In order to obtain the best mass spectrometry identification results for using the most appropriate methods in clinical practice, we explore the optimal pretreatment methods for different species and morphologies of filamentous fungi. 98 fungal strains were treated with formic acid sandwich method, dispersion method, extraction method, and other methods using a medium element mass spectrometer (EXS3000) as a platform. Each strain had three targets, and the identification rates and confidence differences under different pre-treatment methods were compared to evaluate the identification effects of these methods. The mass spectrometry identification rates of 98 filamentous fungi obtained after pre-treatment with formic acid sandwich method, dispersion method, and extraction method were 85.71%, 82.65%, and 75.51%, respectively. The identification rate of the formic acid sandwich method was significantly higher than the other two methods (P < 0 005) has the best identification ability and the obtained confidence is also higher than the other two methods. The use of formic acid sandwich method for mass spectrometry identification of filamentous fungi can achieve ideal identification results, which is suitable for mass spectrometry identification of filamentous fungi in conventional laboratories.

In order to achieve effective monitoring of concrete structures for sound structural health, the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into cementitious materials offers a promising solution for fabricating CNT-modified smart concrete with self-sensing ability. This study investigated the influences of CNT dispersion method, water/cement (W/C) ratio, and concrete constituents on the piezoelectric properties of CNT-modified cementitious materials. Three CNT dispersion methods (direct mixing, sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (NaDDBS) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) surface treatment), three W/C ratios (0.4, 0.5, and 0.6), and three concrete constituent compositions (pure cement, cement/sand, and cement/sand/coarse aggregate) were considered. The experimental results showed that CNT-modified cementitious materials with CMC surface treatment had valid and consistent piezoelectric responses to external loading. The piezoelectric sensitivity improved significantly with increased W/C ratio and reduced progressively with the addition of sand and coarse aggregates.

Dispersion stability of nanoparticles in the liquid media is of great importance to the utilization in practice. This study aims to investigate the effects of mechanical dispersion method on the dispersibility of functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles in the transformer oil. Dispersion methods, including stirring, ultrasonic bath, and probe processes, were systematically tested to verify their versatility for preparing stable nanofluid. The test results reveal that the combination of ultrasonic bath process and stirring method has the best dispersion efficiency and the obtained nanofluid possesses the highest AC breakdown strength. Specifically, after aging for 168 h, the size of nanoparticles in the nanofluid prepared by the combination method has no obvious change, while those obtained by the other three paths are increased obviously.