Effect of microwave heating time on the gel properties of chicken myofibrillar proteins and their formation mechanism

The present work was conducted to illustrate the mechanism of gel formation of myofibrillar proteins (MPs) under different microwave heating times. The results showed that the denaturation enthalpy (ΔH) of the MPs significantly decreased when the heating time increased from 3 to 9 s and then completely disappeared as the heating time progressed, indicating that the MPs gradually denatured and subsequently aggregated with increasing heating time, which was further verified by the changes in the secondary structure, electrophoretic bands, and gel properties (e.g., water holding capacity and textural profiles) of the MPs. Microstructural images indicated that the MP gel formed under 12 s had the most compact network, indicating that extended microwave heating time could induce quality deterioration of MP gels. Moreover, the hydrophobic forces, electrostatic forces, and disulphide bonds of the MPs gradually intensified with increasing microwave heating time, suggesting that both non-covalent and covalent bonds could promote molecular denaturation and subsequent aggregation of MPs. In addition, correlation analysis revealed that the changes in the molecular conformation of MPs induced by different microwave heating times could effectively regulate the formation of MP gels and their related properties.     

Silica-based ceramics toward electromagnetic microwave absorption

Silica-based ceramics have been explored extensively as a class of versatile materials for various applications in architecture, catalysis, energy, machinery, and biomedical engineering. Nevertheless, comprehensive information on silica-based ceramic and electromagnetic microwave (EMW) absorption is scarce, although excellent progress has been made in this field. Here, recent progress in the investigation of silica-based ceramics toward EMW absorption is reviewed. We first introduced the basis of ceramics (characteristics, classification, synthetic methods, potential applications). Subsequently, the silica-based ceramics, including Si-based oxides and alloys, SiOC/SiC/Si₃N₄/SiCN-based composite, Ti₃SiC₂ and composite for EMW absorption were systematically summarized. Notably, the fabrication strategies, absorption properties, and mechanisms of silica-based ceramics are described in detail, with a focus on structure and component design. Lastly, the prospects and ongoing challenges of this field in the future are presented. This review is expected to learn from the past and achieve progress toward the future of silica-based ceramic for EMW absorption.     

基于电磁超材料的微波单向传输圆波导设计

微波隔离器是微波系统中不可或缺的器件,常见的隔离器都采用了铁氧体旋磁材料配合吸收负载实现电磁波的单向传输。这种器件虽然可以使电磁波单向传输,但是并不能改善能量的浪费问题,还增加了系统的复杂度。针对上述问题,本文基于电磁超材料设计了一种微波单向传输的圆波导,使用波导内壁涂覆折射率逐渐变化的材料来影响电磁波的传输特性,从而实现电磁波单向传输。本文给出了微波单向传输的电磁计算模型和超材料结构及属性,并通过简化这种超材料使其易于实现;最后通过电磁仿真分析了这种材料的电磁特性并给出了这种材料的实现方法。     

Inter-Sample and Intra-Sample Variability in Electronic Properties of Methylammonium Lead Iodide

While the challenges associated with the stability of metal halide perovskites are well known and intensely studied, variability in electronic properties represents an equally significant, yet seldom studied, challenge that could potentially slow or inhibit the commercial viability of these systems. In this work, the contactless characterization technique time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) is used to quantify the variability in electronic properties of the prototypical perovskite, methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) both between different samples, and at different locations within the same sample. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a quasi-automated image-analysis strategy, it is possible to evaluate the metrics of heterogeneity in surface microstructure and correlate them with the electronic properties as obtained by TRMC. Substantial intra-sample and inter-sample variation is observed in the mobility-yield product in samples prepared following differing protocols, and in samples prepared following identical protocols.     

Tuning of shear thickening behavior and elastic strength of polyvinylidene fluoride via doping of ZnO-graphene

ZnO rice like nonarchitects are grafted on the graphene carbon core via a rapid microwave synthesis route. The prepared grafted systems are characterized via XRD, SEM, RAMAN, and XPS to examined the structural and morphological parameters. Zinc oxide grafted graphene sheets (ZnO-G) are further doped in β-phase of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to prepare the polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) via mixed solvent approach (THF/DMF). β-phase confirmation of PVDF PNCs is done by FTIR studies. It is observed that ZnO-G filler enhances the β-phase content in the PNCs. Non-doped PVDF and PNCs are further studied for rheological behavior under the shear rate of 1–100 s⁻¹. Doping of ZnO-G dopant to the PVDF matrix changes its discontinuous shear thickening (DST) behavior to continues shear thickening behavior (CST). Hydrocluster formation and their interaction with the dopant could be the reason for this striking DST to CST behavioral change. Strain amplitude sweep (10⁻³% -10%) oscillatory test reveals that the PNCs shows extended linear viscoelastic region with high elastic modulus and lower viscous modulus. Effective shear thickening behavior and strong elastic strength of these PNCs present their candidature for various fields including mechanical and soft body armor applications.     

Microwave hybrid fast sintering of red clay ceramics

This work aimed to examine the performance of the hybrid sintering of clay ceramic in a microwave furnace, compared to the sintering process in a conventional furnace. The raw materials were subjected to X-ray fluorescence, loss on ignition (LOI), X-ray diffraction, particle size distribution, real specific mass, and thermogravimetric analyses. The red clay ceramic mass was prepared, extruded, pre-sintered in a conventional furnace at 600°C/60 min, and sintered at temperatures between 700 °C and 1100 °C. The sintering conventional (resistive oven) was carried out for 60 min with a heating rate of 10°C/min. In the microwave furnace, the sintering times were 5, 10, and 15 min, with a heating rate of 50°C/min, with a sintering chamber coated with silicon carbide (susceptor). The sintered specimens were characterized according to linear shrinkage, water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent specific mass, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy analysis, spectroscopy analysis in the ultraviolet and visible regions, microhardness, and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that microwave sintering promoted an increase in the microhardness and apparent specific mass, and reduction in water absorption and apparent porosity values, due to greater densification in the microstructure. The best results occurred for specimens sintered at 1100°C.     

Quantum effect of cooling down the environment temperature of mesoscopic LC circuit

We examine the quantum effect of cooling down the environment temperature of mesoscopic LC circuit, and find that the ground state of the circuit is no longer in the thermo vacuum state, but in a negative binomial state. We calculate energy of the circuit in this new state, which increases with the cooling of the environment.     

响应面法优化甘薯脆片干燥工艺

为探究甘薯脆片热泵干燥最佳工艺,在单因素试验基础上,以烘干温度、烘干时间、切片厚度、汽漂时间为影响因素,以含油率及感官评分为响应值,用Box-Behnken试验设计建立响应面分析模型。结果表明,甘薯脆片烘干最佳工艺为:烘干温度74℃、切片厚度2.7 mm、汽漂时间3 min,烘干时间为3.5 h,在此优化条件下,甘薯脆片油炸后感官评分为88.75分,含油率为7.84%,在此条件下得到的产品色香味俱全。     

榨前微波处理对油茶粕活性成分及抗氧化性的影响

通过不同微波功率和时间辐射油茶籽,测定油茶粕中茶皂素、蛋白质、粗多糖、总酚、糠氨酸含量以及DPPH自由基清除能力的变化规律,研究榨前微波处理对油茶粕活性成分及抗氧化性的影响。结果表明:随微波加热时间延长,低功率(245、420 W)微波处理油茶籽后,油茶粕中茶皂素含量稍有上升,随后下降;较高功率(560、700 W)微波处理后,茶皂素含量呈上升趋势;微波处理对油茶粕中蛋白质含量影响不大;微波处理后油茶粕中粗多糖含量整体呈下降趋势,但420、560、700 W处理20、5、10 min后含量分别比初始升高66.9%、79.6%和116.0%;微波处理后油茶粕中总酚含量呈先降低后升高再降低的趋势,且微波功率越高,总酚含量越高;微波功率较低(245 W)时,糠氨酸含量先降低后略有升高,微波功率较高(420、560、700 W)时,糠氨酸含量先升高后降低。245 W和700 W微波功率处理时油茶粕对DPPH自由基清除率先升高后降低,560 W时呈整体上升趋势,420 W呈波动状态。