Multivariate optimization and comparison between conventional extraction (CE) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of carotenoid extraction from cashew apple

Carotenoids are an essential component of cashew and can be used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, natural pigment, food additives, among other applications. The present work focuses on optimizing and comparing conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods. Every optimization step took place with a 1:1 (w:w) mixture of yellow and red cashew apples lyophilized and ground in a cryogenic mill. A Simplex-centroid design was applied for both methods, and the solvents acetone, methanol, ethanol, and petroleum ether were evaluated. After choosing the extractor solvent, a central composite design was applied to optimize the sample mass (59–201 mg) and extraction time (6–34 min). The optimum conditions for the extractor solvent were 38% acetone, 30% ethanol, and 32% petroleum ether for CE and a mixture of 44% acetone and 56% methanol for UAE. The best experimental conditions for UAE were a sonication time of 19 min and a sample mass of 153 mg, while the CE was 23 min and 136 mg. Comparing red and yellow cashews, red cashews showed a higher carotenoid content in both methodologies. The UAE methodology was ca. 21% faster, presented a more straightforward composition of extracting solution, showed an average yield of superior carotenoid content in all samples compared to CE. Therefore, UAE has demonstrated a simple, efficient, fast, low-cost adjustment methodology and a reliable alternative for other applications involving these bioactive compounds in the studied or similar matrix.     

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of PEDOT:PSS films via ionic liquid post-treatment

Thermoelectric(TE)energy harvesting can effectively convert waste heat into electricity,which is a crucial technology to solve energy concerns.As a promising candidate for energy conversion,poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS)has gained significant attention owing to its easy doping,high transparency,and solution processability.However,the TE performance of PEDOT:PSS still needs to be further enhanced.Herein,different approaches have been applied for tuning the TE properties:(i)direct dipping PEDOT:PSS thin films in ionic liquid;(ii)post-treatment of the films with concentrated sulfuric acid(H₂SO₄),and then dipping in ionic liquid.Besides,the same bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide(TFSI)anion and different cation salts,including 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium(EMIM+)and lithium(Li+),are selected to study the influence of varying cation types on the TE properties of PEDOT:PSS.The Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS film treated with H2SO4EMIM:TFSI increase simultaneously,and the resulting maximum power factor is 46.7μW·m^-1·K^-2,which may be attributed to the ionic liquid facilitating the rearrangement of the molecular chain of PEDOT.The work provides a reference for the development of organic films with high TE properties.     

直接碳燃料电池燃料的研究进展

直接碳燃料电池(DCFC)是一种清洁高效利用碳资源发电的装置。其因能量转换率高,对环境污染小,燃料选择范围广等优点获得了越来越多的关注。DCFC的性能与使用的燃料密切相关,为了探究燃料对DCFC的影响,本文分别阐述了石墨、炭黑、中密度纤维板、生物质、煤、活性炭的特性及改性方法,分析讨论了燃料表面含氧官能团以及燃料中的金属催化剂对阳极电化学反应的促进作用,发现燃料表面化学性质要比比表面积更加重要。同时,本文也提出了对生物质这一优良的可再生资源的期待,为未来DCFC燃料的发展提供参考。     

PASE synthesis of 1-azolyl-1H-1,2,4-triazoles by the reaction of diazoazoles with ethyl isocyanoacetate

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The martingale problem for a class of nonlocal operators of diagonal type

We consider systems of stochastic differential equations of the form $$\begin{array}{c}\hfill d{X}_t^i=\sum _{j=1}^d{A}_{ij}\left(X_{t?}\right)d{Z}_t^j\end{array}$$ for $i=1,?,d$ with continuous, bounded and non‐degenerate coefficients. Here $Z_t^1,?,Z_t^d$ are independent one‐dimensional stable processes with ${\alpha }_1,?,{\alpha }_d\in (0,2)$. In this article we research on uniqueness of weak solutions to such systems by studying the corresponding martingale problem. We prove the uniqueness of weak solutions in the case of diagonal coefficient matrices.     

Singular Hamiltonian elliptic systems with critical exponential growth in dimension two

We will focus on the existence of nontrivial solutions to the following Hamiltonian elliptic system where are numbers belonging to the interval [0, 2), V is a continuous potential bounded below on by a positive constant and the functions f and g possess exponential growth range established by Trudinger–Moser inequalities in Lorentz–Sobolev spaces. The proof involves linking theorem and a finite‐dimensional approximation.     

Weighted estimates for the multilinear maximal function on the upper half‐spaces

For a general dyadic grid, we give a Calderón–Zygmund type decomposition, which is the principle fact about the multilinear maximal function on the upper half‐spaces. Using the decomposition, we study the boundedness of . We obtain a natural extension to the multilinear setting of Muckenhoupt's weak‐type characterization. We also partially obtain characterizations of Muckenhoupt's strong‐type inequalities with one weight. Assuming the reverse Hölder's condition, we get a multilinear analogue of Sawyer's two weight theorem. Moreover, we also get Hytönen–Pérez type weighted estimates.     

A dynamic free-entry oligopoly with sluggish entry and exit adjustments

We study a dynamic free-entry oligopoly with sluggish entry and exit of firms under general demand and cost functions. We show that the number of firms in a steady-state open-loop solution for a dynamic free-entry oligopoly is smaller than that at static equilibrium and that the number of firms in a steady-state memoryless closed-loop solution is larger than that in an open-loop solution.