A meta-analysis of the effects of disclosing sponsored content

The amount of literature on the effects of disclosing sponsored content has increased greatly in recent years. Although the literature provides valuable insights into the effects of disclosing sponsored content, several research gaps remain, such as inconclusive findings, boundary conditions, and the mechanisms that explain how disclosures work. This article offers a meta-analysis of 61 papers that use 57 distinct data sets to address these research gaps. The results showed that disclosing sponsored content reduced brand attitudes, credibility, and source evaluation but increased recognition, persuasion knowledge, and resistance. Disclosure content, timing, and awareness, as well as product and sample characteristics, provide boundary conditions for the positive and negative effects of disclosures. A path model that tested the mechanism of disclosing sponsored content showed that, as suggested by memory priming effect, recognition of sponsored content increased memory but did not influence evaluation. Moreover, the understanding of sponsored content influenced evaluation, but memory remained unaffected, which corresponds to the flexible correction approach (i.e., consumers try to correct their answer to limit persuasive effects)

Removal of Azo Dye from Synthetic Wastewater Using Immobilized Nano-Diatomite Within Calcium Alginate

Introduction: The presence of organic dyes, discharged by textile industries, in aqueous environments can cause detrimental effects on aquatic life and subsequently human health. Therefore, the decolorization of aquatic environments is mandatory to protect the environment. For this reason, in the present study, nano-sized diatomite was immobilized within calcium alginate as a nanocomposite adsorbent for removing organic azo dye (Direct blue 15) from aqueous solutions.  Methods: First of all, Iranian diatomite was grinded in a planetary ball mill equipped with tungsten carbide cup for 20 h to achieve nanoparticles of the diatomite. For the immobilization of nanostructured diatomite, a 2% sodium alginate solution was used. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy were used to characterize immobilized nano-diatomite. Fifty milliliter Erlenmeyer flasks were used as batch flow mode experimental reactors. Working solutions were prepared by the dilution of stock solution (1 g/L) to desired concentrations. The effect of different operational parameters including contact time, initial pH, adsorbent dosage and initial dye concentration along with kinetic and isotherm of the adsorption were evaluated. After each experiment, the residual concentration of the dyes was measured spectrophotometrically. Results: As results, the adsorption of organic dye increased with increasing contact time and adsorbent dosage, while increasing initial dye concentrations resulted in decreasing the adsorption. The adsorption of DB-15 was favored at basic PH. The immobilization of diatomite led to enhancing the adsorption of  DB-15 compared to diatomite alone. According to the obtained correlation coefficient, the adsorption of DB-15 obeyed pseudo-second order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity of diatomite/alginate nanocomposite for the adsorption of DB-15 were found about 33.22 mg/g. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the diatomite/alginate nanocomposite can be used effectively for treating colored effluents containing azo dyes. Because of its high efficiency, availability of diatomite mines in our country, it can be used as an economic adsorbent for the decolorization of textile effluents

Development of a cellulose-based scaffold for sustained delivery of curcumin

Due to the unique properties of cellulose-based materials, they are attractive to be developed in industrial pharmaceutics and biomedical fields. Carboxymethyl-diethyl amino ethyl cellulose scaffold (CM-DEAEC) has been synthesized in the current work as a smart novel derivative of cellulose with a great functionality in drug delivery systems. The scaffolds were well cross-linked with 2 (v/v) epichlorohydrin (ECH), loaded with curcumin (Cur), and then were analyzed by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and mechanical strength. While developing the ideal delivery platform, curcumin (an important chemotherapeutic agent) was chosen due to its hydrophobicity and poor bioavailability. Thus, we developed a novel scaffold for efficient loading and controlled releasing of curcumin. The swelling ratio of 136, high curcumin entrapment efficiency (up to 83.7), sustained in vitro drug release profile, and appropriate degradability in three weeks confirmed significant properties of the CM-DEAEC scaffold. More than 99 antibacterial activity has been observed by the cross-linked curcumin loaded CM-DEAEC scaffolds. Cytotoxicity studies using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and 4�,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining showed that cross-inked curcumin loaded CM-DEAEC scaffolds did not show any toxicity using L929 cells. All experiments were compared with CMC scaffolds and better characteristics of the novel scaffold for drug delivery have been confirmed. © 2021 Elsevier B.V

Potential of the green microalga Chlorella vulgaris to fight against fluorene contamination: evaluation of antioxidant systems and identification of intermediate biodegradation compounds

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have high risks for human and living organisms due to their mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Here, the effect of different concentrations of fluorene as a persistent toxic PAH on growth parameters and antioxidant systems in the green microalga Chlorella vulgaris was investigated. Intriguingly, cell number as well as dry and fresh weight of the alga were raised at 2 ppm fluorene compared to the control sample. However, with the increasing levels of fluorene from 10 to 50 mg L�1, the growth parameters gradually decreased. Accordingly, cells of C. vulgaris were found to enhance the activity of ROS scavenging enzymes after 7 days of exposure to fluorene in a concentration-dependent manner. Exposure to 25 and 50 mg L�1 fluorene was led to a significant decrease at chlorophyll content, whereas the concentration of carotenoids was not changed. Total phenol and flavonoid contents were markedly raised in 50 mg L�1 of fluorene compared to the control. Although flow cytometry assessment showed no substantial reduction in the viability at 50 mg L�1 fluorene-treated samples for 24 h, chlorophyll fluorescence was noticeably reduced. The results of SEM analysis revealed that the 50 mg L�1 fluorene treatment clearly damaged the algal cells after 24 h. The ability of the alga for biodegradation of fluorene was assessed by GC-MS. Consequently, a number of produced intermediate compounds were identified. These findings displayed that C. vulgaris had not only notable resistance against fluorene but also noteworthy potential for its degradation. © 2019, Springer Nature B.V