Double emulsion (W/O/W) gel stabilised by polyglycerol polyricinoleate and calcium caseinate as mangiferin carrier: insights on formulation and stability properties

Mangiferin (MGF) is a phenolic compound isolated from mango, but its poor solubility significantly limits its use. In this study, MGF was embedded into the inner aqueous phase of W₁/O/W₂ emulsions. Firstly, the dissolution method of MGF was determined. MGF remained stable in solution with pH 13 at 30 min, and its solubility reached 10 mg mL⁻¹. When the pH of MGF solutions was adjusted from pH 13 to pH 6, MGF did not immediately crystallise, providing sufficient time to construct the MGF-loaded W₁/O/W₂ emulsions. Subsequently, the MGF-loaded W₁/O/W₂ emulsions were constructed using polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) and calcium caseinate (CAS). The formation and stability of the W₁/O/W₂ emulsions were investigated. The MGF-loaded W₁/O/W₂ emulsions stabilised with 1% PGPR and 1% – 3% CAS exhibited a low viscosity, limited loading capacity, and poor stability. Conversely, the MGF-loaded W₁/O/W₂ emulsions stabilised by 3%PGPR–3%CAS exhibited optimal loading capacity (encapsulation efficiency = 95.31% and loading efficiency = 0.91%) and stability, which was attributed to the fact that high viscosity and gel state retarded the migration of inner aqueous phase. These results indicated that the W₁/O/W₂ emulsions stabilised by PGPR and CAS may be a potential alternative for encapsulating mangiferin.     

Lactobacillus Gasseri LGZ 1029 in yogurt: rheological behaviour and volatile compound composition

Yogurt preserves and enhances nutritional value of milk. In this study, we have compared several strains to determine the physicochemical, sensory, rheological and aroma characteristics of different yogurts. We used Lactobacillus gasseri LGZ 1029 (LG), commercial probiotic L. rhamnosus (LGG) and traditional fermentation strains Streptococcus thermophilus and L. bulgaricus (SL). Results showed that the flavour and texture characteristics of mixed-strain yogurts were obviously better than in single-strain yogurts. Addition of LG increased pseudoplastic behaviour, as shown by Herschel–Bulkley model analysis of rheological behaviour. The LG + SL group also had both the highest viscosity consistency index and thickening ability. In addition, a total of 57 volatile compounds were detected in yogurts and the fermentation with the addition of LG was mainly affected by ketones. Our study suggested that a yogurt with new attributes can be produced by using LGZ 1029.     

Microstructure,tribological behavior and magnetic properties of Fe−Ni−TiO2 composite coatings synthesized via pulse frequency variation

The Fe−Ni−TiO₂ nanocomposite coatings were electrodeposited by pulse frequency variation. The results showed that the nanocomposite with a very dense coating surface and a nanocrystalline structure was produced at higher frequencies. By increasing the pulse frequency from 10 to 500 Hz, the iron and TiO₂ nanoparticles contentswere increased in expense of nickel content. XRD patterns showed that by increasing the frequency to 500 Hz, an enhancement ofBCC phase was observed and the grain size of deposits was reduced to 35 nm. The microhardness and the surface roughness were increased to 647 HV and 125 nm at 500 Hz due to the grain size reduction and higher incorporation of TiO₂ nanoparticles into the Fe−Ni matrix (5.13 wt.%). Moreover, the friction coefficient and wear rate values were decreased by increasing the pulse frequency;while the saturation magnetization and coercivity values of the composite deposits were increased.     

[Zr0.73(Cu0.59Ni0.41)0.27]87Al13合金过冷液相区热塑性成形研究

为探究[Zr_(0.73)(Cu_(0.59)Ni_(0.41))_(0.27)]_(87)Al_(13)非晶合金的热塑性成形性能以及绘制其对应的热加工图谱,用Gleeble3500型热模拟压缩实验机对该非晶合金进行不同参数下的热模拟压缩实验。结果表明,合金在压缩过程中变形行为由牛顿流变演变为非牛顿流变;同时,过高或过低的热加工温度均能导致合金晶化;进一步对数据分析得到该合金在不同热塑性成形参数下的功率耗散图与流变失稳图,并绘制出相应的热加工谱图,谱图分析结果表明,该合金在温度为420与430℃、应变速率为10~(-3) s~(-1)时具有较高功率耗散系数且没有失稳区域,因此,合金可选的热塑性加工参数为温度420～430℃,应变速率10~(-3) s~(-1)。     

Recent-onset ecstasy use: Association with deviant behaviors and psychiatric comorbidity.

Background: Despite increases in ecstasy (MDMA) use in the United States, little is known about characteristics linked with recent-onset ecstasy use, especially psychiatric symptoms and deviant behaviors. Aims: To test whether individuals with high levels of other drug use are more likely to be recent-onset ecstasy users; to test whether psychiatric symptoms in adults are associated with recent-onset ecstasy use; to explore the association between recent-onset ecstasy use and concomitant deviant behaviors in adolescents and adults. Methods: Data from the 2001 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Findings: Recent-onset ecstasy use was significantly more likely to occur among adolescents and adults (18-34 years old) who engaged in deviant behaviors during the past year as compared with those who did not engage in deviant behaviors during the past year. Higher levels of deviancy indicated a higher likelihood of being a recent-onset ecstasy user, and associations were strongest with nonviolent deviant behaviors such as selling illegal drugs and stealing. Associations between deviant behaviors and recent-onset ecstasy use were similar in strength to associations between deviant behaviors and recent-onset cocaine and marijuana use, respectively. Adults who had past-year psychiatric symptoms (both depressive and panic symptoms) were twice as likely to be recent-onset ecstasy users as compared with those without past-year psychiatric symptoms. Greater levels of drug involvement increased the odds of being a recent-onset ecstasy user. Conclusion: Recent-onset ecstasy use seems to be associated with a range of other behavioral problems and may reflect one aspect of a larger problem behavior syndrome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

茂金属线型低密度聚乙烯的加工性能

采用齐聚-共聚复合催化剂合成出了相对分子质量分布指数大于4的原位共聚线型低密度茂金属聚乙烯(mLLDPE)。流变实验结果表明,mLLDPE具有切敏性和非温敏性。改性实验结果表明,向100质量份mLLDPE中加入5质量份氟母粒,或10质量份LDPE,或2质量份氟母粒和5质量份LDPE,可使mLLDPE的加工流动性能获得改善,聚合物的机械性能不会发生明显降低,可用常规加工设备加工。加工成型实验结果表明,使用65型管材挤出机和TDL-12L中空成型机,以氟母粒-LDPE复合改性mLLDPE为原料,可生产出内、外表面均光滑的32管材和10L中空容器,挤出过程稳定。     

miPP/ziPP共混体系的流动性能

首次对茂金属聚丙烯(miPP)／齐格勒-纳塔聚丙烯(ziPP)共混体系的流动性进行了系统的研究。研究发现，在miPP／ziPP共混体系中，miPP含量的变化改变了共混体系的相结构，这种相结构会随着温度和剪切速率的变化而产生明显的变化，从而改变了体系的流动性能，且该共混体系在不同剪切速率下的流动曲线可以分别通过两个模型进行模拟。     

晶须取向对SiCw/6061Al复合材料热压缩变形行为的影响

采用SEM 和 Magiscan-2A 图像分析系统研究了晶须取向对SiCw/6061Al复合材料在300℃压缩变形行为的影响.结果表明:晶须取向影响着晶须折断程度和转动角度; 随着晶须取向角的增加,晶须转动和折断行为所导致的软化效果下降.同时晶须取向也影响复合材料的热压缩应力-应变曲线的形状.在热压缩变形过程中,晶须取向角为0°和30°的复合材料表现出明显应变软化现象, 晶须取向角为45°的复合材料无明显软化现象.晶须取向角为90℃的复合材料表现出应变硬化现象.     

Ruthenium dye-sensitized SnO2/TiO2 coupled solar cells

The photoelectrochemical behaviors of RuL₂(NCS)₂ dye-sensitized SnO₂/TiO₂ coupled solar cell was studied and compared with TiO₂ single system. The coupled system shows higher incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) value than the single system. A maximum IPCE value in the coupled system with 3.5 μm-thick SnO₂ and 7 μm-thick TiO₂ attained 82.4% at 530 nm wavelength. The higher IPCE value in the coupled system is attributed to the charge separation by fast electron transfer process from the excited RuL₂(NCS)₂ dye to TiO₂ to SnO₂ in the system with different energy level.     

Neuroticism and depressive symptoms among spouse caregivers: Do health behaviors mediate this relationship?

This study examined the mediating role of health behaviors in the relationship between neuroticism and depressive symptoms among spouse caregivers. Path analysis was used to test a model of the caregiver stress process among 233 caregivers of people with dementia. Results indicate that neuroticism has a significant direct effect on depressive symptoms and also indirectly influences depressive symptoms through health behaviors and perceived stress. When individual health behaviors were examined in the path model, only physical activity served a significant mediating role. These findings suggest that neuroticism may lead to depressive symptoms among caregivers partly through declines in physical activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)