Blends of Carbohydrate Polymers for the Co-Microencapsulation of Bacillus clausii and Quercetin as Active Ingredients of a Functional Food

A functional food based on blends of carbohydrate polymers and active ingredients was prepared by spray drying. Inulin (IN) and maltodextrin (MX) were used as carrying agents to co-microencapsulate quercetin as an antioxidant and Bacillus clausii (Bc) as a probiotic. Through a reduced design of experiments, eleven runs were conducted and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). The physical characterizations showed fine and non-aggregated powders, composed of pseudo-spherical particles with micrometric sizes. The observation of rod-like particles suggested that microorganisms were microencapsulated in these particles. The microstructure of the powders was amorphous, observing diffraction peaks attributed to the crystallization of the antioxidant. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the blends was above the room temperature, which may promote a higher stability during storage. The antioxidant activity (AA) values increased for the IN-MX blends, while the viability of the microorganisms increased with the addition of MX. By a surface response plot (SRP) the yield showed a major dependency with the drying temperature and then with the concentration of IN. The work contributes to the use of carbohydrate polymers blends, and to the co-microencapsulation of active ingredients.

Synthesis And Studied Structural and Morphological Properties of 1-Dimensional Zno-Ag2O-Ag Nanowire

1-dimensional zinc oxide (ZnO) - silver oxide (Ag2O) – silver (Ag) nanowire was prepared using a simple and inexpensive bottom-up chemical method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed the presence of diffraction peaks of ZnO and Ag2O with hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO. Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) results showed the presence of energy peaks of Zinc (Zn), Silver (Ag), and Oxygen (O) elements. Filed Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) results showed that the surface morphology is nanowire (1-dimensional structure) with shapes similar to hedgehog spines and have small nanoscale diameters. The present work represents a promising step in the preparation of a 1-dimensional nanowire.

Алгоритм предварительного анализа дифракционных спектров для нанокомпозитных материалов с примесью массивной фракции

This contribution is devoted to discussion of questions related to the influence of a possible contribution from a bulk material on the lineshape of elastic peaks observed in diffraction experiments at neutron and / or X-ray radiation scattering on nanoporous matrices containing substances embedded into their porous space (channels). The proposed algorithm permits to estimate the input of massive component into diffraction peaks using the analysis of the experimentally observed distortions of the lineshape of the Bragg peaks. This preliminary analysis greatly simplifies the profile analysis of nanocomposite diffraction patterns, especially for molecular sieves based on powders of SBA-15, MCM-41, MCM-48, etc. types.

Формирование состава и характеристик поверхности хромоникелевой стали 12Х18Н10Т при лазерном модифицировании в слое экспериментальной легирующей обмазки

The results of an experimental study of laser pulsed modification of the surface of stainless steel 12CR18NI10T in a layer of alloying compound made of graphite paste and nanodispersed titanium dioxide powder (anatase) and without coating are presented. A comparative analysis of the effect of the coating on the elemental and phase compositions, morphological characteristics and microhardness of the modified surface is carried out. It was found that as a result of the treatment, the processes of cementation and oxidation of the surface occur, which made it possible to obtain a mixture of iron carbide and high-strength oxides in the surface layer of steel. In the samples that underwent laser treatment in the coating layer, an increase in the intensity of the diffraction peaks of the graphite phase and the formation of iron oxides Fe3O4 and chromium Cr2O3 with the presence of titanium dioxide TiO2 were revealed, which created a mixed heterophase metal oxide structure with increased mechanical strength. An increase in the microhardness of the modified surface after laser pulsed scanning in the layer of the experimental alloying compound is established.

Bio-mediated Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Fruit Extract of Ananas Comosus L. Merrill (Pineapple)

Silver is an agent used for different wounds and ulcer treatment as it is nontoxic. However, silver in an ionic or Nanoparticles form is highly toxic to microorganisms. Hence, silver Nanoparticles has wide range of applications than silver ion. Over the physical and chemical methods green synthesis is eco-friendly and cost effective. The present study reveals the formation of silver Nanoparticles by using the fruit extract (Ananas Comosus) by observing the colour change. The produced nanoparticles are characterized by the physicochemical techniques, X-ray diffraction, UV-Visible and antimicrobial activity. The diffraction peaks attributed to 2θ values of 38.11˚ and 44.27˚ (111, 200) reveals the formation of silver nanoparticles. UV-Vis spectrophotometer shows Surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) at 459 nm. The antibacterial studies promise the formation of silver nanoparticle with the ability to inhibit growth of Escherichia coli.

Linking topological features of the Hofstadter model to optical diffraction figures

In two, three and even four spatial dimensions, the transverse responses experienced by a charged particle on a lattice in a uniform magnetic field are fully controlled by topological invariants called Chern numbers, which characterize the energy bands of the underlying Hofstadter Hamiltonian. These remarkable features, solely arising from the magnetic translational symmetry, are captured by Diophantine equations which relate the fraction of occupied states, the magnetic flux and the Chern numbers of the system bands. Here we investigate the close analogy between the topological properties of Hofstadter Hamiltonians and the diffraction figures resulting from optical gratings. In particular, we show that there is a one-to-one relation between the above mentioned Diophantine equation and the Bragg condition determining the far-field positions of the optical diffraction peaks. As an interesting consequence of this mapping, we discuss how the robustness of diffraction figures to structural disorder in the grating is a direct analogy of the robustness of transverse conductance in the Quantum Hall effect.

Optical, Structural, Morphological Properties of Chromium (III) Oxide Nanostructure Synthesized Using Spray Pyrolysis Technique

Nanostructure of chromium oxide (Cr2O3-NPs) with rhombohedral structure were successfully prepared by spray pyrolysis technique using Aqueous solution of Chromium (III) chloride CrCl3 as solution. The films were deposited on glass substrates heated to 450°C using X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows the nature of polycrystalline samples. The calculated lattice constant value for the grown Cr2O3 nanostructures is a = b = 4.959 Å & c = 13.594 Å and the average crystallize size (46.3-55.6) nm calculated from diffraction peaks, Spectral analysis revealed FTIR peak characteristic vibrations of Cr-O Extended and Two sharp peaks present at 630 and 578 cm-1 attributed to Cr-O “stretching modes”, are clear evidence of the presence of crystalline Cr2O3. The energy band gap (3.4 eV) for the chromium oxide nanostructures was measured using the UV-VIS-NIR Optical Spectrophotometer. It was found that by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and image results, there is a large amount of nanostructure with an average crystal size of 46.3-55.6 nm, which indicates that our synthesis process is a successful method for preparing Cr2O3 nanoparticles.

Synthesis of Ce/MgO Catalysts for Direct Oxidation of Hibiscus cannabinus Stalks to Vanillin

One possible method of producing vanillin from biomass is through controlled oxidation of lignin. Direct oxidation of kenaf stalks was chosen without having to separate the cellulose and hemicellulose components from the lignocellulosic biomass. This makes the process greener, as well as saving time. In this paper, Ce/MgO catalysts were developed for oxidation of kenaf stalks and kenaf lignin under microwave irradiation. The catalysts were characterized for their physicochemical properties using XRD and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The synthesized MgO showed the presence of diffraction peaks assigned to cubic MgO while the 30Ce/MgO catalysts showed the presence of cubic fluorite of CeO2. N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms showed that all catalysts possess Type III isotherm according to IUPAC classification, indicating a nonporous structure. All catalysts were tested for direct oxidation of kenaf stalks under 300 W of microwave irradiation using H2O2 as the oxidizing agent at pH 11.5 and temperatures between 160 and 180 °C for 10–30 min with 5–15% catalyst loading. The highest vanillin yields of 3.70% and 2.90% for extracted lignin and direct biomass oxidation were achieved using 30Ce/MgO-48. In comparison, 7.80% and 4.45% were obtained using 2N of NaOH homogeneous catalyst for extracted lignin and direct biomass, respectively, at 170 °C for 20 min. The reusability test shows that 30Ce/MgO can be used up to three cycles without significant loss in catalytic activity. Other compounds detected were 4-vinylguaiacol, syringol and syringaldehyde.

Tunable luminescence and cytotoxicity of Samarium-doped calcium–strontium–hydroxyapatite for cell imaging

Samarium (Sm)-doped calcium–strontium–hydroxyapatite (Ca–Sr–HA:Sm) materials were designed and prepared, and the influence of Sr-introduction on the structure, photoluminescence (PL) and cytotoxicity of samples was revealed. The Sr-doping deduces the shift of some diffraction peaks to smaller angles and enlarges the particle size of samples. The typical red– orange emissions and corresponding luminescence quenching of Sm[Formula: see text] were observed, and the optimal luminescence performance appeared when [Formula: see text](Sr) = 7(Sr/Ca = 7/3) and quenching concentration closes to [Formula: see text](Sm) = 0.8 mol.%. The non-radiative transitions and energy transfers due to the dipole–dipole interactions between ions with different symmetry are essential to the luminescence and quenching of Sm[Formula: see text]. Furthermore, the viability values of human HepG2 cells are calculated larger than 90%, and the red–orange color emission was observed when the particles are incubated with cells.

A Composite of (95%) La2CoMnO6+ (5%) Ba0.5Na0.5TiO3 : Study of Structural and Dielectric Properties

This project work reports synthesis, structural and dielectric nature of composite of the type (95%) La2CoMnO6+ (5%) Ba0.5Na0.5TiO3. The composite was characterized at room temperature for structural and dielectric properties. The structural characterization X-ray diffraction was carried for structural confirmation. The XRD data study convey the sample is dual phase in nature evident from the corresponding diffraction peaks. Monoclinic phase was acquired by La2CoMnO6 and the space groupof the phase is P 1 21/n whereas Ba0.5Na0.5TiO3 phase has acquired cubic structure with space group Pm-3m. The frequency dependent dielectric constant examined reveals high dielectric constant which decreases with increase in applied ac field values. Dielectric loss calculated shows the behaviour like dielectric constant which initially decreases abruptly with applied field and later attains frequency independent values. However, the ac conductivity was observed higher in the as synthesized.