Effect of the Addition of a Cocoa Butter–Like Fat Enzymatically Produced from Olive Pomace Oil on the Oxidative Stability of Cocoa Butter

ABSTRACT:  A cocoa butter (CB)–like fat was produced in a packed bed enzyme reactor using sn -1,3 specific lipase, and its blends with CB were prepared at different ratios (CB: CB-like fat; 100: 0, 90: 10, 80: 20, 70: 30, 60: 40, 50: 50, 0: 100). The oxidation kinetics of CB: CB-like fat blends was studied by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Samples were heated in DSC at different temperatures (130, 140, 150, 160 °C) under 100 mL/min oxygen. From DSC exotherms, oxidation induction times (OIT) were determined and used for the assessment of the oxidative stabilities of the blends. Oxidation kinetics parameters (activation energy, E_a ; preexponential factor, Z ; and oxidation rate constant, k ) were calculated. In general, it has been observed that above 110 °C increasing the ratio of CB-like fat in the blend increased the k value with increasing temperature. It has been observed that for all blends the increase in k value with temperature was significant ( P < 0.05). Increasing CB-like fat ratio in the blend decreased the content of major TAGs (1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol [POP]; 1[3]-palmitoyl-3[1]stearoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol [POS]; 1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol [SOS]), and decreased the oxidative stability of the blends.     

A surface wear model for hypoid gear pairs

In this paper, a methodology was proposed for simulation of surface wear of face-milled or face-hobbed hypoid gear pairs. The methodology combines Archard's wear model with a finite-element based hypoid gear contact model. The wear model requires the sliding distances and contact pressures to be computed along the contact zones at each rotational gear position. Formulations were proposed for computation of sliding distance along the tooth contact zones based on hypoid gear kinematics and geometry of the tooth surfaces, and the contact model was used to predict the normal contact pressure distributions. An example hypoid gear pair was analyzed for its wear behavior. Influences of gear position errors on wear patterns were demonstrated. An approximate method that is computationally more efficient was also proposed at the end.     

Subjective wear trials to evaluate thermal comfort of the foot clothing system including a sweat pad

Subjective wear trials were conducted to evaluate effects of disposable antibacterial sweat pads on foot thermal comfort. Sweat pads were produced with polypropylene and polylactic acid nonwoven topsheet layers which were treated with different herbal antibacterial materials. Trials were carried out with 10 male subjects under 10 °C and 50% relative humidity simulating sweating during a moderate activity in cold environments. Besides microclimate temperature and relative humidity measurements, subjective thermal (coolness, dampness, and comfort) and other sensations (stickiness, slippiness, etc.) were obtained by five point rating scales. Bending rigidity, friction coefficients, and moisture management properties of the topsheet fabrics and pads were tested. Results show that foot sweat pads enabled drier microclimate, warmer sensations, and higher comfort evaluations. Antibacterial treatments did not affect bending rigidity values of the nonwoven topsheet fabrics, but some applications decreased spreading speed, increased roughness of the pad surfaces, and wetting time values which are not preferable.     

Valorization of Olive Pomace Oil with Enzymatic Synthesis of 2‐Monoacylglycerol

2‐Monoacylglycerols (2‐MAG) with a high content of oleic acid at sn‐2 position was synthesized by enzymatic ethanolysis of refined olive pomace oil, which is a byproduct of olive oil processing. Six lipases from different microbial sources were used in the synthesis of 2‐MAG. Immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica gave the highest product yield among the selected lipases. Response surface methodology was applied to optimize reaction conditions; time (4 to 10 h), temperature (45 to 60 °C), enzyme load (10 to 18 wt%), and ethanol:oil molar ratio (30:1 to 60:1). The predicted highest 2‐MAG yield (84.83%) was obtained at 45 °C using 10 (wt%) enzyme load and 50:1 ethanol:oil molar ratio for 5 h reaction time. Experiments to confirm the predicted results at optimum conditions presented a 2‐MAG yield of 82.54%. The purification yield (g 2‐MAG extracted/100 g of total product) was 80.10 and 69.00 for solvent extraction and low‐temperature crystallization, respectively. The purity of the synthesized 2‐MAG was found to be higher than 96%.     

Investigation of the Microstructural,Mechanical and Corrosion Properties of Grade A Ship Steel-Duplex Stainless Steel Composites Produced <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> Explosive Welding

Grade A ship-building steel-AISI 2304 duplex stainless steel composite plates were manufactured via explosive welding. The AISI 2304 plates were used to clad the Grade A plates. Optical microscopy studies were conducted on the joining interface for characterization of the manufactured composite plates. Notch impact, tensile-shear, microhardness, bending and twisting tests were carried out to determine the mechanical properties of the composites. In addition, the surfaces of fractured samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and neutral salt spray (NSS) and potentiodynamic polarization tests were performed to examine corrosion behavior. Near the explosion zone, the interface was completely flat, but became wavy as the distance from the explosion zone increased. The notch impact tests indicated that the impact strength of the composites decreased with increasing distance from the explosion zone. The SEM studies detected brittle behavior below the impact transition temperature and ductile behavior above this temperature. Microhardness tests revealed that the hardness values increased with increasing distance from the explosion zone and mechanical tests showed that no visible cracking or separation had occurred on the joining interface. The NSS and potentiodynamic polarization tests determined that the AISI 2304 exhibited higher corrosion resistance than the Grade A steel.     

Ligand exchange based paraoxon imprınted QCM sensor

In the present work, a paraoxon imprinted QCM sensor has been developed for the determination of paraoxon based on the modification of paraoxon imprinted film onto a quartz crystal combining the advantages of high selectivity of the piezoelectric microgravimetry using MIP film technique and high sensitivity of QCM detection. The paraoxon selective memories have formed on QCM electrode surface by using a new metal–chelate interaction based on pre-organized monomer and the paraoxon recognition activity of these molecular memories was investigated. Molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) film for the detection of paraoxon was developed and the analytical performance of paraoxon imprinted sensor was studied. The molecular imprinted polymer were characterized by FTIR measurements. Paraoxon imprinted sensor was characterized with AFM and ellipsometer. The study also includes the measurement of binding interaction of paraoxon imprinted quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor, selectivity experiments and analytical performance of QCM electrode. The detection limit and the affinity constant (K_affinity) were found to be 0.06 μM and 2.25 × 10⁴ M^? 1 for paraoxon [MAAP–Cu(II)–paraoxon] based thin film, respectively. Also, it has been observed that the selectivity of the prepared paraoxon imprinted sensor is high compared to a similar chemical structure which is parathion.     

Analysis of quantum noise in a singly resonant nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator

We have analyzed the evolution of quantum operators in a three-wave mixing process by using the nonlinear polarization driven wave equations and linearization of the quantum operators. We have theoretically shown that a nondegenerate optical parametric amplifier can generate amplitude-squeezed light when operated in the backconversion regime. Furthermore, a nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator, where only the signal wave is resonant, is proved to generate amplitude-squeezed light when the pump intensity is above the value at which 100% photon conversion efficiency is achieved. The calculated limit for amplitude-squeezing in this case is 3 d B.     

Thermal Characteristics in a Tube With Loose-Fit Perforated Twisted Tapes

Enhanced heat transfer and pressure loss in a tube with loose-fit perforated twisted tapes were experimentally investigated. The effects of the twist ratio and the hole diameter ratio were also described. A constant twisted tape width of 52 mm, which is lower than the tube inside diameter of 56 mm, was used in order to reduce excessive pressure drops associated with full-width twisted tape elements. The tests were conducted using the tapes with three different ratios of pitch length of twisted tape to inner diameter of tube (twist ratios = 2, 2.5, 3) and three different ratios of hole to inner diameter (diameter ratios = 0.0714, 0.107, 0.143) in a range of Reynolds number 4860 to 24,130 under uniform heat flux conditions. The experimental findings revealed that the Nusselt number, friction factor, and thermal performance factor increase with decreasing twist ratio and hole diameter ratio. The maximum value of thermal performance factor of 1.27 was achieved for the case at a twist ratio of 2 and a hole diameter ratio of 0.0714. Eventually, the experimental results of Nusselt number, friction factor and thermal performance factor were correlated, and the deviations determined for Nusselt number, friction factor, and thermal performance factor were within ±7%, ±8%, and ±6%, respectively.     

Effects of irrigation solutions on the surface of protaper instruments: A microscopy study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX), and mixture of tetracycline, citric acid, and detergent (MTAD) solutions on the surfaces of nickel titanium (NiTi) rotary files with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Irrigation solutions including 2.5% NaOCl, 5% NaOCl, 2% CHX, and MTAD were used. Four new ProTaper rotary NiTi files (F3) were immersed in each four irrigation solutions for 10 min, separately. One untreated NiTi file was used as a control specimen. The surface analysis was performed with SEM and AFM. The surface analysis in AFM was performed on 12 different regions located between first and second millimeters from the tip. SEM images were taken with different magnifications. No surface alteration was recorded under SEM evaluation. AFM revealed that the root mean square (RMS) values of all treated specimens were statistically higher than the control sample (P < 0.05). The sample which was treated with CHX showed lowest RMS values in test groups. All tested solutions caused surface alterations. CHX demonstrated limited surface alterations when compared to the other tested solutions. Microsc. Res. Tech. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Hexavalent chromium removal by Osage Orange

This study explores the sorption potential of Osage Orange (Maclura Pomifera) for the removal of Cr(VI) ion. The influence of contact time, solution pH, initial metal concentration, amount of biosorbent and ionic strength on the removal of Cr(VI) ion was studied. The biosorption of Cr(VI) with pulp and peel was investigated in a batch arrangement. The initial and equilibrium concentrations of Cr(VI) ions in aqueous phase were determined by spectrophotometry. The sorption process was pH and concentration dependent. The sorption of Cr(VI) ions increased with a decreasing pH until pH 2. The increase in initial Cr(VI) ions concentration in aqueous phase increased the sorption. The sorption data fitted well with the Langmuir sorption model within the concentration range studied. The observed maximum biosorption capacity by Langmuir sorption model at pH of 2 for M. Pomifera pulp was 0.92 mmol of Cr(VI)/g and for M. Pomifera peel was 0.55 mmol of Cr(VI)/g.