Specialty Fats Enriched with Behenic and Medium Chain Fatty Acids from Palm Stearin by Lipase Acidolysis

Structured lipids containing behenic and medium chain (MC) fatty acids were prepared from palm stearin using 1,3-specific lipase-catalyzed acidolysis. Incorporation of MC and behenic acids was affected by proportion of substrate, type of fatty acids, reaction time, addition of water and quantity of lipase. It was found that incorporation of caproic acid was less compared to other longer chain fatty acids. Caprylic, capric and behenic acids shared similar incorporation (up to 32 %), which increased with the amount of fatty acids added and the time of reaction. The incorporation of these acids increased with addition of 1 % moisture and the increasing amount of enzyme from 5 to 10 % at the beginning of the reaction. Incorporating behenic and MC fatty acids, reduced palmitic and oleic acids considerably from palm stearin, the extent being the same as those incorporated. However, the reduction of linoleic acid was marginal. The solid fats content of the modified palm stearin containing MC and behenic acids were reduced at all temperatures due to a reduction in higher molecular weight triglycerides and an increasing proportion of lower chain triglycerides. The modified products of palm stearin with added capric and behenic acids were similar to commercial bakery shortenings and those with added capric acid were like salad or cooking oils or butter in melting characteristics.     

Optimization of tensile properties thermoplastic blends from soy and biodegradable polyesters: Taguchi design of experiments approach

Soy meal-based biodegradable blends were prepared by melt extrusion process. The effects of denaturants, i.e., urea and sodium sulfite and plasticizer (glycerol) and polyester type (polybutylene succinate, polycaprolactone, polybutylene adipate terephthalate) on tensile strength and elongation at break were investigated using a Taguchi experimental design approach. The results showed that the sodium sulfite had little or no effect on final properties of the blends. Also, biodegradable polyester type had significant effect on the tensile strength and elongation at break of the blends prepared. The predicted values and experimental were found to be in tune with each other. The chemical structure and morphology of the optimum sample was probed by FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also, the results provided an insight into how important the plasticization and destructurization of soy protein to obtain the blends with desired mechanical properties.     

Influence of Grain Boundary Complexion on Deformation Mechanism of High Temperature Bending Creep Process of Cu Bicrystal

Despite of substantial advancement, the effect of grain boundary (GB) complexions on high temperature creep deformation process has not been fully understood. In this paper, we have studied the high temperature bending creep deformation of copper bicrystal with various GB complexions under different loads using molecular dynamics simulation. It has been found that specimen with normal kite GB complexion have better creep resistance properties when subjected to comparatively lower applied load. In case of monolayer Zr segregation, a drastic decrease in creep strength as well as creep plasticity is observed due to inhibition of GB migration. On the other hand, deviation between creep properties for specimen with split-kite GB complexion and split-kite bilayer Zr segregation GB complexion is minimal. Enhanced creep plasticity is observed in case of split-kite bilayer Zr segregation GB complexion, which is due to formation of interpenetrating icosahedral clusters in the necking region. Fracture in specimen with monolayer Zr segregation GB complexion has occurred by means of slip phenomenon at lower deformation load whereas amorphization and necking is observed at higher deformation load. In case of specimen with bilayer Zr segregation GB complexion, it is found that fracture has occurred through amorphization and necking at all deformation loads due to higher GB thickness.     

Students’ affective content analysis in smart classroom environment using deep learning techniques

Multimedia Tools and Applications - In the era of the smart classroom environment, students’ affective content analysis plays a vital role as it helps to foster the affective states that are...     

Mechanistic study of Al electrodeposition from EMIC–AlCl3 and BMIC–AlCl3 electrolytes at low temperature

Aluminum was electrodeposited from two different ionic liquid electrolytes namely; 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolicum chloride and AlCl₃ (EMIC–AlCl₃) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIC–AlCl₃) at 90 ± 2 °C. Nodular morphology of aluminum was obtained at the copper substrate. To evaluate the reaction mechanism, chronoamperometric study was adopted. From the chronoamperometric analysis, it was observed that the reaction was controlled by instantaneous three-dimensional diffusion process. The diffusion coefficient (D) of Al₂C₇⁻ was found to be 5.2–6.6 × 10⁻¹¹ m² s⁻¹ and 2.2 × 10⁻¹¹ m² s⁻¹ for EMIC–AlCl₃ and BMIC–AlCl₃ ionic liquid electrolytes, respectively. The nuclei density of electrodeposited aluminum on the copper was also confirmed by scanning electron microscope wherein uniformly distributed aluminum nodules were observed.     

Surface modification technique to enhance metallurgical and mechanical properties of alloy C-276 weldment by laser shock peening without coating

Microsegregation of alloying elements is prone to hot cracking in the weldment of alloy C-276. The formation of topologically close packed phases P and µ is largely responsible for the hot cracking. The present study articulates the effect of laser shock peening (LSP) to improve the metallurgical and mechanical properties of the weld joint. The weld joint was fabricated by pulsed current gas tungsten arc welding (PCGTAW) using an ERNiCrMo-3 filler wire. LSP without coating was carried out on the cap surface of the weldment. Microstructural studies were carried out to compare the as-welded and laser-peened microstructure on the fusion zone. The results show that a fine equiaxed dendritic structure was observed in both conditions. EDS analysis was carried out to evaluate the microsegregation of alloying elements. EDS analysis indicates that there are no secondary intermetallic phases. X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out to evaluate the phase change and crystallite size in the as-welded and laser shock peened fusion zone. The result shows 48.99% reduction in crystallite size after LSP. Hardness and tensile strength results indicate there is a consequential increase in laser shock peened specimen compared with as-welded specimen.     

Pluronic lecithin organogel of 5-aminosalicylic acid for wound healing

5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is an aminosalicylate anti-inflammatory drug, which is also known as mesalazine or mesalamine. Currently employed in treating inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, inflamed anus or rectum, and maintain remission in Crohn's disease. Evidence from the researchers highlighted its significant re-epithelization in allergic asthma, aphthous, and gastric ulcerative conditions. The objective of the study was to formulate the pluronic lecithin organogel (PLO) containing 5-ASA and evaluate its wound-healing ability in a full thickness excision wound rat model. The data obtained from in silico docking studies revealed 5-ASA is having an affinity towards the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) specifically towards beta1. Among various formulations prepared (F1 to F8), F1, and F6 have shown a maximum in vitro drug release with optimum pH and viscosity. From MTT assay it was found that selected PLO formulations showed no toxicity and enhanced cell proliferation in HaCaT cell lines. In vivo wound-healing studies in albino Wistar rats has revealed that PLO accelerates wound closure and reepithelization to the statistically significant level on day 3 (p?相似文献   

Ultra-light-weight composites from bamboo strips and polypropylene web with exceptional flexural properties

Fine bamboo strips (BSs) have been laid on polypropylene (PP) web, stacked, and compression molded to prepare unconsolidated light-weight (0.312 g/cm³) composites. Composite properties are superior compared with jute-based composites and bamboo strips show potential to replace fiberglass or polyurethane in composites. Flexural strength, modulus, offset yield load, and Noise Reduction Coefficient (NR) of the BS–PP composites are 5.8×, 2.9×, 6.5×, and 1.4× higher, respectively, compared to jute–PP composites. Bamboo-based non-consolidated composites with excellent mechanical and sound absorption properties utilizing the methods described in this research provide an opportunity to manufacture functional composites with bio-based materials leading to reduction of environmental pollution and sustainable manufacturing.