Search Results (1,797)

In this study, whole grain sorghum flour was used to partially substitute the gluten-free flour blend in cookie formulation at 20% (C20) and 40% (C40) replacement levels. The goal was to explore its potential to improve the nutritional value and sensory appeal of cookies relative to conventional and commercially available gluten-free alternatives. Nutritional analysis revealed that cookies with added sorghum flour showed increased levels of protein, ash, and polyphenolic compounds, while maintaining favorable macronutrient profiles. Notably, several bioactive compounds, such as gallic acid, caffeic acid, and apigenin, were detected exclusively in sorghum-containing samples, suggesting enhanced functional properties. Despite these compositional changes, textural measurements showed no significant differences in hardness or fracturability compared with the control. Sensory profiling using the Rate-All-That-Apply (RATA) method demonstrated that both samples (C20 and C40) achieved balanced results in terms of aroma as well as texture and were generally well accepted by the panel. The results indicate that moderate inclusion of sorghum flour (20% and 40%) can improve the sensory and nutritional profiles of gluten-free cookies without compromising product acceptability. Sorghum thus offers a promising pathway for the development of high-quality, health-oriented, gluten-free bakery products. Full article

Pyrolysis technology currently serves as a significant method for recycling and reducing waste tires. In this paper, in order to improve the heat transfer efficiency during the pyrolysis of waste tires in a horizontal rotary furnace and the yield of pyrolysis oil, the effect laws of tire particle size, rotary furnace rotation speed, enhanced heat transfer materials, and adding spiral fins on heat transfer performance and pyrolysis product distribution were studied, respectively. The innovation lies in two aspects: first, aiming at the problems of slow heat transfer and low pyrolysis efficiency in horizontal rotary furnaces, we identified technical measures through experiments to enhance heat transfer, thereby accelerating pyrolysis and reducing energy consumption; second, with the goal of increasing high-value pyrolysis oil yield, we determined optimal operating parameters to improve economic and sustainability outcomes. The results showed that powdered particles of waste tires were heated more evenly during the pyrolysis process, which increased the overall heat transfer coefficient and the proportion of liquid products. When the rotational speed of the rotary pyrolysis furnace exceeded 2 rpm, there was sufficient contact between the material and the furnace wall, which was beneficial to the improvement of heat transfer performance. Adding heat transfer enhancement materials such as carborundum and white alundum could improve the heat transfer performance between the pyrolysis furnace and the material. Notably, a rotational speed of 3 rpm and carborundum were used as a heat transfer enhancement material with powdered waste tire particles during the pyrolysis process; the overall heat transfer coefficient was the highest, which was 16.89 W/(m²·K), and the proportion of pyrolysis oil products was 46.1%. When spiral fins were installed, the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient was increased from 12.78 W/(m²·K) to 16.32 W/(m²·K). The experimental results show that by increasing the speed of the pyrolysis furnace, adding heat transfer enhancing materials with high thermal conductivity to waste tires, and appropriate particle size, the heat transfer performance and pyrolysis rate can be improved, and energy consumption can be reduced. Full article

Utilizing edible films/coatings promises to extend the shelf life of fruits by controlling various physiological parameters (e.g., respiration and transpiration rates), maintaining firmness, and delaying fruit senescence. The influence of composite-based edible coatings made from sodium or calcium caseinate: carboxymethyl chitosan (75:25) on the postharvest quality of fresh blueberries was assessed over a 28-day storage period, on the basis of weight loss and changes in pH, firmness, color, titratable acidity, soluble solids content, mold and yeast count, and respiration rate. The pH of the blueberries increased over the period of storage, with significant differences observed between uncoated and coated (e.g., pH was 3.89, 3.17, and 3.62 at the end of the storage time for uncoated, Ca 75-1% SO, and Na 75-1% SO, respectively. Desirable lower pH values at the end of storage were obtained with the calcium caseinate formulations. Over the duration of storage, other quality parameters (e.g., firmness) were better retained in coated fruits compared to the uncoated (control) one. At the last storage day, the firmness of the uncoated sample was 0.67 N·mm⁻¹ while the sodium and calcium caseinate was 0.63 and 0.81 N.mm⁻¹, respectively. Moreover, the microbial growth was reduced in coated fruits, indicating the effectiveness of coatings in preserving fruit quality. The mold /yeast count was 1.4 and 2.3 log CFU/g for CaCa 75-1% SO and NaCa 75-1% SO compared with uncoated with 4.2 log CFU/g. Adding soybean oil to the caseinate–carboxymethyl chitosan composite edible coating has the potential to positively influence retention of various quality parameters of blueberries, thereby extending their shelf life and maintaining overall quality. Further research could explore the optimization of coating formulations and application methods to enhance their effectiveness in preserving fruit quality during storage. Full article

The aim of the present study is to investigate the influence of Nickel–Hexagonal Boron Nitride (Ni-hBN) nanocomposite coatings, deposited using the pulse reverse current electrodeposition technique. This experimental study focuses on assessing the tribological and corrosion properties of the produced coatings on the SS304 substrate. The microhardness of the as-deposited (AD) sample and heat-treated (HT) sample were 49% and 83.8% higher compared to the control sample. The HT sample exhibited a grain size which was approximately 9.7% larger than the AD sample owing to the expansion–contraction mechanism of grains during heat treatment and sudden quenching. Surface roughness reduced after coating, where the Ni-hBN-coated sample measured a roughness of 0.43 µm compared to 0.48 µm for the bare surface. The average coefficient of friction for the AD sample was 42.4% lower than the bare surface owing to the self-lubricating properties of nano hBN. In particular, the corrosion rate of the AD sample was found to be 0.062 mm/year, which was lower than values reported in other studies. As such, findings from the present study can be particularly beneficial for applications in the automotive and aerospace industries, where enhanced wear resistance, reduced friction, and superior corrosion protection are critical for components such as engine parts, gears, bearings and shafts. Full article

Background: Autoimmune liver diseases (ALDs) are a diverse group of chronic inflammatory disorders. Individuals with a history of one autoimmune disease (AD) are at a substantially increased risk of developing additional autoimmune conditions. Polyautoimmunity has increasingly been recognized as a factor associated with a more complex disease course and poorer long-term outcomes. Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional observational study reviewed medical records of patients diagnosed with ALDs who had been admitted to the gastroenterology clinic. Results: A total of 457 patients with ALDs were included. Polyautoimmunity was present in 194 patients (42.5%), and multiple autoimmune syndrome (MAS) was diagnosed in 26 of these patients (5.7%). Serological comparisons revealed that antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity was significantly more common in the polyautoimmunity group. Only 22.2% of the patients with polyautoimmunity were ANA-negative, compared with 52.9% in those without. An ROC curve analysis was conducted to assess the predictive value of clinical and laboratory variables for polyautoimmunity. Among all the tested parameters, ANA positivity (>+2) had the strongest predictive value (AUC: 0.724). A disease duration longer than 6.5 years followed, with a moderate discriminative capacity (AUC: 0.677). Additionally, lower albumin levels (<3.0 g/dL) and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs) (>29.5 mm/h) were significantly associated with polyautoimmunity. Conclusions: In our cohort, 42.5% of patients had at least one additional autoimmune disorder, highlighting the need for a systemic and comprehensive approach to patient care. Simple and accessible markers—such as ANA titers, disease duration, albumin levels, and ESRs—may help to identify patients at greater risk. Full article

Tung oil, as dry oil, can quickly dry and polymerize into tough and glossy waterproof coatings, with a very high application value. Tung oil was used as a core material to prepare Tung oil microcapsules coated with chitosan–Arabic gum, and the preparation process of the microcapsules was optimized. The effect of adding a UV coating on the performance of the microcapsules was explored. Under the conditions of a core–wall mass ratio of 0.5:1.0, pH value of 3.5, mass ratio of chitosan to Arabic gum of 1.0:4.0, and spray drying temperature of 130 °C, Tung oil microcapsules coated with chitosan–Arabic gum had a higher yield and coverage rate, which were 32.85% and 33.20%, respectively. With the increase of the spray drying temperature during preparation, the roughness of the coating first increased and then decreased, the visible light transmittance decreased first and then increased, and the glossiness showed an overall downward trend. The self-repairing rate decreased gradually. When the microcapsules #11 were added to the UV topcoat at 5%, the coating can obtain excellent comprehensive properties; the roughness was 0.79 μm, elongation at break was 5.04%, visible light transmittance was 77.96%, gloss loss rate was 10.95%, and self-repairing rate was 20.47%. Full article

Tussah immunoreactive pupa powder (IPP) is composed of various active substances. We speculated that it has the potential to improve key economic traits of sea urchins. Therefore, we conducted a 60-day experiment to examine the effects of IPP on growth, antioxidant capacity, gonad quality, and gut microbiota of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius). The experiment involved the preparation of a kelp group and four types of feed containing 0% (the control group), 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% IPP. The results indicated that IPP had no significant impact on the survival of sea urchins (p > 0.05). Firstly, adding IPP promoted the growth of sea urchins. The 1.0% IPP group showed the highest weight gain rate among the feed group, significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05). Secondly, compared with the kelp group, the addition of IPP significantly improved the growth and quality of sea urchin gonads (p < 0.05), which demonstrated certain industrial value. Thirdly, following the addition of IPP, the activities of SOD, CAT, and POD significantly increased in comparison to the control group (p < 0.05). Lastly, added IPP increased the abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Rhodobacteraceae, while reducing the abundance of Ralstonia and Vibrio. This indicates that added IPP may improve the digestive function and gut health of sea urchins. Overall, added IPP can improve certain economic traits and antioxidant capacity of sea urchins. This manuscript provides a theoretical reference for the healthful aquaculture of S. intermedius. Full article

Cost-effective methods for improving soil fertility and mitigating the negative impact of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils are currently under investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of soil lead (Pb) contamination and the application of secondary pulp and paper mill sludge on the relative growth rate (RGR) and its determinants, as well as the specific absorption rate (SAR) of nutrients of Lactuca sativa L. For the 46-day pot experiment, which was carried out in 2022 under controlled conditions at the Karelian Research Centre of RAS, sandy loam soil was used, to which Pb was added at rates of 0, 50, and 250 mg Pb(NO₃)₂ kg⁻¹. Secondary sludge was applied with each watering at concentrations of 0%, 20%, and 40%. RGR values varied significantly, primarily due to changes in net assimilation rate (NAR) rather than specific leaf area. Positive relationships were found between RGR and NAR, and RGR and SAR of nitrogen and phosphorus, but not potassium. Sludge applications can stimulate NAR at early stages of plant growth. For plants grown on soil with the highest Pb concentration studied, secondary sludge reduced root lead content by an average of 35%. Soil contamination with lead increased nutrient SAR by 79 and 39% when applied as 20 and 40% sludge, respectively, while 40% sludge increased nitrogen SAR by 51% but did not change phosphorus and potassium SAR. A sludge-mediated reduction in root Pb content and an increase in NAR suggest that secondary paper sludge may contribute to the remediation of Pb-contaminated soils and reduce the toxicity of heavy metals to plants. The results may help in finding new ways to manage soil fertility, especially for contaminated soils. Full article

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate lipid goal achievement rates in very high-risk patients over six months using high-intensity rosuvastatin or rosuvastatin/ezetimibe combination lipid-lowering therapy. Methods: This prospective, observational study was conducted on the patients of 150 general and 60 specialist practices. Our analysis included 3017 patients (47% women) who completed six months of therapy. Of these, 55.5% had pre-existing cardiovascular disease, 35.6% had cerebrovascular disease, and 20.4% had peripheral vascular disease. Results: At six months, in patients receiving rosuvastatin monotherapy (20.5%), the 1.8 LDL-C achievement rate was 37%; in those taking the fix rosuvastatin/ezetimibe combination (63.7%), it was 52%, and the 1.4 level attainment proved to be 11% and 22%, respectively. The rates of LDL-C reduction of at least 50% were 32% and 42%, respectively. Overall, non-HDL-C goal achievement rates were higher than when LDL-C was calculated using the Martin–Hopkins or Sampson methods but similar to those calculated with the Friedewald formula. When patients were stratified by triglyceride quartiles, non-HDL-C goal achievement rates were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in cases with triglyceride levels below 1.2 mmol/L. Conversely, Friedewald-calculated LDL-C (F-LDL-C) goal achievement rates were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with triglyceride levels above 1.7 mmol/L. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the consistent use of fixed high-intensity statin and ezetimibe combinations can improve lipid goal achievement. However, comparing the achievement of LDL-C goals (calculated by three methods) and non-HDL-C goals also confirmed that the common practice of automatically adding 0.8 mmol/L to the calculated LDL-C value to determine non-HDL-C leads to inaccuracies, particularly in the lower triglyceride ranges. Full article

Silica fume-based geopolymer composite coatings, an approach to using metallurgical solid waste, exert flame retardancy with ecological, halogen-free, and environmentally friendly advantages, but their fire resistance needs to be improved further. Herein, a silica fume-based geopolymer composite flame-retardant coating was designed by doping boric acid (BA), zinc phytate (ZnPA), and melamine (MEL). The results of a cone calorimeter demonstrated that appropriate ZnPA and BA significantly enhanced its flame retardancy, evidenced by the peak heat release rate (p-HRR) decreasing from 268.78 to 118.72 kW·m⁻², the fire performance index (FPI) increasing from 0.59 to 2.83 s·m²·kW⁻¹, and the flame retardancy index increasing from 1.00 to 8.48, respectively. Meanwhile, the in situ-formed boron phosphate (BPO₄) facilitated the residual resilience of the fire-barrier layer. Furthermore, the pyrolysis kinetics indicated that the three-level chemical reactions governed the pyrolysis of the coatings. BPO₄ made the pyrolysis E_α climb from 94.28 (P5) to 127.08 (B3) kJ·mol⁻¹ with temperatures of 731–940 °C, corresponding to improved thermal stability. Consequently, this study explored the synergistic flame-retardant mechanism of silica fume-based geopolymer coatings doped with ZnPA, BA, and MEL, providing an efficient strategy for the high-value-added recycling utilization of silica fume. Full article

The unique structures and properties of natural organisms provide abundant inspiration for surface modification research in materials science. In this paper, the tribological advantages of radial ribs found on shell surfaces were combined with laser cladding to address challenges in material surface strengthening. Laser cladding technology was used to fabricate bionic units on the surface of 20CrMnTi steel. The alloy powder consisted of a Ni-based alloy with added WC particles. The influence of laser power (1.0 kW–3.0 kW) on the dimensions, microstructure, hardness, surface roughness, and tribological properties of the bionic units was investigated to enhance the tribological performance of the Ni60/WC bionic unit. The microstructure, phase composition, hardness, and tribological behavior of the bionic units were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), a microhardness tester, and a wear tester. Experimental results show that the dimensions of the bionic units increased with laser power. However, beyond a certain threshold, the growth rate of the width and height gradually slowed due to heat conduction and edge cooling effects. The microstructure primarily consisted of equiaxed and dendritic crystals, with grain refinement observed at higher laser powers. The addition of WC resulted in average hardness values of 791 HV_0.2, 819 HV_0.2, 835 HV_0.2, and 848 HV_0.2 across the samples. This enhancement in hardness was attributed to dispersion strengthening and grain refinement. Increasing the laser power also reduced the surface roughness of the bionic units, though excessively high laser power led to a roughness increase. The presence of WC altered the wear mechanism of the bionic units. Compared to the wear observed in the N60 sample, the wear amount of the WC-containing samples decreased by 73.7%, 142.1%, 157.5%, and 263.1%, respectively. Hard WC particles played a decisive role in enhancing tribological performance of the bionic unit. Full article

This study investigated the enhancement in lipid accumulation in Chlorella sp. using non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma as a pretreatment strategy for the production of value-added products. The plasma treatment was optimized by varying discharge times (0–16 min) using argon gas at a flow rate of 4 L/min. Lipid productivity was assessed through gravimetric analysis and profiling of fatty acid methyl ester using gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The growth rate and pH of the treated cells were monitored. The findings demonstrated that the 4-min plasma exposure maximized the efficiency of lipid recovery, achieving a 35% of the dry cell weight and a 34.6% increase over untreated control. However, longer plasma treatment times resulted in a comparative decrease in lipid yield, as the decline is possibly due to oxidative degradation. The findings highlight the role of plasma treatment, which significantly boosts lipid yield and gives complementary optimization of downstream processes to improve biodiesel production. The accumulation of lipids in terms of size and volume in the algal cells was assessed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The GC–MS results of the control revealed that lipids comprised primarily mixed esters such as 2H Pyran 2 carboxylic acid ethyl esters, accounting for 50.97% and 20.52% of the total peak area. In contrast, the 4-min treated sample shifted to saturated triacylglycerols (dodecanoic acid, 2,3 propanetriyl ester), comprising 85% of the total lipid content, which efficiently produced biodiesel. Thus, the non-thermal plasma-based enhancement of lipids in the algal cells has been achieved. Full article

A two-factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential for improving the palatability and utilization of tuna by-product meal (TBM) as a replacement for fish meal (FM) via supplementing the diet of juvenile greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) with powdered salmon roe liquid (PSRL). FM protein in the control diet (C) was partially replaced with TBM at levels of 25% (T25R0) and 40% (T40R0). PSRL was then added at 5% and 10% to both the T25R0 and T40R0 diets, resulting in the formulations T25R5, T25R10, T40R5, and T40R10. After a 6-week rearing period, during which groups of 30 juveniles (mean initial weight of approximately 1.7 g) were stocked in 500 L tanks, there were no significant differences in the final mean weight, weight gain, or specific growth rate among fish fed diets C, T25R0, and T25R5. However, the other experimental diets showed significantly lower values compared to the C diet (p < 0.05). PSRL supplementation did not significantly enhance either palatability or feeding rate in TBM-based diets (p > 0.05). Two-way ANOVA indicated that only FM replacement with TBM had a significant effect on the growth parameters mentioned above (p < 0.05). A significantly lower whole-body crude lipid content was observed in all test diets compared to that in the C diet, resulting in significantly lower lipid retention efficiency in all test groups except T25R5 and T25R10 (p < 0.05). These results suggest that 25% of FM protein can be replaced with TBM protein in the diet of juvenile greater amberjack, but PSRL does not effectively address the palatability issues associated with TBM-based diets. Full article

Background: Surfactants can be added into polymer–amorphous drug systems to further enhance solubility. However, this may cause amorphous drugs to become physically unstable, and the inherent mechanism at play here is not fully understood. Methods: We explored the effects of poloxamer, a poly (ethylene oxide)-poly (propylene oxide)-poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymer surfactant, and its segments on the nucleation and growth kinetics of amorphous nitrendipine (NTP) from the melt through polarized light microscopy. The effects of poloxamer and structural analogs on the melting point and glass transition temperature were also investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. Results: The poloxamer and its structural analogs enhanced nucleation and growth kinetics in supercooled liquid. Poloxamer and its structural analogs exhibited similar effects on the nucleation and growth kinetics of amorphous NTP, suggesting minimal dependence on structural variation. The overall crystallization rate of the NTP increased when increasing the poloxamer content and ultimately reached a maximum value; after that, the crystallization rates of NTP decreased when increasing the poloxamer content. Conclusions: Poloxamer and its structural analogs achieve similar effects on crystallization due to their comparable plasticizing effects. The nucleation and growth rates show different trends as a function of the poloxamer content. This effect is a result of both kinetic and thermodynamic factors. This study is relevant to understanding the impacts of the surfactant on the physical instability of amorphous drugs. Full article

The type of non-professional or professional support received affects the quality of life of the patient and their caregivers. Social support is the type of interaction that is taken by the patient and his caregivers in a problematic, difficult, stressful, or critical situation. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of social support on the functioning of patients under nursing home care. Material and methods: The study included 148 chronically ill patients under home nursing care. The study used the diagnostic survey method; the research technique was a questionnaire containing basic data about the respondent and the Social Support Scale (SWS) by Krystyna Kmiecik-Baran. Results: The need to continue the causal treatment at home means that the main source of support for care beneficiaries are nurses who provide medical services at the patient’s home, supported by doctors and family members of the patient. According to patients’ subjective assessment of the support they received from nurses, patients rated the informational support provided by nurses highest at 14.3 points and emotional support at 13.3 points (SD 1.776). on a scale where the maximum score was 16 points. In the opinion of the surveyed patients, the value-added support provided was the lowest-rated category by patients, 9.74 points (SD 2.505). Instrumental support was also rated very poorly by the respondents (10.17 points (SD 2.069). In each category, there was no statistically significant difference at the p < 0.05 level in the respondents’ evaluation, which means that the expressed opinion on each type of support from the highest to the lowest evaluation: informational, emotional, instrumental, and evaluative—overlapped in the patient group and the family group. Conclusions: Patients under home care highly appreciated the support provided to them by the nursing staff. Social support for a chronically ill person who requires constant care and care by the nursing staff is a form of direct impact that relieves stress and tension, minimizes the effects of the disease, directly affects the course of treatment and care, and prevents stigmatization. Full article