High energy dry coating mixing: Elements on velocities,temperatures and melting

In dry coating processes no liquid, solvent, binder or water, is required. This makes them advantageous compared to wet coating alternative: being low cost, no drying step required, environmentally friendly (no volatile organic compounds related problems) and simple in operation. But there is still a lack of fundamental knowledge of the implied mechanisms. Often the process itself has been empirically designed and is not always well characterized.In this work, some hydrodynamic elements are developed in a high energy mixer used for dry coating: the specific behavior of the Nara hybridizer NHS-0 is investigated. In the first part, recirculation velocities and temperatures are derived during the process, or when the purge is on. The effects of the pressure purge and of the rotor velocity on the purge and the effect of the rotation on the temperature increase are studied. In the second part, a simple experimental approach is carried out to derive qualitatively the local temperature inside the apparatus with the help of polymers with different melting temperatures. This approach illustrates a first step for dry coating application with waxes.     

Metabolic Syndrome: Updates on Pathophysiology and Management in 2021

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) forms a cluster of metabolic dysregulations including insulin resistance, atherogenic dyslipidemia, central obesity, and hypertension. The pathogenesis of MetS encompasses multiple genetic and acquired entities that fall under the umbrella of insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation. If left untreated, MetS is significantly associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Given that CVDs constitute by far the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, it has become essential to investigate the role played by MetS in this context to reduce the heavy burden of the disease. As such, and while MetS relatively constitutes a novel clinical entity, the extent of research about the disease has been exponentially growing in the past few decades. However, many aspects of this clinical entity are still not completely understood, and many questions remain unanswered to date. In this review, we provide a historical background and highlight the epidemiology of MetS. We also discuss the current and latest knowledge about the histopathology and pathophysiology of the disease. Finally, we summarize the most recent updates about the management and the prevention of this clinical syndrome.     

Influence of thermal ageing on the stability of polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells

A new approach is presented in order to improve the thermal stability of polymer: [6-6]-phenyl C₆₁ butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) bulk heterojunction solar cells. The central idea in this approach is the use of a polymer with high glass transition temperature (T_g), well above the normal operating temperatures of the devices. In this paper, a PPV-derivative with a T_g of 150 °C was used as an electron donor and the thermal stability of the obtained solar cells was compared with solar cells based on the reference material poly[2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MDMO-PPV) with a T_g of 45 °C. The use of the material with higher glass transition temperature resulted in a significant improvement of the thermal stability of the photovoltaic parameters. Furthermore, a systematic transmission electron microscope (TEM) study demonstrates that the better thermal stability of performance coincides with a more stable active layer morphology. Both improvements are attributed to the reduced free movement of the electron donor material (PCBM) within the active layer of the solar cell.     

Effects of Pulsed Electric Fields on Cabernet Sauvignon Grape Berries and on the Characteristics of Wines

The treatment of Cabernet Sauvignon red grapes by pulsed electric fields (PEFs) is performed prior to vinification in order to enhance the extraction of polyphenols. PEF treatments of the longest duration and of the highest energy (E?= 0.7 kV/cm, t _PEF?=?200 ms, W?=?31 Wh/kg) changed the structure of grape skins and produced a wine that was richer in tannins (34 %), while treatment of the highest strength (E?=?4 kV/cm, t _PEF?=?1 ms, W =?4 Wh/kg) altered the visual appearance of phenolic compounds in the skins and led to greater extraction of the anthocyanins (19 %). The PEF treatments caused the depolymerization of skin tannins, improving the diffusion of these decondensed tannins which are smaller. The PEF treatment of longest duration and of the highest energy had more impact on the parietal tannins and the cell walls of the skins while treatment of the highest strength modified more the vacuolar tannins. Changes in the operating parameters of the PEF treatment (E?=?0.7 to 4 kV/cm, t _PEF?=?1 to 200 ms, W?=?4 to 31 Wh/kg) did not affect alcohol content, total acidity nor volatile acidity in finished wines compared to the values of the control wine, but seemed to cause a slight increase in pH (1–2 %).     

Effect of temperature on raw whole milk density and its potential impact on milk payment in the dairy industry

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of temperature on whole milk density measured at four different temperatures: 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C. A total of ninety-three individual milk samples were collected from morning milking of thirty-two Holstein Friesian dairy cows, of national average genetic merit, once every two weeks over a period of 4 weeks and were assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for milk composition analysis. Density of the milk was evaluated using two different analytical methods: a portable density meter DMA35 and a standard desktop model DMA4500M (Anton Paar GmbH, UK). Milk density was analysed with a linear mixed model with the fixed effects of sampling period, temperature and analysis method; triple interaction of sampling period x analysis method x temperature; and the random effect of cow to account for repeated measures. The effect of temperature on milk density (ρ) was also evaluated including temperature (t) as covariate with linear and quadratic effects within each analytic method. The regression equation describing the curvature and density–temperature relationship for the DMA35 instrument was ρ = 1.0338−0.00017T−0.0000122T² (R² = 0.64), while it was ρ = 1.0334 + 0.000057T−0.00001T² (R² = 0.61) for DMA4500 instrument. The mean density determined with DMA4500 at 5 °C was 1.0334 g cm⁻³, with corresponding figures of 1.0330, 1.0320 and 1.0305 g cm⁻³ at 10, 15 and 20 °C, respectively. The milk density values obtained in this study at specific temperatures will help to address any bias in weight–volume calculations and thus may also improve the financial and operational control for the dairy processors in Ireland and internationally.     

Synthesis of cadmium and zinc semiconductor compounds from an ionic liquid containing choline chloride and urea

A eutectic mixture of choline chloride and urea (commercially known as Reline) has been used as a medium from which CdS, CdSe, and ZnS thin films have been electrodeposited for the first time. Reline is a conductive room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) with a wide electrochemical window, which is suitable for use as a medium for electrodeposition. The voltammetric behaviour of the Reline-Cd(II)-sulfur system has been investigated. Thin films of CdS deposited at constant potential were characterized by photocurrent and electrolyte electroabsorbance spectroscopies. Thin films of CdSe and ZnS have also been prepared, and their photocurrent excitation spectra have been measured.