Exploring the Room-Temperature Ferromagnetism and Temperature-Dependent Dielectric Properties of Sr/Ni-Doped LaFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Nanoparticles Synthesized by Reverse Micelle Method

This paper reports the thermal, microstructural, dielectric and magnetic properties of La_0.75Sr_0.25Fe_0.65Ni_0.35O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized via reverse micelle technique. The thermogravimetric analysis of as-prepared NPs confirmed a good thermal stability of the sample. Powder x-ray diffraction data analyzed with a Rietveld refinement technique revealed single-phase and orthorhombic distorted perovskite crystal structure of the NPs having Pbnm space group. The transmission electron microscopy images show the crystalline nature and formation of nanostructures with a fairly uniform distribution of particles throughout the sample. Temperature-dependent dielectric properties of the NPs in accordance with the Kramers–Kronig transformation (KKT) model, universal dielectric response model and jump relaxation model have been discussed. Electrode or interface polarization is likely the cause of the observed dielectric behavior. Due to grain boundaries and Schottky barriers of the metallic electrodes of semiconductors, the depletion region is observed, which gives rise to Maxwell–Wagner relaxation and hence high dielectric constants. Magnetic studies revealed the ferromagnetic nature of the prepared NPs upon Sr and Ni doping in LaFeO₃ perovskite at room temperature. Therefore, these NPs could be a potential candidate as electrode material in solid oxide fuel cells.     

Quinoline yellow dye stimulates whey protein fibrillation via electrostatic and hydrophobic interaction: A biophysical study

Amyloid fibril formation of proteins is associated with a number of neurodegenerative diseases. Several small molecules can accelerate the amyloid fibril formation in vitro and in vivo. However, the molecular mechanism of amyloid fibrillation is still unclear. In this study, we investigated how the food dye quinoline yellow (QY) induces amyloid fibrillation in α-lactalbumin (α-LA), a major whey protein, at pH 2.0. We used several spectroscopy techniques and a microscopy technique to explore how QY provokes amyloid fibrillation in α-LA. From turbidity and Rayleigh light scattering experiments, we found that QY promotes α-LA aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner; the optimal concentration for α-LA aggregation was 0.15 to 10.00 mM. Below 0.1 mM, no aggregation occurred. Quinoline yellow–induced aggregation was a rapid process that escaped the lag phase, but it depended on the concentrations of both α-LA and QY. We also demonstrated that aggregation switched the secondary structure of α-LA from α-helices to cross-β-sheets. We then confirmed the amyloid-like structure of aggregated α-LA by transmission electron microscopy measurements. Molecular docking and simulation confirmed the stability of the α-LA-QY complex due to the formation of 1 hydrogen bond with Lys99 and 2 electrostatic interactions with Arg70 and Lys99, along with hydrophobic interactions with Leu59 and Tyr103. This study will aid in our understanding of how small molecules induce aggregation of proteins inside the stomach (low pH) and affect the digestive process.     

Immobilization of β-galactosidase by bioaffinity adsorption on concanavalin A layered calcium alginate–starch hybrid beads for the hydrolysis of lactose from whey/milk

Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase was immobilized on the surface of a novel bioaffinity support: concanavalin A layered calcium alginate–starch beads. The maximum activity of the immobilized β-galactosidase was obtained at 60 °C, approximately 10 degrees higher than that of the free enzyme. The immobilized β-galactosidase exhibited significantly higher stability to heat, urea, MgCl₂, and CaCl₂ than the free enzyme. An enhancement of the activity of immobilized β-galactosidase by up to 5.0% MgCl₂ was seen, whereas the activity of the free enzyme decreased above 3.0% MgCl₂. Immobilized β-galactosidase retained 61%, 50% and 43% activity in the presence of 5% CaCl₂, 5% galactose and 4 m urea, respectively, when incubated for 1 h at 37 °C. The immobilized β-galactosidase had a much higher K_iapp value than the free enzyme, which indicated less susceptibility to product inhibition by galactose. The immobilized β-galactosidase preparation was superior to the free enzyme in hydrolysing lactose in whey or milk in a batch process: it hydrolyzed 89% of the lactose in whey in 3 h and 79% of the lactose in milk in 4 h. The immobilized β-galactosidase retained 61% of its original activity after 2 months storage at 4 °C, while the soluble enzyme showed only 37% of the initial activity under identical conditions.     

The role of precast concrete systems in Kuwaiti housing projects

The study shows that precast concrete systems can play a significant role in meeting housing demand in Kuwait, provided that the tendering procedures are modified and that the life‐cycle cost of the building is considered rather than just the initial cost.     

Lactose hydrolysis from milk/whey in batch and continuous processes by concanavalin A-Celite 545 immobilized Aspergillus oryzae β galactosidase

The present study deals with the immobilization of Aspergillus oryzae β galactosidase on concanavalin A layered Celite 545 as bioaffinity support. The activity yield of crosslinked enzyme was 71%. Michaelis constant, K_m was 2.45 mM and 5.58 mM for soluble and crosslinked adsorbed β galactosidase, respectively. V_max for soluble and crosslinked adsorbed enzyme was 0.52 mM/min and 0.38 mM/min, respectively. Moreover, Ki_app value of crosslinked β galactosidase was 366 × 10^?6 M while its soluble counterpart exhibited lower Ki_app value, 181 × 10^?6 M at 2% galactose concentration. Soluble and immobilized β galactosidase exhibited same pH and temperature optima at pH 4.5 and 50 °C. The crosslinked adsorbed enzyme retained 90% activity after 1 month of storage at 4 °C and 71% activity after its seventh repeated use. Moreover, crosslinked β galactosidase showed greater resistance to product inhibition mediated by glucose and galactose. Crosslinked Con A-Celite adsorbed β galactosidase showed increased efficiency in hydrolyzing lactose from milk and whey in batch processes at 50 °C as compared to the adsorbed and soluble enzyme. The hydrolysis of lactose in the continuous reactors containing crosslinked β galactosidase was 92% and 81% at flow rate of 20 mL h^?1 and 30 mL h^?1 after 1 month of operation, respectively.     

Hydrodynamic Investigation on Deep Desulfurization of Liquid Fuel at the Microscale

Microscale processes offer a substantial advantage to the process industry as separation is conducted rapidly and efficiently. However, the effectiveness of the separation depends on the stability of the flow regime. Experimental and numerical analysis was carried out to characterize the flow patterns of polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG200) and diesel fuel at several flow ratios in order to achieve optimal conditions for a stable pattern. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was employed using the volume-of-fluid (VOF) model and the results were validated with the experimental data. Both experimental and numerical outcomes revealed two-phase flow patterns. These findings enable the application of the simulated module for further liquid-liquid mass transfer studies where sulfuric compounds exist as solutes in the fuel.     

Field and Laboratory Evaluation of the Thermo Electron 5020 Sulfate Particulate Analyzer

The Thermo Electron Model 5020 Sulfate Particulate Analyzer is a recently commercialized instrument that provides continuous measurements of the sulfate component of ambient particulate matter. The technique uses a stainless steel rod placed inside a quartz oven to reduce the particle sulfate to sulfur dioxide; followed by pulsed fluorescence detection of the sulfur dioxide. Field and laboratory evaluations of a pre-production version of the analyzer are described as well as laboratory evaluations of the pre-production version and two production units. Laboratory tests concentrated on challenging the instruments with ammonium sulfate aerosol, but tests with sodium, potassium, and calcium sulfate are reported as well. The instrument performed very well in field and laboratory settings, reporting values that were highly correlated with continuous mass measurements in the lab, and 24-hour filters in the field. Conversion/detection efficiencies for ammonium sulfate in the laboratory, and for ambient sulfate aerosol at our rural site in Addison, New York, were both very close to 80%. Laboratory conversion efficiencies for calcium, sodium, and potassium sulfate salts ranged from 4% to 63%. These lower efficiencies for mineral-type sulfates will be an important consideration in areas with significant concentrations of sea salt or mineral dust sulfate, and less important for the high sulfate Eastern US which is dominated by ammonium sulfate.     

Structural, transport, magnetic, and dielectric properties of La1−x Te x MnO3 (x = 0.10 and 0.15)

In this study, we have investigated the structure, temperature-dependent resistivity, magnetization, and dielectric properties of La_1?x Te _x MnO_3±δ (x = 0.10 and 0.15). X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the rhombohedral crystal symmetry with space group R $ \overline{3} $ c. For both the samples, the temperature dependence of magnetization plots show paramagnetic-to-ferromagnetic phase transition. The Curie temperature (T _c) and magnitude of magnetization increase with the Te concentration. Field-dependent magnetization produces the asymmetric hysteresis loop that has been attributed to the magneto crystalline anisotropy induced by lattice distortion and the rare earth spin coupling at room temperature. Temperature-dependent resistivity plots exhibit metal–insulator transition (MIT) and charge-ordering state. These plots have been fitted using variable range hopping model, and the density of states [N(E_F)] has been estimated. Magnetoresistance is measured as a function of temperature in the field of 1T, 5T, and 8T. The dielectric constant shows an anomaly near MIT. The dielectric constant exhibits a peaking behavior with the applied frequency and the temperature dependence of dielectric constant attains colossal values at high temperatures.