Potential of Pinhão husk (Araucaria angustifolia) as a structural reinforcement agent in the properties of edible films of Pinhão flour and gelatin

In this study, the use of Pinhão husk as a source of reinforcement material for development of edible films, where the Pinhão seed flour and bovine gelatin were used as matrices for the films. Mechanical properties, water vapor permeability, solubility and opacity, microstructure, and thermal degradation characterized the films produced. The films presented homogeneous and cohesive structures. Pinhão husk content positively affected film properties by increasing tensile strength (TS) and decreasing water vapor permeability (WVP), with Pinhão flour film formulations (5.0% Pinhão flour, 1.2% glycerol, and 0.4% Pinhão husk) and gelatin (5.0% gelatin, 2.0% glycerol, and 0.4% Pinhão husk) those that presented the best results (5.06 MPa for TS and 0.14 g.mm/kPa.h.m² for WVP) and (3.88 MPa for TS and 0.28 g.mm/kPa.h.m² for WVP), respectively The thermal degradation study revealed that the films are stable at temperatures below 150°C, losing only free water and volatile compounds of low molecular weight. Pinhão husk can reinforce films, making them suitable as biodegradable and edible packaging materials for eco-friendly food products. This contributes to the circular economy, preserves biodiversity, and reduces plastic waste, offering promising sustainable packaging solutions.     

In situ synthesized chitosan–gelatin/ZnO nanocomposite scaffold with drug delivery properties: Higher antibacterial and lower cytotoxicity effects

In this work, chitosan–gelatin/zinc oxide nanocomposite hydrogel scaffolds (CS–GEL/nZnO) were prepared via in situ synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (nZnO) to reach a scaffold with both inherent antibacterial and drug delivery properties. The prepared nanocomposite hydrogel scaffolds were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic absorption spectrometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. In addition, swelling, biodegradation, antibacterial, cytocompatibility, and cell attachment of the scaffolds were evaluated. The results showed that the prepared scaffolds had high porosity with a pore size of 50–400 μm and nZnO were well distributed without any agglomeration on the CS–GEL matrix. In addition, the nanocomposite scaffolds showed enhanced swelling, biodegradation, and antibacterial properties. Moreover, the drug delivery studies using naproxen showed that nZnO could control naproxen release. Cytocompatibility of the samples was proved using normal human dermal fibroblast cells (HFF2). In comparison to the previous reports which nZnO were simply added to the matrix of the scaffold, in situ synthesis of nZnO was led to higher antibacterial and lower cytotoxicity effects as a result of well distribution of nZnO in this method. According to the findings, the in situ synthesized CS–GEL/nZnO is strongly recommended for biomedical applications especially skin tissue engineering. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47590.     

Could Alcohol Abuse and Dependence on Junk Foods Inducing Obesity and/or Illicit Drug Use Represent Danger to Liver in Young People with Altered Psychological/Relational Spheres or Emotional Problems?

Recent data show that young people, mainly due to the pressure of some risk factors or due to disrupted interpersonal relationships, utilise greater reward value and display greater sensitivity to the reinforcing properties of “pleasurable stimuli”, specifically in those situations in which an enhanced dopamine release is present. Alcoholic beverages, foods rich in sugar and fat, and illicit drug use are pleasurable feelings associated with rewards. Research shows that there is a link between substance abuse and obesity in brain functioning. Still, alcohol excess is central in leading to obesity and obesity-related morbidities, such as hepatic steatosis, mainly when associated with illicit drug dependence and negative eating behaviours in young people. It is ascertained that long-term drinking causes mental damage, similarly to drug abuse, but also affects liver function. Indeed, beyond the pharmacokinetic interactions of alcohol with drugs, occurring in the liver due to the same metabolic enzymes, there are also pharmacodynamic interactions of both substances in the CNS. To complicate matters, an important noxious effect of junk foods consists of inducing obesity and obesity-related NAFLD. In this review, we focus on some key mechanisms underlying the impact of these addictions on the liver, as well as those on the CNS.     

Effect of PbTiO3 seed layer on the orientation behavior and electrical properties of Bi(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O3–PbTiO3 ferroelectric thin films

High Curie-temperature 0.63Bi(Mg_1/2Ti_1/2)O₃–0.37PbTiO₃ (BMT–PT) films were fabricated on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates by the sol–gel spin-coating method. The oriented growth behavior of thin films was controlled by introducing a PT seed layer onto the platinum electrode surface. The effect of the annealing method of the PT seed layer on the orientation behavior and electrical properties of BMT–PT films was investigated. It was found that BMT–PT thin film exhibits higher (100) orientation degree when the PT seed layer was treated by rapid thermal annealing. The dielectric permittivity increases while the remanent polarization and coercive field decrease with increasing the (100) orientation degree. These results were explained according to the relationship between the preferential orientation and the spontaneous polarization directions of the films.     

Counting the number of active centers in MgCl2-supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts by quenching with 2-thiophenecarbonyl chloride and study on the initial kinetics of propylene polymerization

Using 2-thiophenecarbonyl chloride (TPCC) as a quenching agent, the number of active centers in propylene polymerization with MgCl₂-supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts were determined by measuring the sulfur content of the quenched polymer. Under suitable conditions, the thiophenecarbonyl-labeled polymer chains were stable in the reaction system when TPCC/Al > 1. The number of active centers was found to increase in the first 5 minutes of propylene polymerization, accompanied by rapid decrease of the propagation rate constant k_p. Diffusion barrier from the polymer covering the catalyst fragments is thought as the main reason of the rapid decay of k_p in the initial stage.     

Antioxidant Enzymatic Activities and Gene Expression Associated with Heat Tolerance in the Stems and Roots of Two Cucurbit Species (“Cucurbita maxima” and “Cucurbita moschata”) and Their Interspecific Inbred Line “Maxchata”

The elucidation of heat tolerance mechanisms is required to combat the challenges of global warming. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant enzyme responses to heat stress, at the enzymatic activity and gene expression levels, and to investigate the antioxidative alterations associated with heat tolerance in the stems and roots of squashes using three genotypes differing in heat tolerance. Plants of heat-tolerant “C. moschata”, thermolabile “C. maxima” and moderately heat-tolerant interspecific inbred line “Maxchata” genotypes were exposed to moderate (37 °C) and severe (42 °C) heat shocks. “C. moschata” exhibited comparatively little oxidative damage, with the lowest hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), superoxide (O₂⁻) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the roots compared to stems, followed by “Maxchata”. The enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) were found to be increased with heat stress in tolerant genotypes. The significant inductions of FeSOD, MnSOD, APX2, CAT1 and CAT3 isoforms in tolerant genotypes suggested their participation in heat tolerance. The differential isoform patterns of SOD, APX and CAT between stems and roots also indicated their tissue specificity. Furthermore, despite the sequence similarity of the studied antioxidant genes among “C. maxima” and “Maxchata”, most of these genes were highly induced under heat stress in “Maxchata”, which contributed to its heat tolerance. This phenomenon also indicated the involvement of other unknown genetic and/or epigenetic factors in controlling the expression of these antioxidant genes in squashes, which demands further exploration.     

State of the Art and Perspectives in the “Molecular Approach” Towards Well-Defined Heterogeneous Catalysts

Molecular understanding of heterogeneous catalysts is a key step towards their rational development since catalysis is a molecular phenomenon. Here we describe our efforts towards molecularly defined heterogeneous catalysts through the anchoring of molecular precursors on solid supports and our approaches towards bridging the gap between well-defined and industrial catalysts.     

Studies of metal–support interactions with “real” and “inverted” model systems: reactions of CO and small hydrocarbons with hydrogen on noble metals in contact with oxides

Two types of model catalysts are compared: thin film catalysts consisting of polyhedral noble metal nanocrystals (Rh and Pt) supported by reducible and non‐reducible oxides, and their inverted pendants, submonolayers of titania and vanadia deposited under UHV conditions on the respective metal surfaces (Pd and Rh(111) and Rh (polycrystalline)). The structure and composition of the inverse catalysts were examined in situ by LEED and AES and the nanoparticles were characterized by HRTEM. The activity of thin film and inverse catalysts was studied in a series of reactions, such as the ring opening of methylcyclopentane and methylcyclobutane, the dissociation of CO and the CO methanation. Reaction conditions comprise atmospheric pressure but also molecular beam experiments. The reaction rates are related to the oxidation state of the supporting oxide, to the free metal surface area and to the number of sites at the interface between metal and support. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Structural and magnetic characterization of BaTiO3–BaFe12O19 bilayer thin films: Interface effects on the magnetic properties of barium hexaferrite layer

We report the successful growth of BaFe₁₂O₁₉–BaTiO₃ (BaM-BTO) bilayer thin films using pulsed laser deposition, considering different crystallographic textures; BTO on (0001)-BaM and BaM on (100)-BTO. Our study involved the bilayers, the individual ferrite and titanate films, and the targets used in their growth. Raman spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction were used to examine the structure of BaM-BTO thin films, indicating that there is no formation of impurity phases. The morphological characterization was made by scanning electron microscopy, and the magnetic behaviour was studied using SQUID magnetometry. The spontaneous magnetization, magnetic anisotropy constant, and anisotropy field were determined simultaneously from the magnetic hysteresis loop. In addition, we also studied the influence of different annealing temperatures over the magnetic behaviour of bare BaM and covered with BTO thin film. This allows to discern between the different magnetization reversal processes in bilayer systems, indicating a strong correlation between the anisotropy field and the coercive field, and an unusual linear relation of the anisotropy constant with the spontaneous magnetization. Our results indicate a direct influence of the BTO on the magnetic properties of the BaM phase, which places these composite bilayers as excellent candidates for the development of multifunctional devices.     

Process engineering and problems encountered by chemical and related industries in the near future. Revolution or continuity?

The evolution of process engineering is reviewed and it’s ability to cope with the problems encountered by chemical and related industries is appraised. It appears that the necessary progress should come via a pluridisciplinary and multiscale approach, that will allow us to satisfy both the market requirements for specific end-use properties as well as the environmental and social constraints. In this context, an increasingly important contribution will be required from basic disciplines such as physics, physical chemistry and mathematics, mechanics and ecotoxicology.     

Interaction of calcium phosphates with calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide during the “soft” mechanochemical synthesis of hydroxyapatite

In the present work, the formation kinetics of hydroxyapatite Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ during ball milling of mixtures of calcium phosphates with calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide was studied. The conversion degrees of reaction mixtures containing calcium dihydrogenphosphate/dicalcium phosphate/tricalcium phosphate/calcium pyrophosphate and calcium oxide/calcium hydroxide were determined for different milling times. The formation kinetic data were analyzed together with the Gibbs free energies of the corresponding reactions. It was found that the kinetic factors dominate at the initial formation stage of hydroxyapatite due to the acid-base interactions during the “soft” mechanochemical synthesis. A technologically attractive synthesis route of Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ was suggested based on the “soft” mechanochemical synthesis via reactions between СаНРО₄ and СаО or Са(ОН)₂.     

Influence of Cesium in Pt/NaCsβ on the Physico-Chemical and Catalytic Properties of the Pt Clusters in the Aromatization ofn-Hexane

Various Pt/NaCsβ catalysts with decreasing Na/Cs ratios and a Pt/KL sample taken as a reference catalyst for aromatization ofn-hexane, have been prepared by exchange of NaCsβ and KL zeolites in a Pt tetraammine solution then calcination and reduction. The increase of the Cs content in the NaCsβ zeolitic support results in a decrease of the cyclohexane adsorption and Pt exchange capacities. The Pt/Csβ and Pt/KL samples show similar behaviors which strongly differ from those of the Na-containing Pt/NaCsβ samples in terms of (i) reducibility of the Pt ions after calcination, (ii) shape of the FTIR spectra of CO adsorbed on the Pt clusters after reduction, and (iii) catalytic activity of these clusters in the conversion ofn-hexane. In particular, the selectivity to aromatization is much higher on the Pt/Csβ and Pt/KL catalysts than on the Na-containing Pt/NaCsβ ones. The reasons for the specific behaviors of the Pt/Csβ and Pt/KL samples are discussed.     

Cloud Point Extraction and Separation of Scandium and Yttrium (III) with Triton X‐114 in the Presence or Absence 8‐Hydroquiloline as an Added Chelate

Abstract

In this paper, the cloud point extraction and separation of scandium and yttrium (III) via use of Triton X‐114 with and without 8‐hydroquiloline (HQ) as an added chelate agent are investigated. The effects of various parameters, such as the aqueous phase pH, HQ concentration, Triton X‐114 concentration, heating temperature, and incubation time, on the cloud point extraction of scandium and yttrium (III) are studied. The results demonstrate that, there are different extraction and separation behaviors for scandium and yttrium (III) with and without HQ as an added chelate. And in contrast to solvent extraction, cloud point extraction is an excellent method to extract and separate scandium and yttrium (III).     

Post-illumination activity of Bi2WO6 in the dark from the photocatalytic“memory”effect

Photocatalysts with the photocatalytic"memory"effect could resolve the intrinsic activity loss of traditional photocatalysts when the light illumination is turned off.Due to the dual requirements of light absorption and energy storage/release functions,most previously reported photocatalysts with the photocatalytic"memory"effect were composite photocatalysts of two phase components,which may lose their performance due to gradually deteriorated interface conditions during their applications.In this work,a simple solvothermal process was developed to synthesize Bi2WO6 microspheres constructed by aggregated nanoflakes.The pure phase Bi₂WO₆ was found to possess the photocatalytic"memory"effect through the trapping and release of photogenerated electrons by the reversible chemical state change of W component in the(WO₄)^2–layers.When the illumination was switched off,Bi₂WO₆ microspheres continuously produced H₂O₂ in the dark as those trapped photogenerated electrons were gradually released to react with O₂ through the two-electron O₂ reduction process,resulting in the continuous disinfection of Escherichia coli bacteria in the dark through the photocatalytic"memory"effect.No deterioration of their cycling H2O2 production performance in the dark was observed,which verified their stable photocatalytic"memory"effect.