Development of a hybrid PSO–ANN model for estimating glucose and xylose yields for microwave-assisted pretreatment and the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass

In this paper, two artificial intelligent systems, the artificial neural network (ANN) and particle swarm optimization (PSO), were combined to form a hybrid PSO–ANN model that was used to improve estimates of glucose and xylose yields from the microwave–acid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass based on pretreatment parameters. ANN is a powerful tool capable of determining the relationship between the desired input and output data while PSO was used as a robust population-based search algorithm to optimize the performance of the ANN model. Specifically, it was used to determine the optimum number of neurons in the hidden layer and the best value of the learning rate of the ANN model. The optimization method includes minimizing the fitness function mean absolute error that was found to be 0.0176. The PSO algorithm suggested an optimum number of neurons in the hidden layer as 15 and a learning rate of 0.761 these consequently used to construct the ANN model. After constructing the hybrid PSO–ANN model, the performance of the intelligent system was examined by determining the regression coefficient (R ²) for estimating the experimental values of glucose and xylose and compared to the results from a response surface methodology (RSM) model. The results of R ² of the hybrid PSO–ANN model for glucose and xylose were 0.9939 and 0.9479, respectively, while the RSM model results for the same sugars were 0.8901 and 0.8439. This analysis reveals that the hybrid PSO–ANN model offers a higher degree of accuracy in comparison with the more commonly used RSM model.

     

Characterisation of spray‐dried microparticles containing iron coated by pectin/resistant starch

Iron is one of three major minerals in human body. However, the iron deficiency is a medical problem in developed and underdeveloped countries due to its poor oral absorption or insufficient iron intake. Encapsulation could solve problems associated with oral iron consumption. Various advantages including low cost, biodegradability, biocompatibility and large‐scale production have been included in the current study. In a modified encapsulation method, iron microparticles were prepared using low methoxy pectin and resistant starch during spray drying. Covalent and hydrogen bonds were formed between iron and pectin and between polymers, respectively. Particles sized 3.5 ± 1.14 μm and showed spherical shapes. The yield of particles was 72.07%, and solubility and loading efficiency were 33.64% ± 0.88 and 34.79%, respectively. In conclusion, using iron as a cross‐linker of pectin molecules resulted in microparticles with appropriate properties of lowering organoleptic changes and a better bioavailability especially in dairy‐based products for food fortification.     

Preparation and properties of zinc layered hydroxide with nitrate and phosphate as the counter anion,a novel control release fertilizer formulation

Journal of Porous Materials - New two-dimensional (2D) nanodelivery systems, namely Zinc layered hydroxide-nitrate (ZLN) and Zinc layered hydroxide-phosphate (ZLP) nanocomposites were successfully...     

Characterization of Magnesium Orotate‐Loaded Chitosan Polymer Nanoparticles for a Drug Delivery System

The drug release properties of magnesium orotate (MgOr) encapsulated in the chitosan (CS) cavity and the complexation behavior between MgOr and CS were investigated. The MgOr‐loaded CS nanoparticles (MgOrCSNPs) were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. MgOr was successfully encapsulated into the CS cavity. Results with 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide indicated that MgOrCSNPs retained their cytotoxic activity against the liver cancer cell line (HepG2) and breast cancer cell line (MCF‐7), and low toxicity against the human cell line (3T3) and human retinal epithelial cell line (ARPE‐19).     

Modification of Tao-Mason equation of state: Application to refrigerant fluids

The present work addresses a simplified procedure for the calculation of certain parameters in the Tao-Mason (TM) equation of state needed to estimate thermodynamic properties of 12 ozone-friendly refrigerants fluids. The calculations cover wide ranges extending from the dilute vapor or gas to highly compressed liquid and supercritical region. The theoretical equation of state (EOS) is that of Tao and Mason which is based on statistical mechanical perturbation theory. The novelty of the present work is that we use two scaling constants, the enthalpy of vaporization and the molar density, both evaluated at the normal boiling temperature. This approach contrasts with the original procedure that employs five scaling constants including the critical temperature, the critical pressure, the Boyle temperature, the Boyle pressure and the acentric factor for calculating three parameters second virial coefficient and temperature-dependent parameters. The modified TM EOS predicts thermodynamic properties with equal or better accuracy than those emerging from the original TM EOS.     

Static quantised radix-2 fast Fourier transform (FFT)/inverse FFT processor for constraints analysis

This research work focuses on the design of a high-resolution fast Fourier transform (FFT)/inverse FFT (IFFT) processors for constraints analysis purpose. Amongst the major setbacks associated with such high-resolution FFT processors are the high-power consumption resulting from the structural complexity and computational inefficiency of floating-point calculations. As such, a parallel pipelined architecture was proposed to statically scale the resolution of the processor to suite adequate trade-off constraints. The quantisation was applied to provide an approximation to address the finite word-length constraints of digital signal processing. An optimum operating mode was proposed, based on the signal-to-quantisation-noise ratio (SQNR) as well as the statistical theory of quantisation, to minimise the trade-off issues associated with selecting the most application-efficient floating-point processing capability in contrast to their resolution quality.     

Chemometric approach to validating faecal sterols as source tracer for faecal contamination in water

Faecal sterols detection is a promising method for identifying sources of faecal pollution. In this study, faecal contamination in water samples from point source (sewage treatment plants, chicken farms, quail farms and horse stables) was extracted using the solid phase extraction (SPE) technique. Faecal sterols (coprostanol, cholesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol and stigmastanol) were selected as parameters to differentiate the source of faecal pollution. The results indicated that coprostanol, cholesterol and β-sitosterol were the most significant parameters that can be used as source tracers for faecal contamination. Chemometric techniques, such as cluster analysis, principal component analysis and discriminant analysis were applied to the data set on faecal contamination in water from various pollution sources in order to validate the faecal sterols’ profiles. Cluster analysis generated three clusters: coprostanol was in cluster 1, cholesterol and β-sitosterol formed cluster 2, while cluster 3 contained stigmasterol and stigmastanol. Discriminant analysis suggested that coprostanol, cholesterol and β-sitosterol were the most significant parameters to discriminate between the faecal pollution source. The use of chemometric techniques provides useful and promising indicators in tracing the source of faecal contamination.     

Influence of Radiation Processing of Cooked Beef Sausage on Its Lipids

The effect of gamma irradiation on fatty acid composition and lipid oxidation in emulsion-type cooked beef sausages was investigated. Vacuum-packaged sausages were irradiated at 2, 4, 6 and 8 kGy and stored at 4 °C for 4 weeks. Samples were analyzed for fatty acid composition at 0 and 4 weeks and lipid oxidation after 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of storage. Irradiation reduced the content of oleic acid and linoleic acid, and the effect was intensified during storage. Elaidic acid content increased at doses of 6 and 8 kGy. The results indicated that irradiation at 6 and 8 kGy increased lipid oxidation, measured as the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value. Based on the results, cooked beef sausages could be irradiated at 2 and 4 kGy without affecting the molecular structure of lipids.     

Surface Functionalization of Al2O3 Nanoparticles with Biocompatible Modifiers,Preparation and Characterization of Poly(Vinyl Pyrrolidone)/Modified Al2O3 Nanocomposites

In this present investigation, for increasing compatibility between nanoparticles and polymer matrix as well as preventing of aggregation, surface modification of aluminum oxide nanoparticles was performed with citric acid (CA) and ascorbic acid as biosafe and environmentally friendly modifier agents. For fabrication of nanocomposites, different contents (3, 5, 7?wt%) of nanoparticles were incorporated into the poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) matrix by ultrasonication technique. Transmission electron microscopy images of nanocomposites show a good dispersion of nanoparticles into the polymer matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis results show that the thermal stability of the nanocomposites shifted to higher temperature in comparison with the neat polymer matrix.