Spray-Drying Microencapsulation of Pink Guava (Psidium guajava) Carotenoids Using Mucilage from Opuntia ficus-indica Cladodes and Aloe Vera Leaves as Encapsulating Materials

In this work, the capacity of the mucilage extracted from the cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) and aloe vera (AV) leaves as wall material in the microencapsulation of pink guava carotenoids using spray-drying was studied. The stability of the encapsulated carotenoids was quantified using UV–vis and HPLC/MS techniques. Likewise, the antioxidant activity (TEAC), color (CIELab), structural (FTIR) and microstructural (SEM and particle size) properties, as well as the total dietary content, of both types of mucilage microcapsules were determined. Our results show that the use of AV mucilage, compared to OFI mucilage, increased both the retention of β-carotene and the antioxidant capacity of the carotenoid microcapsules by around 14%, as well as the total carotenoid content (TCC) by around 26%, and also favors the formation of spherical-type particles (Ø ≅ 26 µm) without the apparent damage of a more uniform size and with an attractive red-yellow hue. This type of microcapsules is proposed as a convenient alternative means to incorporate guava carotenoids, a natural colorant with a high antioxidant capacity, and dietary fiber content in the manufacture of functional products, which is a topic of interest for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.

Models of binary neutron star remnants with tabulated equations of state

The emergence of novel differential rotation laws that can reproduce the rotational profile of binary neutron star merger remnants has opened the way for the construction of equilibrium models with properties that resemble those of remnants in numerical simulations. We construct models of merger remnants, using a recently introduced 4-parameter differential rotation law and three tabulated, zero-temperature equations of state. The models have angular momenta that are determined by empirical relations, constructed through numerical simulations. After a systematic exploration of the parameter space of merger remnant equilibrium sequences, which includes the determination of turning points along constant angular momentum sequences, we find that a particular rotation law can reproduce the threshold mass to prompt collapse to a black hole with a relative difference of only $\sim 1\%$ with respect to numerical simulations, in all cases considered. Furthermore, our results indicate a possible correlation between the compactness of equilibrium models of remnants at the threshold mass and the compactness of maximum-mass nonrotating models. Another key prediction of binary neutron star merger simulations is a relatively slowly rotating inner region, where the angular velocity Ω (as measured by an observer at infinity) is mostly due to the frame dragging angular velocity ω. In our investigation of the parameter space of the adopted differential rotation law, we naturally find quasi-spherical (Type A) remnant models with this property. Our investigation clarifies the impact of the differential rotation law and of the equation of state on key properties of binary neutron star remnants and lays the groundwork for including thermal effects in future studies.

Dynamics of Marangoni Convection in Hybrid Nanomaterials Flow With Dust Particles Random Motion

Here we are working on the flow of dust particles in hybrid nanofluid. Marangoni convective flow of hybrid nanofluid is accounted by considering silver and copper as nanoparticles and water as base fluid. Dust particles and nanoparticles are used in this flow are spherical type. For thermal conductivity we have considered the Maxwell model. Porous medium is placed over a stretching sheet. Flow is generated via stretching sheet. MHD effects are also considered. Nonlinear equation of fluid phase and dust phase are converted in to ODE's by suitable transformations. These ordinary differential equations are solved numerically. Effect of involved dimensionless variables against velocity and temperature of hybrid nanofluid and dust phase, skin friction and Nusselt number of hybrid nanofluid is studied through graphs and tables. It is observed that temperature and velocity is more in case of hybrid nanofluid as compared to dust phase. Velocity of Ag-Cu water hybrid nanofluid enhances for greater mass concentration of dust particles. Velocity in both phase decay for higher porosity variable. Good match of results are seen by comparing current situation to earlier study in particular case.