Evaluation of Lepidium sativum seed and guar gum to improve dough rheology and quality parameters in composite rice–wheat bread

The effects of hydrocolloids in rice–wheat flour were studied. Hydrocolloids at 0%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 1% w/w (flour basis) and guar (G), Lepidium sativum seed (L) and guar-L. sativum seed (GL) gum were tested as additives to the rice/flour in various combinations. The quality parameters for the experiment were assessed with farinography, extensography, amylography and texture profile analysis. The evaluation of dough rheology showed that water absorption, dough development time, dough stability and viscosity all increased with the addition of hydrocolloids alone or in a combination. It was demonstrated that G₁L₁ promoted the highest effect. The mixing tolerance index and gelatinization temperature decreased with an increased hydrocolloid concentration. Extensibility value for the dough that incorporated guar and L. sativum seed gum increased with increasing hydrocolloid concentration from 0.3% to 0.6% and then decreased at 1%. The water activity of all bread didn't have significant differences with increasing hydrocolloids concentration but this parameter 24 decreased during storage. Firmness decreased with increasing hydrocolloid concentration and increased with increasing storage time. The sensory evaluation by a consumer panel gave the higher score for overall acceptability to G_0.3L_0.3 and G_0.3L_0.6 samples. The results also showed that G₁L₁, G₁L_0.6 and G_0.6L₁ samples had high specific volume and porosity.     

Analytical and experimental study on flexural performance of WPC–FRP beams

Wood plastic composite (WPC) beams retrofitted with carbon and glass fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP and GFRP) composites offer an attractive solution to enhance the behavior of wood in terms of strength and ductility, as well as altering the mode of rupture of such structural members. However, very little is known about their performance. Thus, this paper presents a theoretical model based on nonlinear WPC properties, to investigate the behavior of hybrid WPC–FRP beams. In order to calculate the bending moment, the model considers an exponential function in the stress–strain diagram of WPC in both tension and compression parallel to the fibers. A four-point bending test configuration was conducted as short-term experiments to determine the load–displacement relationships of WPC beams with CFRP and GFRP sheets adhered to the tensile side. In order to validate the employed approach, the results obtained from the theoretical model were compared with the experimental results where a satisfactory agreement was achieved.     

Preparation of a Solid Dispersion by a Dropping Methodto Improve the Rate of Dissolution of Meloxicam

Application of a solid dispersion system is one of the methods used to increase the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Adaptation of the dropping method from the chemical industry as a formulation procedure may help the scaling-up process and simplify the formulation of poorly water-soluble compounds. Meloxicam (ME), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is poorly soluble in water, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000, a water-soluble carrier, were formulated by using a dropping method in an attempt to improve the dissolution of ME. Pure ME and physical mixtures and tablets of ME–PEG 4000 (1:3 ratio) were compared as regards their dissolution with samples formulated by the dropping method. The results revealed that the round particles (solid drops) exhibited a higher dissolution rate than those of the physical mixtures, tablets, and pure ME. Self-modeling curve resolution (SMCR) as a chemometric method was used to evaluate X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD) data. The results demonstrated the presence of a new crystalline phase in the solid dispersion, which can help the fast and quantitative dissolution from the solid drops. The round particles can be adapted to individual therapy by using a distributor.     

A new nickel metal organic framework (Ni-MOF) porous nanostructure as a potential novel electrochemical sensor for detecting glucose

Journal of Porous Materials - A Ni-MOF-based novel electrochemical sensor was synthesized with high surface area of 1381 m2/g, significant porosity of 1.14–9.6 nm and average...     

Preparation of turmeric-derived sulfur-functionalized carbon dots: antibacterial and antioxidant activity

Journal of Materials Science - The work describes the preparation of carbon dots using turmeric as the carbon source and their functionalization with sulfur to enhance the functionality. The...     

Preparation of a solid dispersion by a dropping method to improve the rate of dissolution of meloxicam

Application of a solid dispersion system is one of the methods used to increase the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Adaptation of the dropping method from the chemical industry as a formulation procedure may help the scaling-up process and simplify the formulation of poorly water-soluble compounds. Meloxicam (ME), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is poorly soluble in water, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000, a water-soluble carrier, were formulated by using a dropping method in an attempt to improve the dissolution of ME. Pure ME and physical mixtures and tablets of ME-PEG 4000 (1:3 ratio) were compared as regards their dissolution with samples formulated by the dropping method. The results revealed that the round particles (solid drops) exhibited a higher dissolution rate than those of the physical mixtures, tablets, and pure ME. Self-modeling curve resolution (SMCR) as a chemometric method was used to evaluate X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD) data. The results demonstrated the presence of a new crystalline phase in the solid dispersion, which can help the fast and quantitative dissolution from the solid drops. The round particles can be adapted to individual therapy by using a distributor.     

Numerical and experimental investigation on lap shear fracture of Al/CFRP laminates

This paper presents a new approach to numerically investigate the lap shear fracture of a hybrid laminate made of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) and metal foil plies (e.g. aluminium), validated by corresponding experiments. The numerical Finite Element (FE) model of the hybrid laminate, subjected to lap shear fracture, is composed of five laminas with alternating metal/CFRP layers with cohesive elements lying within Al/CFRP interface. In the FE model, individual CFRP laminas are assumed as an orthotropic homogenized continuum under plane stress, and aluminium facesheets are modelled as an elastic–plastic continuum. The Al/CFRP interface is represented via quadratic cohesive elements, the constitutive law of which is an exponentially decaying law representing the degrading behaviour of the interface (implemented as user element in ABAQUS). The numerical model captures the experimentally obtained results with minimal error, and predicts the failure modes successfully. The influence of specimen geometry (e.g. overlap length, total length, and total width) on lap shear fracture response is analyzed in detail in this study, too, in order to confirm the specimen design for the test, as there is still no corresponding test standard for hybrid laminates.     

Effect of yttria on sintering and microstructural behavior of reaction sintered mullite based on bauxite,fly ash and precipitated silica

The present investigation on the effect of Y₂O₃ towards the sintering behavior of mullite compacts revealed that rapid mullitization occurred through nucleation and normal grain growth due to the formation of yttrious silicate glassy phase. The intergranular voids were progressively eliminated by yttrious silicate glass leading to significant decrease in porosity with the corresponding remarkable rise in mechanical strength of sintered compacts. The uniform dispersion of microfine corundum grains into the mullite matrix with 1.5% Y₂O₃ content was noticed during sintering at 1550?°C and above.     

A study of Cr(VI) and NH4+adsorption using greensand (glauconite) as a low‐cost adsorbent from aqueous solutions

This paper investigates the removal of Cr(VI) and NH⁴⁺ from aqueous solutions using greensand (glauconite). The effects of adsorbent dosage, contact time, initial Cr(VI) and NH⁴⁺ concentrations, and pH were investigated in batch experiments. The results show that these parameters influenced Cr(VI) and NH⁴⁺ removal using glauconite considerably. Pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order and intraparticle diffusion kinetic models were applied to explain the kinetic data, and the pseudo‐second‐order model achieved good agreement. The equilibrium isotherm data are coordinated with the Freundlich, Langmuir models, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich; the Freundlich model proved most best suitable. The removal efficiency of Cr(VI) and NH₄⁺ were 12.21 mg/g (54% at pH 3) and 19.24 mg/g (77.08% at pH 7). All in all, the results showed that the adsorption process on glauconite could be used as an effective method for removing Cr(VI) and NH⁴⁺ from aqueous solutions.