Optimisation of puffing naked barley

The expansion of volume (the puffing index) of naked barley was investigated at various operating conditions of the puffing process. The purpose was to optimise the manufacture of expanded grains of the naked barley cultivars that have exceptional nutritional value for humans. The influence of the following parameters on the puffing index was investigated: the mass and the moisture content of the charge of the puffing barrel, pressure and temperature during the puffing process, the cultivar of barley, pre-processing of the grain (grinding and polishing), adding water into the barrel and the sensory quality of the product.

A regression equation was established for the calculation of the puffing index as a function of the operating parameters. The puffing index is influenced especially by the operating temperature and pressure. There was no influence found of mass of the charge, the cultivar of barley, the degree of grinding of barley, washing of the grains and adding water on the puffing index. The puffing index is not the sole indicator of the quality of the expanded product. It is necessary to take into account the sensory evaluation. A quality expanded naked barley was obtained at the operating temperature of 550 °C and pressure from 0.9 to 1.0 MPa with the moisture content of the charge around 16.5%.     

Partial replacement of metakaolin with red ceramic waste in geopolymer

Metakaolin was incrementally replaced (33.3%, 50% and 66.6%) by red ceramic waste in geopolymer formulation to study the effect on geopolymerisation and its resultant properties. The geopolymer binders composed of two calcined aluminosilicates (viz. Metakaolin and Red ceramic waste), NaOH and sodium silicate. In the experimental compositions, metakaolin was replaced gradually up to 66.6% in the clay fraction, the Si/Al increased from 3.36 to 5.16 and Na/Al increased from 0.93 to 1.38. The FTIR spectroscopic studies of geopolymer pastes along with XRD analysis indicated that the red ceramic waste partly reacts with alkali and takes part in geopolymer formation. Replacement of 33.3% metakaolin by the red ceramic waste in geopolymer binder did not reduce the compressive strength with respect to the pure metakaolin geopolymer here. Additional replacement resulted in a drastic decrease in the compressive strength of the geopolymer binder. However, the compressive strength of geopolymer mortars revealed interesting synergy between the amount of binder and particle packing in the mortar. Despite having a lower amount of binder phase, mortars with 33% and 50% red ceramic waste exhibited maximum compressive strength values. This has been attributed to improved particle packing through incorporation of red ceramic waste particles.     

Eco-friendly flame retardant epoxy nanocomposites based on polyphosphonate and halloysite nanotubes

The preparation of a novel polyphosphonate (PSFR) is described here, starting from phenylphosphonic dichloride and an equimolecular mixture containing equal amounts of two bisphenols, namely 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone and 2-(6-oxido-6H-dibenzo<c,e><1,2>oxaphosphorin-6-yl)-1,4-benzenediol, following the polycondensation reaction in solution. Then, new environmental-friendly nanocomposites having improved flame retardancy have been prepared by incorporating PSFR and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) into epoxy resin. The effect of PSFR and HNTs contents on the chemical and physical characteristics of epoxy nanocomposites was investigated. The success of the reactions was monitored by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) while microscopic related techniques (SEM) gave information on the morphology of the products. The thermosets exhibit glass transition temperatures in the range of 62.4–97.1°C and thermal decomposition temperatures in the interval of 296–359°C. The appearance of the char residues obtained by pyrolysis was studied by SEM measurements. The flammability behavior has been studied by microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC) tests. A considerable improvement in the flame retardancy of the thermosets was obtained by simultaneous incorporation of HNTs (10 wt%) and PSFR (equivalent of 1 wt% P) into epoxy resin.     

Synthesis,properties, and applications of polylactic acid-based polymers

Polylactic acid (PLA) is known as one of the greatest promising bioabsorbable and compostable polyesters with the capability of high molecular weight synthesis. Lactic acid condensation, azeotropic dehydration, and condensation ring-open polymerize of lactide are three methods for PLA polymerization. Comprehension of material properties is critical for choosing the right processing method and adjusting PLA characteristics. A variety of mechanical properties of this material, from soft and elastic to stiff and high strength makes PLA suitable for a wide range of applications. Besides, PLA can be blended or copolymerized with other polymeric or non-polymeric substances. Thus, this polymer can achieve suitable chemical, mechanical, and rheological properties. Understanding the role of these properties and selecting a suitable processing technique is necessary for its intended consumer and various applications. This study elaborated a general summary of the polymerization, processing, and characteristics of PLA (i.e., structural diversities, rheological performances, mechanical properties, and permeability). Besides, this work presented some information regarding essential factors that can be used for modifying PLA properties to address the requirements for various applications such as biomedical, food packing, biocomposite, and additive manufacturing.     

Disentangling Phase and Morphological Evolution During the Formation of the Lithium Superionic Conductor Li10GeP2S12

The structural and morphological changes of the Lithium superionic conductor Li₁₀GeP₂S₁₂, prepared via a widely used ball milling-heating method over a comprehensive heat treatment range (50 – 700 °C), are investigated. Based on the phase composition, the formation process can be distinctly separated into four zones: Educt, Intermediary, Formation, and Decomposition zone. It is found that instead of Li₄GeS₄–Li₃PS₄ binary crystallization process, diversified intermediate phases, including GeS₂ in different space groups, multiphasic lithium phosphosulfides (Li_xP_yS_z), and cubic Li₇Ge₃PS₁₂ phase, are involved additionally during the formation and decomposition of Li₁₀GeP₂S₁₂. Furthermore, the phase composition at temperatures around the transition temperatures of different formation zones shows a significant deviation. At 600 °C, Li₁₀GeP₂S₁₂ is fully crystalline, while the sample decomposed to complex phases at 650 °C with 30 wt.% impurities, including 20 wt.% amorphous phases. These findings over such a wide temperature range are first reported and may help provide previously lacking insights into the formation and crystallinity control of Li₁₀GeP₂S₁₂.     

Antioxidant activity of white and black sesame seeds and their hull fractions

The total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant status (TAS), free radical scavenging capacity, inhibition of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and metal chelating capacity of extracts of whole black and whole white sesame seeds and their hull fractions in 80% aqueous ethanol were investigated. The TPC of whole black sesame seeds and hull extracts were 29.9 ± 0.6 and 146.6 ± 0.6 mg catechin equivalents/g crude ethanolic extract, respectively. The corresponding values for white sesame were 10.6 ± 1.6 and 29.7 ± 0.9 mg catechin equivalents/g crude ethanolic extract. The TAS as determined by Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay and expressed as Trolox equivalents was highest for black sesame hulls (65.9 ± 1.7) while white seeds showed the lowest (4.4 ± 0.6). Free radical scavenging capacity of sesame extracts (5–40 μg/mL) was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical. The highest scavenging capacity was obtained at 40 μg/mL and was 94.9 ± 0.8, 25.1 ± 0.4, 14.4 ± 0.9 and 2.5 ± 0.4 for black sesame hulls, black sesame seeds, white sesame hulls and white sesame seeds, respectively. Inhibition of LDL oxidation at 100 ppm level was highest for black sesame hulls (96.7%) followed by those for white sesame hulls (84.6%), black sesame (78.4%) and white sesame seeds (57.3%). Sesame products displayed good ferrous ion chelating capacities, which ranged from 12% to 46% and 17% to 62% at 50 and 100 ppm levels, respectively. Results demonstrated considerable antioxidant activity of sesame products tested especially black sesame hulls.     

Novel NGR anchored pullulan micelles for controlled and targeted delivery of doxorubicin to HeLa cancerous cells

Doxorubicin (DOX) is used to treat different kinds of cancers, including cervix carcinoma. However, it has various side effects such as cardiotoxicity. Nano-sized controlled releasing carriers such as polymeric micelles are of interesting approaches to overcome these side effects of doxorubicin in cancer chemotherapy. Regarding the up-regulation of CD13/APN receptors on the cervix carcinoma cells, which can bind to peptide sequences specially NGR (asparagine–glycine–arginine) with high affinity, peptide sequence (NGR) targeted micelles would lead to effective treatment of this carcinoma. In this study, the NGR peptide sequence was synthesized using the solution-phase strategy from asparagine, glycine, and arginine residues. The pullulan–retinoic acid conjugate and pullulan–retinoic acid–NGR conjugate were prepared by the amide and ester bond formation between the hydroxyl groups of pullulan and carboxylic acid groups of retinoic acid and peptide sequence. Pullulan–retinoic acid–NGR micelles were prepared by the direct dissolution method. The optimized micelles, according to their particle size (124.5 nm), zeta potential (? 3.65 mV), entrapment efficiency (85%), and release of DOX (70%, within 72 h) were assessed for their cytotoxicity on HeLa cells using MTT assay. NGR-targeted pullulan/retinoic acid micelles had higher cytotoxicity than the free DOX in cell culture studies on the HeLa cell line, and this can be a promising result in the treatment of cervix carcinoma.     

Costs of predoctoral clinical psychology internship training in a Canadian health care setting.

Financial pressures on institutional health care in Canada in recent years have led to substantial pressures on institutional psychological services. These pressures have resulted in the elimination or substantial diminution of psychological services in some of these institutions, including the discontinuation of many longstanding psychology internship programs. It is therefore important for psychologists to demonstrate their cost-efficiency in delivering services. However, evidence for this efficiency in the current Canadian context is lacking. This investigation examines the costs and clinical activities of the interns and staff at a major Canadian teaching hospital in order to determine the degree to which the internship is a cost-efficient method of delivering services. The results indicate that there is a small increased cost to having the services delivered through an internship program. The results are viewed as part of a balanced scorecard approach to the evaluation of an internship program. From such a perspective, other factors can be seen as balancing out the slightly increased cost. Also, a number of strategies are outlined for increasing internship cost-efficiency. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Improvement in volume resistivity and morphology of a blend of polyolefin elastomer with linear low-density polyethylene

A silane moisture-cured polyolefin elastomer/linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) blend was prepared through a two-step silane-grafting method (Sioplas Process) in an industrial scale twin-screw extruder. The silane-grafted compound was used to make wire and cable coatings. In this work, the effect of some interactive parameters on quality of the products prepared by the above method has been studied, while so far, there have been less experimental investigations. The volume resistivity of cross-linked compound was changed from 2.96 × 10¹⁴ to 7.41 × 10¹⁴ Ω cm with increasing LLDPE component by maximum 10 wt%. Surface morphology of the product was corrected with reduction in benzoyl peroxide (BPO) concentration from 0.2 wt% to 0.13 wt%. BPO at this level acted as an initiator in grafting reaction of vinyl trimethoxysilane. The curing condition and specimen preparation method by injection molding and/or extrusion were factors which influenced the hot-set test results at 200 °C. The results of tensile and elongation studies showed a maximum value of 9 MPa and 397% for the tests, after 6 h curing. With increases in curing time at a specified temperature, the gel content of the cross-linked compound was increased and reached its maximum value. The maximum gel content values were found to be approximately 60%, 80%, and 82% at temperatures of 25, 60, and 85 °C, respectively. The hardness, density, and tear strength of the samples did not vary significantly with the curing temperature.