Improvement of Gel Quality of Squid (Dosidicus gigas) Meat by Using Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Citrate, and Sodium Tartrate

In order to improve the quality of squid surimi products, squid surimi gels were prepared using several types of organic salts under two heating conditions to study the effects of organic salts on squid gel properties. Compared with the NaCl group, organic salts reduced the solubilization capacity of myofibrillar protein, and significant (p < 0.05) decreases in the breaking force, breaking distance, texture, and water-holding capacity of the gel were observed in the sodium gluconate group, while significant (p < 0.05) increases in the breaking force, breaking distance, texture, and water-holding capacity of the gel were observed in the sodium citrate and sodium tartrate groups. Although the mixed addition of NaCl and organic salt improved surimi gel quality, the effective improvement was still lower than that of only organic salt. Rheological properties indicated that sodium citrate and sodium tartrate had high viscoelasticity. The squid surimi gel prepared by direct heating exhibited better properties than gels prepared by two-step heating. The chemical force of squid gel prepared with sodium citrate and sodium tartrate formed a stronger matrix than the gels prepared with other salts. For color, the addition of sodium citrate resulted in an undesirable color of squid surimi gels, while the addition of sodium tartrate improved the whiteness of the surimi gel. The results showed that the quality of surimi gel was dependent upon the choice of heating method and the types of salt used. Sodium citrate and sodium tartrate could significantly improve the gel properties of squid surimi. This study provides reliable guidance for improving the overall quality of squid surimi gels.

РОЗРИВАЛЬНІ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ КОМПЛЕКСНОЇ ПОЛІЕТИЛЕНОВОЇ НИТКИ

Purpose. To investigate the influence of the number of threads resisting to break, the griping length, and the change in the position of the interlacing point when threading with a loop the breaking characteristics of complex polyethylene threads in the form of a loop.Methodology. In the course of the research, experimental research methods were used to determine the breaking characteristics of high molecular weight polyethylene threads on a WDW-5ES tensile machine in accordance with DSTU ISO 2062: 2004, the main provisions of textile materials science and knitting theory, methods of analysis and synthesis of the results obtained. Results. Based on the results of the studies, the influence of different factors on the breaking characteristics of complex multifilament threads was determined, namely: the influence of the number of threads resting on the break, the griping length and the change in the position of the weave point when threading with a loop. In the course of research, the griping length was changed in the range from 25mm to 300mm, and with a stable griping length (100 mm), the location of the thread weave point relative to the lower grip (25mm, 50mm, 75mm) was changed. It has been found that the breaking characteristics of a complex polyethylene yarn are influenced by both the griping length and the location of the weave point in the case of a loop-shaped break. The magnitude of the specific breaking force in the study of loop-shaped rupture is greater than in the study of straight segments of the thread. This is due to parallelization and compaction of the filaments due to the presence of the weave point on the thread that resists tearing. Scientific novelty. Regularities of the effect of griping length, linear density, and location of the point of weave of the complex high molecular threads in relation to the downer and upper grip are established provided that the griping length (100 mm) remains unchanged on the value of breaking load and elongation.Practical significance. Determination of the factors affecting the breaking characteristics of a complex polyethylene yarn will allow in the future, at the stage of designing the structure of knitwear in computer 3D modeling systems, to provide for the magnitude of the breaking force.

In Vitro Evaluation of Native Taro Boloso-I Starch as a Disintegrant in Tablet Formulations

Introduction. In drug delivery, solid dosage forms, of which tablet is the commonest, are still the leading preferences. An area of research focus in tablet drug delivery is the search for tablet excipients. This study was aimed at evaluating and optimizing native Taro Boloso-I starch as a tablet disintegrant. Methods. The response surface method with central composite design (CCD-RSM) was used for the analysis and optimization of the concentration of native Taro Boloso-I starch and compression force. Wet granulation method was used for the preparation of paracetamol tablets. The response variables considered were tablet crushing strength, friability, and disintegration time. Results and Discussion. Both the native Taro Boloso-I starch concentration and compression force had increasing effect on the tablet breaking force. The friability of the tablets was shown to decrease with increasing levels of the disintegrant concentration. On the other hand, compression force had a decreasing effect on friability in the investigated range. The disintegration time of the tablets was found to decrease with the concentration of the starch. The paracetamol tablets prepared with the optimized levels of native Taro Boloso-I starch and compression force showed tablet breaking force of 116.24 N, friability of 0.153%, disintegration time of 1.36 min, disintegration efficiency ratio of 562.3 N/(%Min), and comparative disintegration efficiency ratio of 13.6 with respect to commercial potato starch. Conclusions. The tablets exhibited improved crushing strength, friability, in vitro disintegration time, and disintegration efficiency ratio which suggest the novel applicability of the native Taro Boloso-I starch as an efficient pharmaceutical tablet disintegrant.

Comparative Study on Physical and Comfort Properties of Yarns and Hand-woven Fabrics Produced from Virgin and Recycled Fibers

Products produced from textile industries cannot meet the needs for human kind since the population of the world grows exponentially; due to this the recycling of textile materials has gained massive importance in textile and clothing sector. In this study, it was aimed to analyse recycled fibers effect on the yarn and hand loom fabrics as their proportion increases. For this purpose, OE rotor yarns produced by varying the recycled fibers proportion at 25%, 50, and 75% and compared with 100% virgin cotton yarns. The physical and mechanical properties of the yarns such as unevenness, imperfections, hairiness, breaking force, elongation, were measured by Uster Tester 4 SX, Uster Zweigle Hairiness Tester 5, and Uster Tensorapid 3. Then after hand loom fabrics with plain and twill fabrics are produced from produced yarns of different recycled fiber proportions. The effects of recycled fiber proportion on produced hand-woven fabric properties such as pilling, abrasion resistance and air permeability were also evaluated. Results showed that yarns and fabrics produced from recycled fibers blended with virgin cotton are suitable for applications where the strength of yarns and fabric are less critical, but where unevenness, imperfections and handle properties required thus, hand loom fabrics Produced can suitably used for home furnishing applications like table cover, curtains, wall covers and pillow cases.

Ageing of climbing ropes with and without hydrophobic coating

The effects of 4 months of weather exposure on the ageing of dynamic climbing ropes made of polyamide 6 were studied and differences between ropes with and without hydrophobic coating were examined. The polyamide degradation of the rope yarns was studied using infrared spectroscopy and a quasi-static tensile test. The number of falls to failure and the maximum force on the climber in a fall were evaluated with a drop test according to the UIAA 101 standard. Moreover, changes in the length of the ropes due to weathering were measured. The following results were found. After 4 months of weathering, sheath yarns of the coated rope showed a greater decrease in breaking force than those of the uncoated rope, which might be due to reactions of polyamide with radicals formed during the photo-induced oxidation of the coating. In contrast, the core yarns from the uncoated rope showed a greater decrease in breaking force than those from the coated rope, probably due to prolonged exposure of the uncoated core to water with possibly dissolved atmospheric acids. Furthermore, the decrease in the number of falls to failure was greater in the uncoated than in the coated rope. This difference was explained by a mechanism of changes in radial pressure of the sheath on the core. Regarding the maximum force on the climber, no significant changes due to ageing were observed during the drop test. Thus, it was concluded that 4 months of weather exposure do not pose a safety risk for climbing ropes, but the negative effect of coating on the ageing of polyamide might be detrimental when it comes to static personal safety equipment, such as slings or accessory cords.

Kinetics of Oil Absorption and Moisture Loss during Deep-Frying of Pork Skin with Different Thickness

We have investigated different properties (thickness, moisture loss, oil uptake, breaking force, color, puffing ratio during 0.5–5 min frying, microstructure, and sensory evaluation) of raw pork skins with varying thickness (2, 3, and 4 mm) after drying, intended as deep-fried snacks. We have found that the oil content, breaking force, and puffing ratio of fried pork skin with different raw skin thickness have no significant difference under similar water content (1.68–1.98 g/100 g wet weight basis, wb) after 3–5 min of deep-frying at 180 °C. Additionally, sensory score results have shown that fried pork skins with 4 mm raw skin thickness had lower flavor, texture, and overall acceptability than those with 2 mm and 3 mm raw skin thickness. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) have revealed less holes and irregular and crack microstructure in fried pork skins with 4 mm raw skin thickness than in other groups. Different thickness of raw pork skins resulted in different effects in microstructure and influenced water evaporation and oil uptake of fried pork skin. Finally, we have proposed the kinetic equations of water loss and oil uptake of fried pork skins. Fried pork skin from raw skin thicker than 4 mm need frying at temperature higher than 180 °C to improve their puffing ratio and sensory acceptability.

Analytical Modeling of Wax Plug Transportation during Pipeline Pigging Using a Foam Pig

Summary In our previous article (Gao et al. 2020), a mathematical model including elastic and yield components but not viscous component was developed to predict the wax plug transportation force. In this work, an analytical model was developed to calculate the wax plug transportation force, and the viscous component was introduced into the analytical model to capture some of the time effects. In this analytical model, the viscoelastic behavior of the wax deposit was characterized by a three-parameter model, formulated by adding an additional spring element to the Kelvin-Voight model. The Laplace transformation was used to solve the model. According to the calculated results of the analytical model, the transportation force of the wax plug was observed to slightly increase with time and then tended to level off. To obtain a parameter in the model and verify the model, the pigging experiments were conducted using foam pigs. During the pigging process of the foam pig, the wax plug transportation force in a five-phase wax removal profile was determined by taking the steady wax breaking force from the resistive force of the wax layer. Moreover, the linear increase of the wax plug transportation force per unit contact area with the shear strength of the wax layer was found, as described by the functional relationship in the analytical model. The interfacial lubrication coefficient calculated from the experimental data based on the analytical model is between the coefficient for diesel-prepared deposits and coefficient for oil-A-prepared deposits. Experimental verification results show that the average relative error of the model is 12.47%. Field implication was proposed to illustrate the application of the model and the formation condition of the wax blockage.

Modeling of Influential Parameters on Bending Strength of Solid Wood Panels Perpendicular to the Grain

The paper presents the results of modeling the bending strength of wood. During the experimental examination and definition of the model, solid wood was taken, where the bending was performed perpendicular to the grain. The experiment was done with thirteen replications and the input values that varied at three levels were wood density and board thickness. The thirteen-repetition experiment also involved four repetitions in the marginal areas, so two more wood densities and two board thicknesses had to be taken. The experimental measurement was performed in the laboratory of the Technical Faculty Bihać. Based on the experimental results, a sufficiently adequate mathematical model of the breaking force of a solid wood panel perpendicular to the grain is obtained.

Research on Structural–Mechanical Properties during the Castor Episperm Breaking Process

Products from castor seeds have been widely used in various fields. In order to study the breaking behavior and rupture mechanism of castor seed episperm during coat shelling process, the force-structure property of coating castor seed was investigated by a self-developed texture analyzer with in situ optical microscopic observation. Influences of compression distance, velocity and working temperature were studied. The results showed that castor seed episperm rupture commonly happened from the tail end to the first end. Compression distance effect can change the episperm cracking degree. Under pressing distance 2–3 mm, the episperm easily cracked into two flaps, and the breaking force stabilized at 77 N. Pressing velocity has no significant effect on episperm breaking. Temperature changes the physical property. With an increase in temperature, breaking force presents a “slope” decline; under a temperature of 120 ℃, temperature effect on the breaking force decreased significantly and the breaking force fell to about 52 N. The research results can provide theoretical basis for the castor episperm peeling.

Application of Fragrance Microcapsules onto Cotton Fabric after Treatment with Oxygen and Nitrogen Plasma

Cotton fabric was exposed to low-pressure capacitively coupled plasma to enhance the adsorption and adhesion of fragrance microcapsules (FCM). Two plasma-forming gases, namely oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2), were investigated. The untreated and plasma-treated samples were investigated for their morphological changes by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical properties (breaking force, elongation, and flexural rigidity), and wicking properties. The cotton samples were functionalized with FCM and the effect of plasma pretreatment on the adsorption and adhesion of FCM was evaluated using SEM, air permeability, fragrance intensity of unwashed and washed cotton fabrics, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that the plasma containing either of the two gases increased the wicking of the cotton fabric and that the O2 plasma caused a slight etching of the fibers, which increased the tensile strength of the cotton fabric. Both plasma gases caused changes that allowed higher adsorption of FCM. However, the adhesion of FCM was higher on the cotton treated with N2 plasma, as evidenced by a strong fragrance of the functionalized fabric after repeated washing.