Utilization of ramon seeds (Brosimum alicastrum swarts) as a new source material for thermoplastic starch production

The development and characterization of biodegradable polymers deriving from renewable natural sources has attracted much attention. The aim of this work was to partially characterize a thermoplastic starch obtained from the starch of seeds from the ramon tree (TPS‐RS) as an option to substitute thermoplastic starch from corn (TPS‐CS), in some of its applications. At 55% of relative humidity (RH), TPS‐RS had higher tensile strength and deformation than TPS‐CS. X‐ray diffraction analysis showed similar values in residual crystallinity (percentage of crystallinity that remains after plasticization process) in both TPS. The SEM micrographs showed a few remnant granular structures in the TPS‐RS. The FTIR showed a greater intensity in band at 1016 cm^?1 in the TPS‐CS and TPS‐RS in comparison with their corresponding native starch, indicating an increase in the amorphous region after plasticization. The TGA analysis showed greater thermal stability in TPS‐CS (340 °C) compared with TPS‐RS (327 °C). In addition, the glass transition temperature in both TPS was 24 °C. The results obtained represent a starting point to potentialize the use of TPS‐RS instead of TPS‐CS for the development of new biodegradable materials for practical applications in different areas. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44235.     

Alkaline Hydration Of C2S and C3S

This study analyzed the behavior of two laboratory‐synthesized calcium silicates, C₃S and C₂S, after hydration in 8‐M NaOH and in water as a control. Two‐ and 28‐d mechanical strength values were determined and the products were characterized with XRD, TEM, and ²⁹Si and ²³Na MAS NMR. The results showed that hydrating C₃S in a highly alkaline medium had no significant effect on the mechanical development of the material, whereas in C₂S hydration, that medium hastened hydration substantially, impacting setting and hardening times. This finding has technological implications, given the low early‐age reactivity of dicalcium silicate under normal hydration conditions.     

Chemical Composition and Physical Properties of High Oleic Safflower Oils (Carthamus tinctorius,Var. CW88-OL and CW99-OL)

Chemical composition and physical properties of CW88‐OL and CW99‐OL cultivars of high oleic safflower seeds and their hexane‐extracted oils were determined. Dry‐based seed composition of CW88‐OL and CW99‐OL was: moisture = 4.29 and 4.23 %, oil = 42.29 and 46.44 %, Crude protein = 20.94 and 16.41 %, neutral detergent fiber = 28.11 and 28.49 %, ash = 1.55 and 2.01 %, phosphorus content = 2033 and 3995 mg/kg, respectively. Major fatty acids in oils were ~78 % oleic (O), ~13 % linoleic (L), ~5 % palmitic (P) and ~2 % stearic (St) acids, for both cultivars. The main triacylglycerols were OOO (~50 %), OOL (~20 %), SOL + OPO (~10 %), and LLP (~5 %). The oil composition of CW88‐OL and CW99‐OL in main minor components was: α‐tocopherol = 582 and 551 mg/kg, total sterols = 3996 and 3362 mg/kg, phospholipids = 22 and 21 mg/kg and wax content = 70 and 74 mg/kg. For both cultivars, density and viscosity of the oils between 25 and 55 °C varied from 903.4 to 912.6 kg/m³ and 63 to 23 mPa.s showing linear and exponential behaviors, respectively. The refractive index was 1.4694. The CIELab color parameters were: 89.69 and 89.53 (L*), ?3.72 and ?3.07 (a*), and 47.28 and 47.78 (b*) (CW88‐OL and CW99‐OL, respectively). Thus, the high oil content of the seeds and nutritional quality of the oil accompanied by low levels of waxes and phospholipids makes the cultivars studied promising for producers and consumers.     

Binding of Sulpiride to Seric Albumins

The aim of this work was to study the interaction of sulpiride with human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) through the fluorescence quenching technique. As sulpiride molecules emit fluorescence, we have developed a simple mathematical model to discriminate the quencher fluorescence from the albumin fluorescence in the solution where they interact. Sulpiride is an antipsychotic used in the treatment of several psychiatric disorders. We selectively excited the fluorescence of tryptophan residues with 290 nm wavelength and observed the quenching by titrating HSA and BSA solutions with sulpiride. Stern-Volmer graphs were plotted and quenching constants were estimated. Results showed that sulpiride form complexes with both albumins. Estimated association constants for the interaction sulpiride–HSA were 2.20 (±0.08) × 10⁴ M⁻¹, at 37 °C, and 5.46 (±0.20) × 10⁴ M⁻¹, at 25 °C. Those for the interaction sulpiride-BSA are 0.44 (±0.01) × 10⁴ M⁻¹, at 37 °C and 2.17 (±0.04) × 10⁴ M⁻¹, at 25 °C. The quenching intensity of BSA, which contains two tryptophan residues in the peptide chain, was found to be higher than that of HSA, what suggests that the primary binding site for sulpiride in albumin should be located next to the sub domain IB of the protein structure.     

Effect of Silicon and Graphite Degeneration on High-Temperature Oxidation of Ductile Cast Irons in Open Air

Oxidation of Metals - The use of high silicon ductile irons is increasing as they offer some advantages with respect to conventional pearlitic–ferritic grades such as high elongation at...     

Voltammetric sensing of tryptophan in dark chocolate bars,skimmed milk and urine samples in the presence of dopamine and caffeine

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - The present work reports the development of screen-printed electrode (SPE) using flexible polyester sheets modified with nanodiamond (ND), Au nanoparticles...     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of ternary mortars with brick powder,glass powder,slag, fly ash,and limestone

The objective of this research is to study the effects produced by ternary binders which combine the addition of waste brick powder with fly ash, limestone, ground granulated blast furnace slag or waste glass powder in the microstructure and mechanical properties of mortars. In these ternary binders, the ordinary Portland cement was partially replaced by 10% of waste brick powder and 10% of another of the abovementioned additions. Mortars prepared with ordinary Portland cement without additions were also prepared. The microstructure was characterized with mercury intrusion porosimetry, electrical resistivity, and thermogravimetric analyses. Ultrasonic pulse velocity, compressive and flexural strengths were also determined. Mortars made using ternary binders with two active additions showed higher pore refinement and higher electrical resistivity at 250 days. Furthermore, their compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity were relatively similar or even higher than that noted for reference specimens.     

Determination of tylosin in milk samples by poly(ethylene terephthalate)-based molecularly imprinted polymer

Poly(ethylene terephthalate)-based molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were synthesized, and their recognition capability was evaluated. Adsorption isotherm was described by the Langmuir model and the maximum adsorption capacity of MIP_Ty reached 172.4 mg g⁻¹ in water at pH 6.2. A recognition coefficient of 1.17 was obtained. A solid-phase extraction cartridge was manufactured and its behavior was evaluated for tylosin extraction from aqueous and milk samples. An off-line SPE-UV method was applied. An acceptable linearity was obtained in the range of 1–20 μg ml⁻¹ and the average recovery at three spike levels in milk samples was higher than 92%. The limit of quantification was 2.6 × 10⁻² μg ml⁻¹. The manufactured SPE cartridge has a great potential for clean-up processes in complex media. The cartridge offers a fast and sensitive option to the existing sorbents for extracting this drug from milk samples.