Beneficial effect of Ficus religiosa Linn. on high-fat-diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats

Ficus religiosa Linn. (Moraceae) was evaluated as a hypolipidaemic and antioxidant agent. Ethanol and hexane leaves extracts were examined for inhibition of β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and DPPH free radical elevation. The ethanol extract was evaluated for its effect against hypercholesterolaemia in rats, compared with the standard hypolipidaemic lipanthyl. Cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), phospho and total lipids were estimated. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Administration of rats with 30 mg cholesterol five times per week for nine consecutive weeks caused a significant increase in lipid profile, MDA and SOD, while HDL-C and GSH showed significant decreases. Treatment with plant extract (500 mg/kg body weight) or lipanthyl drug (50 mg finofibrate/kg body weight) for the same duration recorded improvement in lipid profile, antioxidant levels, liver function enzymes and hepatic architecture. In conclusion, ethanol extract of F. religiosa exerted hypolipidaemic and antioxidant effects.     

Improved reconfigurability and noise margins in threshold logic gates via back-gate biasing in DG-MOSFETs

We present a compact and error tolerant implementation of reconfigurable threshold logic gates (TLG) based on nanoscale DG-MOSFET transistors. The use of independently driven double-gate (IDDG) MOSFETs to build a TLG leads not only to fine-grain reconfigurability by way of voltage-adjustable threshold level (T), but also allows one to vary input weights (w _i ) or reduce number of inputs (x _i ), depending on the design preferences. Operation of the proposed TLG circuits is verified using UFDG SPICE model, and design trade-offs in terms of size, functionality and performance are also indicated. We show that IDDG MOSFETs lead to more efficient and compact TLG circuits that have better design latitude and noise immunity than the conventional counterparts, while also improving the overall reconfigurability. When the back-gate dynamic threshold adjustment afforded by the ultra-thin (<10 nm) DG-MOSFETs on SOI substrates is properly understood and utilized, similar to the floating-gate logic architectures, it can be effectively harnessed to create reconfigurability beyond T and can simplify TLG circuit design.     

A multi-objective decision-making process of supplier selection and order allocation for multi-period scheduling in an electronic market

Supplier selection is a multi-criteria problem which includes both tangible and intangible factors. In these problems when suppliers have capacity or other different constraints, two questions persist: which suppliers are the best and how much should be purchased from a selected supplier? Here, we propose an integrated approach of analytic hierarchy process (AHP), Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), and multi-objective nonlinear programming to consider both tangible and intangible factors in choosing the best suppliers and define the optimum quantities among selected suppliers to maximize the total value of purchasing and minimize the budget, total penalized earliness and tardiness, and defect rate. The priorities are calculated for each supplier by use of AHP. TOPSIS is applied to rank the suppliers. Finally, using the obtained weights, the optimal quantities of order to the suppliers are clarified in multi-period horizon. An application study presents the validity and efficiency of the proposed model. Moreover, a performance analysis has been worked out on the numerical example to investigate the capability and effectiveness of the results.     

An integrated analytic network process with mixed-integer non-linear programming to supplier selection and order allocation

As the global business environment changed, much more commercial and technological competitions evolved in this environment. Consequently, more attention is devoted to the business partners including suppliers. In this paper, supplier selection with order allocation problem is addressed for strategic items with respect to the materials’ characteristics as well as what has been mostly considered in the literature, suppliers’ characteristics. The proposed model comprises an analytic network process (ANP) sub-model to qualify suppliers and filter-suitable candidates among the available ones. Additionally, the ANP sub-model is applied to evaluate suppliers regarding their qualitative attributes which cannot be modeled with mathematical tools properly. Moreover, a mixed-integer non-linear sub-model is presented to simultaneously allocate order quantities to the chosen suppliers. The model is customized to the strategic items by introducing supplier switching cost which is a notable cost component for products. Finally, experimental results and sensitivity analyses are presented to validate the proposed model.     

Toward the achievement of vision 2020 goals of the heat treating industry

To achieve the goals of the 2020 vision of the heat treating industry (reducing the process time by 50%, the production cost by 75% and the energy consumption by 80%) a numerical multi-mode heat transfer model (software) that can be used for design and optimization of a horizontally loaded (single-layer) batch furnaces operation was previously developed and validated. This model has been enhanced to account for multi-layer (vertical) loading. In addition, the thermophysical material/atmospheric properties database has been extensively extended. Experiments carried out to validate the model showed a maximum difference of 12% between the enhanced-model prediction and the measured temperatures. This paper presents the capability of the enhanced model on being used as design and optimization tool to achieve the 2020 vision goals.     

Quality changes of fish burgers prepared from deep flounder (Pseudorhombus elevatus Ogilby, 1912) with and without coating during frozen storage (−18 °C)

In the present study, chemical and sensory qualities of fish burgers prepared from deep flounder (Pseudorhombus elevatus Ogilby, 1912) with and without coating (Group A and Group B, respectively) or batter and breading materials were determined during frozen storage at ?18 °C for 5 months. According the statistical results, Total volatile base nitrogen of two groups increased significantly (P < 0.05) but a significant decrease (P < 0.05) was observed at the third month for Group A. Thiobarbituric acid value of Group A decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with the storage time from 1.01 to 0.22, whereas a significant increase (P < 0.05) was observed for Group B from 0.15 to 0.62 at the end of storage time. There were significant differences of pH in either the Group A or Group B between the beginning and end of the storage periods (P < 0.05). Parameters of colour, texture, taste and general acceptability for two groups decreased (P < 0.05) but Group B indicated better scores than Group A at the end of the storage period.     

Physical,mechanical, and antibacterial characteristics of bio-nanocomposite films loaded with Ag-modified SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles

In this study, starch-based films incorporating metal oxide (MO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) of TiO₂ and SiO₂ (at a concentration of 1 to 4 wt. %) were produced by solution casting method. In order to exhibit antimicrobial properties, MO₂ NPs were modified by synthesizing silver (Ag) ions over the NPs using cationic adsorption method. Ag ions were then reduced to metallic Ag by sodium borohydride solution. Scanning electron microscopy showed a smooth surface for the pure starch film. Incorporating MO₂@Ag NPs in the films increased surface roughness with agglomerated NPs within starch matrix. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis exhibited a uniform dispersion of Ag-loaded MO₂ NPs, which increases surface contact between these NPs and the biopolymer matrix leading to improved physical and mechanical properties of the resulting films. With increasing in the NPs concentrations, the tensile strength and elongation at break % of the films increased and decreased, respectively. Incorporating MO₂@Ag NPs into starch matrix decreased solubility in water and water vapor permeability of the obtained films, and significantly inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The most antibacterial effect was obtained for the films containing higher weight concentrations of Ag-loaded SiO₂-NPs.     

DSC measurements and modelling of the kinetics of methane hydrate formation in water-in-oil emulsion

The kinetics of formation of clathrate hydrates of methane was investigated in a water-in-oil emulsion using high-pressure differential scanning calorimetry in the range 10-40 MPa, at various temperatures. At high driving force, the heat peak related to the formation of hydrates has a regular and symmetric shape, and its height and width depend on the gas pressure and sub cooling degree. At near equilibrium conditions, hydrate formation is delayed by more than 1 h, but is still clearly observable. A model based on crystal growth theory, coupled with a normal distribution of induction times to take into account the germination in a population of micro-sized droplets, is proposed to represent the hydrate formation rate versus time in the particular case of water-in-oil emulsions. It uses four parameters which appear strongly correlated to the experimental conditions: the growth rate constant, the over saturation of gas in the water phase, the average and standard deviation of the induction time distribution.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of mesoporous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanotubes and their adsorption affinity toward Basic Violet 2

Hydrothermal method was used to synthesize TiO₂ nanotubes (TNTs), which are considered as a novel adsorbent with high surface area and adsorption capacity. Different methods including X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis were used to investigate and identify synthesized TNTs. The adsorption capacity of TNTs was investigated with regard to removing Basic Violet 2 (BV2) as a model organic pollutant from aqueous solution. The mean outer, inner diameter and thickness of the TNTs were found to be approximately 9, 4 and 2.5 nm, respectively. BET–BJH method was used for measuring specific surface area and pore volume of the TNTs which turned out to be 200.38 m² g^?1 and 0.44 cm³ g^?1, respectively. The results of the study indicated synthesized TNTs may be considered as efficient and effective adsorbent for removing BV2 (75.63%) from aqueous solution. The impact of the operational variables, i.e. initial BV2 concentration (2–20 mg L^?1), dosage of adsorbent (0.01–0.6 g), and pH (2–8) in relation to the adsorption capacity of BV2 onto TNTs were investigated. The experimental results of the study were meticulously taken into consideration for discussing and analyzing the adsorption isotherms and kinetics. It was found that the collected experimental data regarding the kinetic and isotherm examinations were compatible and well-matched with the pseudo-first order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model (R ²?=?0.9634).     

Numerical analysis of charging and discharging performance of an integrated collector storage solar water heater

This work aims to evaluate the energy and the exergy performance of an integrated phase change material (PCM) solar collector with latent heat storage in transient conditions. A theoretical model based on the first and the second laws of thermodynamics is developed to predict the thermal behaviour of the system. The effect of natural convection on heat during the melting process is taken into account using an effective thermal conductivity. Influence of PCM thicknesses on the melt fraction, on the energy stored and on the exergy destroyed are studied during charging and discharging processes. Results indicate that the complete melting time is shorter than the solidification time. The latent heat storage system increases the heating requirements at night and reduces the exergy efficiency.