Comparison of the Structural Evolution of β Polypropylene During the Sequential and Simultaneous Biaxial Stretching Process

In this paper, the lamellar structural evolution and microvoids variations of β-iPP during the processing of two different stretching methods, sequential biaxial stretching and simultaneous biaxial stretching, were investigated in detail. It was found that different stretching methods led to significantly different lamellae deformation modes, and the microporous membranes obtained from the simultaneous biaxial stretching exhibited better mechanical properties. For the sequential biaxial stretching, abundant coarse fibers originated from the tight accumulation of the lamellae parallel to the longitudinal stretching direction, whereas the lamellae perpendicular to the stretching direction were easily deformed and separated. Those coarse fibers were difficult to be separated to form micropores during the subsequent transverse stretching process, resulting in a poor micropores distribution. However, for the simultaneous biaxial stretching, the β crystal had the same deformation mode, that is, the lamellae distributed in different directions were all destroyed, forming abundant microvoids and little coarse fibers formation.

The Effect of Dye and Pigment Concentrations on the Diameter of Melt-Electrospun Polylactic Acid Fibers

Sub-microfibers and nanofibers produce more breathable fabrics than coarse fibers and are therefore widely used in the textiles industry. They are prepared by electrospinning using a polymer solution or melt. Solution electrospinning produces finer fibers but requires toxic solvents. Melt electrospinning is more environmentally friendly, but is also technically challenging due to the low electrical conductivity and high viscosity of the polymer melt. Here we describe the use of colorants as additives to improve the electrical conductivity of polylactic acid (PLA). The addition of colorants increased the viscosity of the melt by >100%, but reduced the electrical resistance by >80% compared to pure PLA (5 GΩ). The lowest electrical resistance of 50 MΩ was achieved using a composite containing 3% (w/w) indigo. However, the thinnest fibers (52.5 µm, 53% thinner than pure PLA fibers) were obtained by adding 1% (w/w) alizarin. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that fibers containing indigo featured polymer aggregates that inhibited electrical conductivity, and thus increased the fiber diameter. With further improvements to avoid aggregation, the proposed melt electrospinning process could complement or even replace industrial solution electrospinning and dyeing.

Population, Morphology and Ultrastructures Gonads Adaptation Changed Between Unsuitable and Original Breeding Habitats in Oncomelania hupensis

Background: Weishan Lake and its surrounding areas represent an important water conduit and storage reservoirs for the Eastern Route due to the South to North Water Diversion Project. It was listed as a potential endemic area for schistosomiasis by the Ministry of Health Schistosomiasis Advisory Committee. Oncomelania hupensis is the unique intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum in China. To determine whether Oncomelania hupensis could establish colonies in Weishan Lake once introduced from original habitat, in May 2004, 2000 adult Oncomelania hupensis were transplanted from the original habitat to isolated snail cages in Weishan Lake. Results: From October 2005 to October 2016, Oncomelania hupensis were bred in isolated snail cages in Weishan Lake, and samples of the original habitats were collected. The population was monitored, and the morphology of Oncomelania hupensis was measured. Gonads were sectioned and observed under transmission electron microscopy. Oncomelania hupensis could still continually reproduce its population 12 years after transplantation to Weishan Lake. Comparing the morphology with that of animals from the original habitat, it was found that the snail shell length, shell width and aperture width decreased in 2005, and significant changes were observed in the ultrastructure of sperms (axoneme and the 9+2 the axoneme coarse fibers were absent, and chromatin density decreased in the head of the sperm cells) and oocytes (nucleus swelling, endoplasmic reticulum, pale vesicles and lipidosomes decreased and chromatin was absent) of snails breeding in Weishan Lake.Conclusions: Although abnormal development of the ultrastructure of Oncomelania hupensis reproductive gonad was observed, they still survived for 12 years, which might reflect a survival strategy in which the snail trades a degree of fecundity to survive though harsh winters.

Micro-Fibrillated Cellulose Fabrication from Empty Fruit Bunches of Oil Palm

Micro-fibrillated celluloses (MFCs) are made from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB). EFB is processed through several stages of the process, including washing, alkalization, and bleaching to remove impurities, lignin, and hemicellulose. Each treatment stage was characterized by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis. Morphological analysis was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The process results show that MFC has an average length and thickness of 450 and 80 microns for coarse fibers respectively, averaging 50 and 5 microns for fine fibers, respectively. Fibrillation fibers appear on the surface of fibers which are treated using alkalization and bleaching processes. The TGA results showed a decrease in weight occurred at a temperature of 40 to 109 °C for the first stage of the heating process and at a temperature of 247 to 382 °C for the second stage. The decrease in fiber weight is caused by evaporation of water content and degradation of cellulose compounds at each stage. The glass transition temperature of MFC was obtained at 236 °C. The thermal stability of cellulose from fibers treated using alkalization and bleaching processes proved the formation of cellulose crystals. Removal of lignin and hemicellulose is shown by the absorption of O-H and C-C bonds in FTIR spectroscopy. From these results, it is stated that micro-fibrillation cellulose is formed well through a series of processes given.

Trends in the Production, Consumption, Import of Vegetables and Potatoes in the Russian Federation

Vegetables and potatoes are the most valuable food and sources of vitamins, coarse fibers, biologically active substances and amino acids for a human being. The consumption of vegetables has a beneficial effect on the human health. The growing population in the world causes the increase in the production of vegetable crops and potatoes. Over the recent decade the world production of vegetables and potatoes has been constantly increasing. The production grows mainly due to the leading countries: China, India, the USA, and Turkey. The Russian Federation is the eighth in the world by the production, and is one of the main importers of these products in the world. In the present article, the production and consumption of potatoes and vegetables in the Russian Federation have been ana-lyzed. The statistical data on federal districts have been analyzed for the following indicators: volumes of production and consumption, and import by federal districts. Besides, the cultivated areas, the yield and production by categories of farms of the Russian Federation have been considered. The factors that have impact on the development of the vege-tables and potatoes production have been determined. The areas for solving the problems associated with the market of vegetables and potatoes in the regions have been suggested. The indicators of vegetables and potatoes production and consumption (for food purposes) in the Russian Federation have been calculated.

Effect of Density and Fiber Size on Porosity and Thermal Conductivity of Fiberboard Mats

The thermal conductivity and porosity of fiberboard mats are crucial parameters for efficient energy consumption of the hot-pressing process and for final panel quality. In this work, the effect of fiber size and mat density on porosity and thermal conductivity of the mat were investigated. The fiber size was characterized as fine, medium and coarse. The mat porosity was measured by image analysis using the black and white contrast method. The thermal conductivity was determined at different density levels with a temperature gradient of 1.6 °C mm−1 and 7.6% (s = 0.3) moisture content. The results showed that fiber size was a dominant variable governing heat conduction and mat porosity. The mats made with medium size fibers showed a higher resistance to compression. The thermal conductivity of coarse fiber mats decreased drastically between 700 kg m−3 and 810 kg m−3. This was likely due to a higher fracture frequency observed for coarse fibers in comparison to the other fiber sizes studied. Hence, the fine and medium fibers conducted heat more efficiently. Moreover, fiber bundles and fractured fibers were observed during the mat porosity measurements, principally in mats made with fine fiber size.

Conceptual description of the llama fleece structure and the potential of classing and dehairing

For an overall description of llama fiber, its fleece structure and differences between fleece types are illustrated schematically, defined through a resumed evaluation, and determined as a compound of different fiber types. A dissection method is described and 252 samples of llama fleeces were dissected forming three fiber groups, within which fine, medium, and coarse fibers are gathered separately and, therefore, a dehairing process is simulated. Taking the group of fine fibers as a reference for the product to be obtained by dehairing, an average dehairing yield of 69% was calculated, which varies depending on the fineness of the fleece. The following fiber attributes were analyzed: fiber diameter, fiber length, crimp frequency, and crimp type. These were evaluated within fiber groups and among fleece types. The process of fleece classing regarding fineness is simulated through successively excluding coarse fleeces when evaluating the results. As a step previous to dehairing, and in order to assemble the most homogenous raw material, the necessity of fleece classing regarding fineness and type was confirmed. Fleece classing regarding fineness including only fleeces with a total mean fiber diameter lower than 28 µm and a subsequent dehairing process resulted in a mean of 21.6 µm for the group of fine fibers, with 96% of the fleeces with a mean fiber diameter of the group of fine fibers lower than 25 µm and 61% lower than 22 µm. We conclude that this segment of fine fibers reflects the potential of llama fiber as a textile raw material.

Pressure drop, penetration and quality factor of filter paper containing nanofibers

Nanofiber has shown outstanding performance in many studies. Blending nanofibers into fibrous filter media is a promising way to improve the filtration performance. This paper discussed the modeling method for multi-fiber filter paper and the proper way to apply nanofiber into filter paper. Sixteen different filter papers were prepared and these filter papers covered the range of coarse-fiber-dominant and fine-fiber-dominant fibrous structure. The theoretical modeling method in this study for pressure drop and penetration of multi-fiber filter paper showed accurate results compared with the experiment data. It was found that for the higher quality factor, the nanofibers should be effectively separated by the coarse fibers. This study presented the idea of the fiber's effective contribution to filtration efficiency, which can lead to a comprehensive and distinct understanding of fibrous structure and filtration properties.

POTENSI PREBIOTIK NASI UNGU

The aim of this research is to analyze the preference level and prebiotic potency of purple rice that is preffered by group of people in Bali. Purple rice with various pasta proportions, which are 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 g added to 700 g of rice and tested of preference level. The next part was analyzing the Organoleptic and prebiotic capacity of the best purple rice were tested. Prebiotic capacity testing using Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus acidophillus cultured in MRS modified media plus coarse fibers of purple rice and used control of fibers of fresh sweet potato, sweet potato pasta, rice and cooked rice. Parameters observed were preferable level of purple rice, probiotic bacteria growth and prebiotic activity score. This research were designed as Completely Randomized Design (RAL) with 2 replicates and data of the results were analyze at variation of 95% reliance interval and, if there was real difference, it would be continued by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The results of research indicated that purple rice made of ratio of 100 g rice: 300 g mixture was preferably by panelists. Prebiotic activity score of purple rice was higher than white rice, -0.006 + 0.2 for Bifidobacterium longum and -0.015 + 05 for Lactobacillus acidophilus were means that purple rice has best capacity to become a prebiotic than cooked rice or white rice.