TOPSIS for Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic Term Sets

We propose a new method to aggregate the opinion of experts or decision makers on different criteria, regarding a set of alternatives, where the opinion of the experts is represented by hesitant fuzzy linguistic term sets. An illustrative example is provided to elaborate the proposed method for selection of the best alternative.     

Original article: Supercritical CO2 extraction of soybean oil: process optimisation and triacylglycerol composition

Supercritical CO₂ extraction of soybean oil was performed. Response surface methodology was applied to evaluate the effects of pressure, temperature and extraction time on soybean oil yield. The analysis of variance showed that pressure and extraction time followed by the quadratic term of pressure and interaction between pressure and time had the significant effect on the oil yield. The maximum extraction yield (6.59/100 g soybeans) at constant CO₂ flow rate of 1.629 L per min was achieved at 50 °C, 300 bar and 4 h. The experimental values agreed well with those predicted by regression model. One‐stage diffusion model was successfully applied for modelling the kinetics of soybean oil. The main triacylglycerols of soybean oil were trilinolein, dilinoleoolein, dilinoleopalmitin and linoleooleopalmitin. Soybean oil extracted by supercritical CO₂ had higher levels of linoleic and linolenic acids and lower levels of palmitic and stearic acids compared to oil extracted by organic solvent.     

Experimental evidence for the interaction of C-60 fullerene with lipid vesicle membranes

There are some molecular dynamic simulations but a paucity of experimental evidence of the effects of C-60 fullerene on lipid bilayers. The aim of this study is to assess the potential for disruption of the lipid bilayer by C-60 suspended in water. We selected a C-60 suspension that has previously been shown to provoke cell membrane destabilisation in vivo. Electromobility measurements show significant negative surface charge on the C-60 nanoparticles suspended in a glucose solution and a zeta potential of ?26 mV. The prevalent C-60 clusters have hydrodynamic radii of approximately 2 nm. Phase contrast microscopy and computer aided image analysis results show that C-60 causes shape transformations and rupture of unilamellar phospholipid vesicles, indicative of changes in their average mean curvature. Small-angle X-ray scattering reveals that C-60 provokes disruptions of external membranes of multilamellar vesicles only after freeze and thaw cycles. Here, the liposomes undergo breakage and annealing steps which increase the probability for fullerenes to insert into the MLVs. Our experimental findings confirm the potential of C-60 to reconstruct lipids in biological membranes. This research enhances our understanding of the impact of engineered nanoparticles on cell membranes.     

RNA Aminoacylation Mediated by Sequential Action of Two Ribozymes and a Nonactivated Amino Acid

In the transition from the RNA world to the modern DNA/protein world, RNA‐catalyzed aminoacylation might have been a key step towards early translation. A number of ribozymes capable of aminoacylating their own 3′ termini have been developed by in vitro selection. However, all of those catalysts require a previously activated amino acid—typically an aminoacyl‐AMP—as substrate. Here we present two ribozymes connected by intermolecular base pairing and carrying out the two steps of aminoacylation: ribozyme 1 loads nonactivated phenylalanine onto its phosphorylated 5′ terminus, thereby forming a high‐energy mixed anhydride. Thereafter, a complex of ribozymes 1 and 2 is formed by intermolecular base pairing, and the “activated” phenylalanine is transferred from the 5′ terminus of ribozyme 1 to the 3′ terminus of ribozyme 2. This kind of simple RNA aminoacylase complex was engineered from previously selected ribozymes possessing the two required activities. RNA aminoacylation with a nonactivated amino acid as described here is advantageous to RNA world scenarios because initial amino acid activation by an additional reagent (in most cases, ATP) and an additional ribozyme would not be necessary.     

Development of vegetable‐oil‐based polymers

The utilization of renewable resources for the preparation of new materials is an alternative option for reducing the high demand of fossil feedstocks. Vegetable oils are potential bioresources that are renewable and abundantly available. Triglyceride‐based vegetable oils, such as soybean, jatropha, linseed, sunflower, palm, castor, nahar seed, and canola oil, are being considered as precursors in the production of polymers. In this article, we attempt to summarize advancements in processes and technologies for the synthesis of polymers from various kinds of vegetable oils. The advantages and disadvantages of these biobased polymers with respect to traditional monomer‐based ones are also highlighted. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40787.     

Structures and performances of simultaneous ultrasound and alkali treated oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber reinforced poly(lactic acid) composites

In this study composites were produced using extrusion followed by injection molding with alkali and ultrasound treated oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers with poly(lactic acid). The fiber content, alkali solution concentration, exposing time and treatment temperature were optimized. The optimized EFB fibers were treated with hyper branched polyester solution. The composites were characterized by tensile testing, impact testing, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transformation infra-red spectroscopy. A significant increase in mechanical and interfacial properties was found for composites due to simultaneous alkali and ultrasound treatment.     

Study of electrical conductivity changes and phase transitions in TiO2 doped ZrO2

The electrical conductivity in ZrO₂ doped with various molar ratios of TiO₂ has been measured at different temperatures. Phase transitions depending on the temperature for different molar compositions were investigated by doping of the samples. The conductivity is also found to increase with rise in temperature till 200 °C and thereafter decreases due to collapse of the fluorite framework. A second rise in conductivity in the doped samples around 462 °C is observed due to phase transition of ZrO₂. X-ray powder diffraction recorded at high temperature show the effect of doping and the phase relationships of doped materials. DTA was also carried out for confirming doping effect and phase transition in samples.     

Effect pigments for textile coating: a review of the broad range of advantageous functionalization

The presented review will introduce the use of effect pigments as a powerful tool for the functionalization of textiles. This review starts with a short introduction on the basics of effect pigments and their properties. Subsequently, some principles of effect pigment application onto textiles and the interaction of pigment to binder systems are reported. Different possible functionalizations realized on textiles are presented. Four main types of application are discussed: optical properties, electrical properties, barrier coatings, and antimicrobial applications. Also a view of some prospective anisotropic materials is given. Altogether it is shown that the application of effect pigments can be a powerful tool to realize functional textiles for a broad range of applications in different fields.     

Antimicrobial Effects of Wine: Separating the Role of Polyphenols,pH, Ethanol,and Other Wine Components

Abstract: While the antimicrobial effectiveness of wine is well documented, relative contributions of the wine components to its antimicrobial activity is controversial. To separate the role of wine phenolics, ethanol, and pH from other wine constituents, the antimicrobial effects of intact wine were compared to that of phenols-stripped wine, dealcoholized wine, ethanol, and low pH applied separately and in combination, against 2 common foodborne pathogens, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis and Escherichia coli. All samples were biochemically characterized with respect to their total phenolics and resveratrol content, antioxidant capacity, ethanol content, and pH. Antioxidative activity of the samples corresponded to their total phenolics content. Except for respective controls, pH and ethanol content were similar in all samples. The order of antibacterial activity of the samples was: intact wine > phenols-stripped wine > dealcoholized wine > combination of ethanol and low pH > low pH > ethanol. Separate application of ethanol or low pH showed negligible antibacterial activity while their combination showed synergistic effect. Antibacterial activity of the samples could not be related to their total phenolics and resveratrol content, antioxidant capacity, ethanol content, or pH. Our study indicates that antimicrobial activity of complex solutions such as intact wine cannot be exclusively attributed to its phenolic or nonphenolic constituents, nor can the antimicrobial activity of wine be predicted on the basis of its particular components.