Deduction of a facile method to construct Antheraea mylitta silk fibroin/gelatin blend films for prospective biomedical applications

Blend films of two types (I and II) were prepared by mixing Antheraea mylitta silk fibroin (AMF) and gelatin solution in various blend ratios via the solution casting method. Two different crosslinkers, namely glutaraldehyde and genipin, were used during blend preparation. The structural characteristics and thermal properties of the blend films were examined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Diffrential scanning calorimetery (DSC). The FTIR spectra showed conformational alterations in type I blend films while type II films attained high β‐sheet crystallinity. The XRD diffractograms presented a high degree of crystallinity in type II blend films compared to type I, which showed an almost amorphous structure. Further, thermal and biological studies were conducted on type II films. According to the TGA thermograms, the degradation temperature of the crosslinked blend films shifted compared to pure gelatin and pure AMF films. Partial miscibility of the two components was indicated by DSC thermograms of the blends. The high water uptake capacity of type II blend films was found to imitate hydrogel behaviour. The blend films did not show any toxicity in 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and supported L929 fibroblast cell spreading and proliferation. The biodegradation of the blend films was significantly faster than the pure silk film. © 2020 Society of Industrial Chemistry     

Solvent fractionation of hard palm stearin to increase the concentration of tripalmitoylglycerol and dipalmitoyl-stearoyl-glycerol as substrates for synthesis of human milk fat substitute

This research aimed to produce triacylglycerols fraction rich in palmitic acid (PA) at the sn-2 position from hard palm stearin (HPS) through acetone fractionation. Fractionations were done at HPS-to-acetone ratios of 1:3, 1:5 and 1:7 (w/v) and at temperatures of 25, 30 and 35 °C for 3 h. Triacylglycerols with PA at the sn-2 position, such as tripalmitoylglycerol (PPP) and dipalmitoyl-stearoyl-glycerol (PPS), were concentrated in the solid fraction, obtained after separation by filtration. The optimal fractionation conditions were at a HPS-to-acetone ratio of 1:5 (w/v) and 30 °C. The total PPP and PPS content was more than 91%, with a corresponding yield of more than 59%. Triacylglycerols obtained were composed of more than 91% PA in which 88% were at the sn-2 position. Conclusively, the solvent fractionation is a suited alternative method for the preparation of triacylglycerols used for the enzymatic synthesis of 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol which is the main triacylglycerol for human milk fat substitute.     

绚丽多彩的楚汉丝织品（之二）──色彩与纹饰

湖南出土的楚汉丝织品，以马王堆一、三号汉墓所出为代表，其色彩反映了我国当时印染工艺技术所达到的高度水平，其纹饰则显示了鲜明的时代特征，表现了运动、气势和古拙的艺术风格，充满着神奇浪漫的色彩。     

An investigation into physicochemical characteristics of ash produced from combustion of oil palm biomass wastein a boiler

Ash derived from combustion of Malaysian oil palm biomass (empty fruit bunches consisting of fibers) was physically and chemically characterized in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of its specific properties in terms of toxicity, compositions and reusability. Principal analyses conducted include particle size distribution, scanning electron microscopy, elemental dispersive X-ray, elemental analysis, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) as well as thermogravimetric, X-ray diffractometry and Fourier-transform infrared analyses. TCLP result indicated that the oil palm ash (OPA) should not be classified as toxic wastes in terms of heavy metal leachability since leachable copper, cadmium, lead and nickel concentrations were detected below the stipulated leachability limits. It was determined that the OPA contained high amount of potassium as well as presence of silica which implied its suitability to be reused as crude fertilizer or cement replacement material.     

The variability and interdependence of spider drag line tensile properties

There is considerable interest in producing fibres that mimic the impressive tensile properties of spider drag line silk. It must, however, be recognised that these properties have been assessed largely on the basis of their average values; there can be significant variability about these averages. The natural variability can also serve as a useful indicator of the range of values over which particular properties of biomimetic silk may be tailored. Here we quantify several tensile properties of drag line from Argiope trifasciata spiders. We distinguish between two groups of properties on the basis of their statistical coefficient of variation. There is significantly greater scope for tailoring the viscoplastic hardening aspects of drag line, compared to the variability of the initial elastic response or the yield strength. We also consider whether elastic modulus, yield strength and viscoplastic hardening can be controlled independently of one another.     

真丝纬编织物的品种开发

真丝针织物的品种花色单调已严重影响和制约其扩大出口创汇及生产企业的经济效益及发展。认为主要是品种开发与市场需求脱节,未能掌握国际市场导向指导消费,以及生产技术素质和管理能力不足。文章提出了开发真丝纬编织物的基本原则和目前可行的开发品种。     

已二醇二丙烯酸酯对真丝的接枝改性研究

研究了用二醇二丙烯酸酯为接枝单体、过硫酸铵（APS）为引发剂对真丝的接枝共聚反应，分析了接枝率的影响素，并测试了改性真丝的主要应用性能。结果表明：乳液和乙醇/水为溶剂的2种体系都能在真丝上获得较高接枝率。对于乙醇/水体系v(乙醇）：v(H2O）=1:1，接枝单体20～30g/L,2%甲酸4ml，引发剂APS 0.5g/L,65～70℃接枝60min的接枝率高。改性后真丝的断裂强度、延伸度、吸湿性能都可获得改善，对酸、碱的溶解性提高，但染色性能提高不明显，对泛黄性改善一般。     

Rapid determination of chlorophylls in vegetable oils by laser-based fluorometry

The presence of chlorophylls in vegetable oils is considered undesirable due to their adverse effects on oxidative deterioration, bleachability and hydrogenation. The usual methods for determination of chlorophylls in vegetable oils are absorption spectrophotometry, fluorometry and liquid chromatography using fluorescence detectors. This paper outlines a fluorometric method using a laser as the excitation source. The chlorophylls in crude palm oil, rapeseed oil, soya bean oil and olive oil were determined directly by laser-based fluorometry using (a) a helium-neon laser (632-8 nm, 5 mW) as the excitation source and an optical-multichannel analyser (OMA) with an intensified diode array as the detector, and (b) a helium-neon laser and a photomultiplier tube as the detector. The method is especially suitable for the detection of chlorophylls in crude palm oil since no pre-extraction step is required. The levels of chlorophylls measured in vegetable oils using the laser technique was also compared against values obtained by conventional spectrophotometric methods. The simplicity and rapid quantification of laser based fluorometry suggest that this technique can be readily applied to the detection or a wide variety of fluorescing species in vegetable oils.     

Volatile constituents of palm wine and palm sap

Palm wine and pasteurised palm sap volatiles were collected, concentrated on a Tenax GC and analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Eighty-two components were identified: 47 esters, 9 alcohols, 5 acids, 6 carbonyls, 2 acetals, 4 terpenes and 9 hydrocarbons. These had all been found previously in conventional wines. Odour evaluation of the separated palm wine components as they eluted suggested that no one compound is responsible for the characteristic palm wine odour. The acetates of higher alcohols and the ethyl esters of straight-chain aliphatic C₆-C₁₀ acids seemed to be important and may play a big role in imparting the fruity nuances of characteristic palm wine odour. Their association with alcohols seemed also to be necessary for the expression of typical palm wine odour. The qualitative difference between palm sap aroma and palm wine aroma appeared to be due mainly to the presence of these esters and alcohols in palm wine and their apparent absence from palm sap, as well as to the presence of some low-boiling esters and alcohols in palm sap and their apparent absence from palm wine.     

真丝绸产品的清洁生产与生态设计

通过对真丝绸整个产品生命过程的分析，对其进行了生命周期评价，说明了丝绸与其产地环境之间的联系和影响，尝试寻求两者之间的和谐关系，提出了清洁生产工艺的规划和各种行之有效的对策和措施，尝试了对环境友好的丝绸印染工艺的生态设计。