Biodegradable starch-based composites: effect of micro and nanoreinforcements on composite properties

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) matrix was reinforced with various kenaf bast cellulose nanofiber loadings (0–10 wt%). Thin films were prepared by casting and evaporating the mixture of aqueous suspension of nanofibers (NFs), starch, and glycerol which underwent gelatinization process at the same time. Moreover, raw fibers (RFs) reinforced TPS films were prepared with the same contents and conditions. The effects of filler type and loading on different characteristics of prepared materials were studied using transmission and scanning electron microscopies, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and moisture absorption analysis. Obtained results showed a homogeneous dispersion of NFs within the TPS matrix and strong association between the filler and matrix. Moreover, addition of nanoreinforcements decreased the moisture sensitivity of the TPS film significantly. About 20 % decrease in moisture content at equilibrium was observed with addition of 10 wt% NFs while this value was only 5.7 % for the respective RFs reinforced film.     

A numerical and experimental study on tubular channel angular pressing (TCAP) process

Tubular channel angular pressing (TCAP) is a new and novel severe plastic deformation (SPD) technique suitable for fabrication of bulk nanograined tubular materials. There are several parameters in the TCAP process. The present paper investigates the effects of curvature angles, deformation ratio (maximum radius during TCAP/initial radius) and deformation direction on the plastic deformation behavior, strain homogeneity and required loads in TCAP processing. The results showed that higher curvature angles (?? ₁ and ?? ₃) leads to better strain homogeneity while have not having any significant effect on the process loads. Also, at the second curvature angle of 90°, the best condition is achieved with good strain homogeneity and lower load requirements rather than lower angles. Investigation of deformation direction showed that inlet deformation direction causes tube thinning at the end of the process, and thus, using the inlet case is not recommended.     

New formulation of vitamin C encapsulation by nanoliposomes: production and evaluation of particle size,stability and control release

Food Science and Biotechnology - In the present study, the effects of different ratios of milk phospholipids, cholesterol and phytosterols (Campesterol) powder (50–100%, 0–50%, and...     

Reducing the deposition of fat and protein covered particles with low energy surfaces

Deposition behavior of spray dried full cream milk, skim milk and whey particles were observed in a pilot scale dryer. Particle surface dominated with fats exhibit gradual decrease in deposition fluxes when transition from the initial adhesion to the subsequent cohesion mechanism. Whey protein, however, displayed significant differences in the adhesion and cohesion fluxes. Reduction of particle deposition on low energy chamber wall surface is more significant for the hydrophobic whey particles. Further analysis shows that the reduction in droplet–wall contact energy is larger for the more hydrophobic droplet, delineating weaker adhesion interaction. The results suggest that the hydrophobicity of the depositing particles in an important consideration when using lower chamber wall with lower surface energy. This is in addition to the effect of particle rigidity and deposition strength as reported previously.     

A novel method to musicalize shape and visualize music and a novel technique in music cryptography

Since many years ago, musicians have composed music based on the images that they have had in their minds. On the other hand, music affects people’s imagination while hearing it. This research provides a method that can transform shape to music and music to shape. This method defines musical notations for horizontal, diagonal and vertical line segments, filled circle and curve with different colors, which are the basis of many shapes in transforming shapes into music. Then these primary mappings are generalized to more complex forms to transform any shape. Moreover, music can be transformed into shape by this method. For this transformation, primary musical notations such as simple notes, notes joined by a legato, notes with a staccato, notes joined by a legato and have crescendo or decrescendo and notes with an accent or a trill are defined. These primary musical notations are generalized to more complex forms to transform any music into shape. Also, the method of this research can be used in music cryptography. It employs mapping of notes in a twelve-tone equal musical system into shapes and mappings of shapes with an equal line width and different colors into music.

     

Efficient XML data placement schemes over multiple mobile wireless broadcast channels

The Journal of Supercomputing - Broadcasting is one of the basic ways to access XML data via mobile wireless networks. In these networks, XML data are disseminated over a wireless broadcast channel...     

Tightly trapped highly excited Rydberg atom in dipole–quadrupole potential landscape

ABSTRACT

In this paper, coherent Rydberg excitation of a single four-level atom in tightly confining trap so-called ‘far-off-resonance optical dipole-quadrupole trap’ (FORDQT) by considering Laguerre Gaussian (LG) beams spatial features is demonstrated. The self-trapping potential results from the position dependent differential AC Stark shift of the ground state and Rydberg state in the effective quadrupole Rydberg excitation. By introducing the effective stiffness of the FORDQT potential in terms of the key parameters of the first and Rydberg excitation laser beams, a technique to obtain sub-micron localization of Rydberg excitation is explored. The complete matched trapping potential of the ground state and Rydberg state near the center of the trap maintains the coherence of the Rydberg excitation. Transfer of optical orbital angular momentum from the LG-beam to the Rydberg-state via localized effective quadrupole excitation process paves the way for implementation of high fidelity qudit gates in high dimensional quantum information process.