1.3. Salicylate Derivatives This project tackled this issue using an innovative non-antibiotic approach with salicylate derivatives. Salicylates, a class of benzoic acids—benzene-based carboxylic acids (Figure 1)—used in painkillers and blood thinners, were investigated for their antibiofilm potential through a 3-step process: 1. Literature review: Identified three key biofilm therapeutic targets: quorum sensing, bacterial adhesion, and cell motility. Disrupting these pathways would result in biofilm eradication. 2. Molecule Identification: Recognized key molecules in each pathway: LasR, adhesins, and flagellin. Inhibiting these molecules would disrupt the pathways. 3. Screening: Found that salicylates could inhibit the identified molecules, though they had never been tested against cystic fibrosis biofilms.