Controlling the yield behavior of fat-oil mixtures using cooling rate

The rheological behavior such as yielding of fat crystal networks are dictated by many variables. Among these variables, the shape of the constituent fat cluster is important yet relatively unexplored. In this work, we describe the rheological investigations of a fat-oil system which can be formulated to either contain bundles of needles or spherical clusters by controlling the cooling rate and fat concentration. Fat-oil mixtures containing high-fat concentrations exhibited weak frequency dependence of storage modulus (G ^′) and loss modulus (G ^″). The yielding behavior of the mixtures were investigated by large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) rheology using strain and stress controlled modes. Lissajous-Bowditch plots and orthogonal set of Chebyshev polynomials were used to analyze the non-linearities associated with the yielded fat-oil mixtures. For a given fat concentration, the yield stress of fat networks obtained at low cooling rates (bundles of needles) were similar to that of networks obtained at high cooling rates (spherical clusters). However, after yielding, Lissajous-Bowditch plots suggested that the mixtures comprising of bundles of needles exhibited viscous-like behavior while the spherical clusters exhibited a plastic-like behavior. This was further supported by microscopy images of yielded fat-oil mixtures. Overall, for a given fat concentration, the two different shapes of fat clusters can give rise to networks of similar yield stress values but different behaviors after yielding.     

The crystal and molecular structures of 3,3,6,6-Tetramethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,5-dione and 6,6-Dibromo-1,3,3-Trimethylbicyclo[2.2.2] octane-2,5-dione

The X-ray crystal structures of two bicyclic diketones have been determined. 3,3,6,6-Tetramethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,5-dione, C₁₁H₁₆O₂ (A), is monoclinic,C2/c (No. 15), with cell dimensionsa=9.071(3),b=9.748(5),c=12.322(6)Å,=110.15(3)°, andZ=4. The structure was determined by direct methods and refined toR ₁=0.065,R ₂=0.052 for 570 reflections. 6,6-Dibromo-1,3,3-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2,5-dione, C₁₁H₁₄Br₂O₂ (D), is orthorhombic,Pcab, (No. 61), with cell dimensionsa=11.206(3),b=18.818(6),c=11.695(4) Å, andZ=8. The structure was solved by the heavy-atom method and refined toR ₁=0.070,R ₂=0.065 for 1210 reflections. Bond lengths and angles within both structures do not differ from those in similar structures. The opening up of the internal ring angle of the ketone inA (vs. a normal bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane) and the consequent decrease of the adjacent internal ring angle brings the ketone carbon atoms nearer to the hydrogen atoms of the bridging methylene group.     

Modelling investigation on the thermal conductivity of pure liquid,vapour, and supercritical refrigerants and their mixtures by using Heyen EOS

This work presents a literature survey of the available data regarding the thermal conductivity of refrigerants. About 31 pure refrigerants that contain 7127 data points are selected for the temperature range of 91.35–580.00 K, a pressure range of (0.000111-500) bar, and thermal conductivity range of (0.007–0.27) W m^?1 K^?1 containing liquid, vapour, and supercritical phases. Seven binary and three ternary mixtures are also collected both in liquid and vapour phases with an overall of 803 data points. Based on the similarity between the pressure-volume-temperature and Tλ (thermal conductivity) P diagrams, the thermal conductivity model based on Heyen equation of state has been developed for pure refrigerants and their mixtures. The genetic algorithm is used to determine the adjustable parameters of the model. The calculation results prove that this proposed model can reproduce and predict thermal conductivity of refrigerants with good accuracy (overall AAD = 6.85% for pure compounds, AAD = 6.14% for binary mixtures and AAD = 9.32% for ternary mixtures).     

p‐toluenesulfonic acid‐catalyzed synthesis of polysubstituted quinolines via Friedländer reaction under ball‐milling conditions at room temperature and theoretical study on the mechanism using a density functional theory method

The synthesis of polysubstituted quinolines was accomplished through Friedländer annulation between 2‐aminoaryl ketones and different active methylene compounds at room temperature using ball‐milling technique in the presence of p‐toluenesulfonic acid. The mechanism of the reaction investigated by density functional theory‐based modeling is also reported. This study aims at giving insight into the mechanism of the Friedländer reaction in the presence of acid catalysts. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Elasticity solution for free vibration analysis of four-parameter functionally graded fiber orientation cylindrical panels using differential quadrature method

In this paper, three-dimensional free vibrations analysis of a four-parameter functionally graded fiber orientation cylindrical panel is presented. The panel is simply supported at the edges and assumed to have an arbitrary variation of fiber orientation in the radial direction. A generalization of the power-law distribution presented in literature is proposed. Symmetric and asymmetric fiber orientation profiles are studied in this paper. Suitable displacement functions that identically satisfy the boundary conditions at the simply supported edges are used to reduce the equilibrium equations to a set of coupled ordinary differential equations with variable coefficients, which can be solved by differential quadrature method to obtain the natural frequency. The main contribution of this work is to illustrate the influence of the power-law exponent, of the power-law distribution choice and of the choice of the four parameters on the natural frequencies of continuous grading fiber orientation cylindrical panels. Numerical results are presented for a cylindrical panel with arbitrary variation of fiber orientation in the shell’s thickness and compared with discrete laminates composite panels. It is shown maximum natural frequencies will be obtained by using symmetric fiber orientation profiles.     

A novel 2-D six-parameter power-law distribution for free vibration and vibrational displacements of two-dimensional functionally graded fiber-reinforced curved panels

As a first endeavor, the three-dimensional free vibration and vibrational displacements characteristics of two-dimensional functionally graded fiber-reinforced (2-D FGFR) curved panels with different boundary conditions are presented. This paper presents a novel 2-D six-parameter power-law distribution for fiber volume fractions of 2-D FGFR that gives designers a powerful tool for design flexible of structures under multi-functional requirements. Various material profiles in two radial and axial directions can be illustrated using the six-parameter power-law distribution. The study is carried out based on the three-dimensional, linear and small strain elasticity theory. In this work, orthotropic panel is assumed to be simply supported at one pair of opposite edges and arbitrary boundary conditions at the other edges such that trigonometric functions expansion can be used to satisfy the boundary conditions precisely at simply supported edges. The 2-D generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM) as an efficient and accurate numerical tool is used to discretize the governing equations and to implement the boundary conditions. The convergence of the method is demonstrated and to validate the results, comparisons are made with the available solutions for FGM curved panels. Results indicate by using the 2-D six-parameter power-law distribution, it is possible to study the influence of different kinds of two-directional material profiles including symmetric and classic on the natural frequencies and modal displacements of a 2-D FGFR panel. Furthermore, maximum amplitude and uniformity of modal displacements distributions can be modified to a required manner by selecting suitable different parameters of 2-D power-law distribution and several various volume fractions profiles in two directions.     

2.45 GHz Microwave Irradiation-Induced Oxidative Stress Affects Implantation or Pregnancy in Mice, Mus musculus

The present experiment was designed to study the 2.45 GHz low-level microwave (MW) irradiation-induced stress response and its effect on implantation or pregnancy in female mice. Twelve-week-old mice were exposed to MW radiation (continuous wave for 2 h/day for 45 days, frequency 2.45 GHz, power density?=?0.033549 mW/cm², and specific absorption rate?=?0.023023 W/kg). At the end of a total of 45 days of exposure, mice were sacrificed, implantation sites were monitored, blood was processed to study stress parameters (hemoglobin, RBC and WBC count, and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio), the brain was processed for comet assay, and plasma was used for nitric oxide (NO), progesterone and estradiol estimation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the activities of ROS-scavenging enzymes— superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase—were determined in the liver, kidney and ovary. We observed that implantation sites were affected significantly in MW-irradiated mice as compared to control. Further, in addition to a significant increase in ROS, hemoglobin (p?<?0.001), RBC and WBC counts (p?<?0.001), N/L ratio (p?<?0.01), DNA damage (p?<?0.001) in brain cells, and plasma estradiol concentration (p?<?0.05), a significant decrease was observed in NO level (p?<?0.05) and antioxidant enzyme activities of MW-exposed mice. Our findings led us to conclude that a low level of MW irradiation-induced oxidative stress not only suppresses implantation, but it may also lead to deformity of the embryo in case pregnancy continues. We also suggest that MW radiation-induced oxidative stress by increasing ROS production in the body may lead to DNA strand breakage in the brain cells and implantation failure/resorption or abnormal pregnancy in mice.     

Response of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Patterned and Randomly Oriented Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Nano-fibrous Scaffolds Surface-Modified with Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) Ligand

The aim of this study was to obtain a better insight of how nano-fibrous scaffolds can affect human mesenchymal stem cells responses. Therefore, in this study, using electrospinning technique, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nano-fibers with two different patterns were prepared. In the first structure, PVA nano-fibers were oriented randomly and in the second structure, nano-fibers were electrospun in such a way that a special pattern was obtained. In order to enhance their stability, scaffolds were cross-linked using glutaraldehyde vapor. RGD immobilization was used to improve cell adhesion properties of the scaffolds. SEM micrographs demonstrated that the cell adhesion was effectively enhanced after RGD immobilization and higher cell densities were observed on RGD-modified scaffolds. Randomly oriented nano-fibers showed better cell adhesion compared to patterned structure. Patterned structure also revealed slightly lower cell viability compared to random nano-fibers. Finally, it was assumed that randomly oriented nano-fibers provide a more favorable surface for cells.     

Facile Synthesis of Tris(alkoxydimethylsilyl)methane Derivatives via Alcoholysis Under Open-Flask and Mild Conditions

The reactions between a variety of functionalized alcohols and tris(dimethylsilyl)methane, (HMe₂Si)₃CH, are described. Alcohols such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 2-chloroethanol, 1-octanol, benzyl alcohol, glycidol, and allyl alcohol were converted in the presence of Karstedt's catalyst into the corresponding tris(alkoxydimethylsilyl)methanes, (ROMe₂Si)₃CH, in a convenient one-pot operation under aerobic conditions. The appearance of the products coincides with the generation of colloidal Pt(0) species. Moreover, poly(4-chloromethyl)styrene containing tris(dimethylsilyl)methyl groups reacts with benzyl alcohol or 2-chloroethanol in the presence of Karstedt's catalyst to give new macromolecules bearing tris(alkoxydimethylsilyl)methyl groups. The reaction rate is greatly influenced by the concentration of catalyst.