Box-Behnken Experimental Design Research Articles

Sustainable Utilization of Mushroom By-Products Processed with a Combined Osmotic Dehydration Pretreatment and a Hot-Air-Drying Step.

Mushroom production and consumption are gaining increased interest due to their unique flavor and nutritional value. However, in the mushroom industry, large amounts of by-products are generated, which have a high negative environmental and economic impact. In this study, an osmotic dehydration process followed by hot-air-drying was applied to mushroom stems to produce dried mushrooms as the end product. The osmotic dehydration conditions (concentration of hypertonic solution, specifically, 10-30% maltodextrin and 20-40% oligofructose; a treatment time of 40-80 min; and a temperature range of 30-50 °C) were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The results showed that a four-factor three-level Box-Behnken experimental design was effectively implemented to evaluate the effect of the process parameters and identify the optimal osmotic dehydration conditions for producing osmotically dehydrated mushrooms. The main factor affecting mass transfer was the osmosis temperature, and the optimal conditions were found to be 38 °C, 40% oligofructose and 19.3% maltodextrin as the osmotic agents, and 80 min of immersion time. Moreover, the results showed that osmotic pretreatment, in the optimal conditions, significantly reduced the required drying time of the by-products compared to traditional hot-air-drying, especially at milder drying temperatures. Consequently, the required energy was also reduced by at least 40% at 50 °C.

Elucidating co-conditioning strategies of aluminium-based sludge using natural biopolymeric magnetite composite for leveraging dewaterability

Significant co-conditioning of aluminum-based sludge using alternative conditioner (natural biopolymer-magnetite/H2O2) as a Fenton conditioner for improving the sludge dewaterability is investigated in the current study. Firstly, natural biopolymer/magnetite (NBP-M) were prepared in various ratios and the samples labeled as (NBP-M-(1:1); NBP-M-(1:3) and NBP-M-(2:1). Focuses were placed on factors influencing such novel Fenton conditioner. Capillary suction time (CST) was utilized to assess sludge dewaterability. Experiments have exhibited that significant development of alum sludge dewaterability could be attained at minimum reaction time and using low concentrations of the applied catalyst, i.e. natural biopolymer/magnetite and H2O2. It was found that sludge conditioning and dewaterability became better with increasing both reagents concentrations. A Box–Behnken experimental design based on the response surface methodology was investigated to explore the optimum of the influencing variables, i.e. catalyst (NBP-M) concentration, H2O2 loading and pH. The optimized values for NBP-M, H2O2, and pH are 46 and 380 mg/L, respectively at pH 3.0, at which the CST reduction efficiency of 58 ± 3% can be attained, this approved with that predicted by an established polynomial model in the current investigation.

Optimization of 3D printing formulation of shrimp surimi based on response surface method

The Box-Behnken experimental design is an optimization statistical tool. In this study, shrimp surimi was taken as the research object, Box-Behnken experiment design and regression analysis were used, and the addition of cross-linked starch (CLS), soy protein isolate (SPI) and lard oil (LO) were used as experimental factors. The purpose was to explore the effects of adding different mixed ingredients on the properties of shrimp surimi. The study found that in order to improve the accuracy and stability of 3D printing of shrimp surimi, the material characteristics should meet two conditions at the same time: (i) Water holding capacity is controlled between 89% and 92%; (ii) AF value is controlled between 3500 and 4500 Pa·S1/z. When the addition amount of 3.00% LO, 4.50% CLS, and SPI was controlled between 1.58% and 6.53%, or when the addition amount of 3.00% LO, 4.50% SPI, and CLS was controlled between 1.80% and 6.75%, the above two conditions can be met at the same time, making the material properties of shrimp surimi conducive to 3D printing. This study determined the optimization range of the added amount of mixed ingredients to improve the adaptability of 3D printed shrimp surimi, which could meet the needs of consumers for personalized nutritious diets and improve the added value of shrimp surimi products.

Waste-derived activated carbons for effective adsorptive removal of strontium, barium, and binary pollutants: A response surface methodology study

A double-pronged approach to pollution management is proposed by sustainably managing solid wastes and converting them to activated carbons that are then utilized for water treatment. In this study, gas-to-liquids (GTL) derived biosolids, carboard and their mixed samples are used to produce the activated carbons. In a laboratory batch study, a Box-Behnken experimental design was used with four factors and three levels to optimize the removal of single component strontium and barium, and the binary system of pollutants from an aqueous solution. The design incorporated response surface modeling (RSM) techniques with a total of 29 different experimental data points collected and analyzed in this study. The study was conducted considering four parameters: the initial pH of the solution (ranging from 4.0 to 8.0), temperature (ranging from 20 to 40 ℃), the percentage of cardboard (fixed at 0 %, 50 %, and 100 %), and the amount of adsorbent (between 0.05 and 0.5 g). These factors were assigned three levels, represented as −1, 0, and 1. A second-order polynomial regression equation was then developed to estimate the responses. The statistical significance of the independent variables and their interactions was assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a 95 % confidence level (α = 0.05). The results revealed that only temperature and dosage show significant effects on the responses and that optimum values of the selected parameters were obtained by solving the prediction equations, which were validated with less than 4 % error %. In an attempt to optimize the factors, a pH of 5.5, temperature of 40 ℃ and dose of 0.3 g is found for all three samples. Validation results for optimization also proved that varying the percentage cardboard showed little difference in the percentage removal of all the pollutants. The results from this study can be directly applied for any such systems trying to optimize these parameters and the prediction equations can be utilized effectively.

A ropivacaine-eluting poly(lactide-co-caprolactone) wound dressing provided enhanced analgesia in partial-thickness porcine injuries.

Partial-thickness skin wounds are some of the most painful injuries due to large areas of exposed nerve endings. These injuries often require systemic opioid treatments to manage pain adequately. However, in 2021 alone, the CDC reported nearly 17,000 prescription opioid-related deaths in the USA, highlighting the ongoing need for non-opioid treatment strategies. In this manuscript, we developed a novel single-application ropivacaine-eluting primary wound dressing that could provide sustained ropivacaine delivery to partial-thickness wounds and assessed its in vivo feasibility for prolonged non-opioid analgesia. Sustained release of ropivacaine from a poly(lactide-co-e-caprolactone) matrix was first optimized in vitro using dissolution testing and a Box Behnken design of experiments. The optimized dressing was then tested against a clinical control silicone dressing in a porcine partial-thickness wound study to assess analgesic effect, pharmacokinetics, and wound healing. The ropivacaine-eluting dressing showed a moderate analgesic effect in vivo, where normalized single pinprick scores significantly improved pain over the testing period (4-168h) (control vs treatment: 232±25% vs 145±16%, p<0.0003). Ropivacaine blood plasma levels peaked at 8 hours post-treatment, with a maximum concentration of 246 ± 74 ng/mL. No significant differences in wound healing were found when compared to control. The ropivacaine-loaded poly(lactide-co-e-caprolactone)-based wound dressing provided sustained delivery of ropivacaine to partial-thickness skin wounds and enhanced analgesic effect compared to a clinical standard control dressing.

Optimization of the fermentation media and growth conditions of Bacillus velezensis BHZ-29 using a Plackett-Burman design experiment combined with response surface methodology.

Bacillus velezensis occurs extensively in the soil environment. It produces a range of antimicrobial compounds that play an important role in the field of biological control. However, during the actual application process it is often affected by factors such as the medium formulation and fermentation conditions, and therefore biocontrol measures often do not achieve their expected outcomes. In this study, the B. velezensis BHZ-29 strain was used as the research object. The carbon and nitrogen sources, and inorganic salts that affect the number of viable bacteria and antibacterial potency of B. velezensis BHZ-29, were screened by a single factor test. A Plackett-Burman design experiment was conducted to determine the significant factors affecting the number of viable bacteria and antibacterial potency, and a Box-Behnken design experiment was used to obtain the optimal growth of B. velezensis BHZ-29. The medium formula that produced the highest number of viable bacteria and most antibacterial substances was determined. The initial pH, temperature, amount of inoculant, liquid volume, shaking speed, and culture time were determined by a single factor test. The factors that had a significant influence on the number of viable bacteria of B. velezensis BHZ-29 were selected by an orthogonal test. A Box-Behnken design experiment was conducted to obtain the optimal fermentation conditions, and highest number of viable bacteria and antibacterial titer. Molasses, peptone, and magnesium sulfate had significant effects on the viable count and antibacterial titer of B. velezensis BHZ-29. The viable count of B. velezensis BHZ-29 increased from 7.83 × 109 to 2.17 × 1010 CFU/mL, and the antibacterial titer increased from 111.67 to 153.13 mm/mL when the optimal media were used. The optimal fermentation conditions for B. velezensis BHZ-29 were as follows: temperature 25.57°C, pH 7.23, culture time 95.90 h, rotation speed 160 rpm, amount of inoculant 2%, and liquid volume 100 ml. After the optimization of fermentation conditions, the number of viable bacteria increased to 3.39 × 1010 CFU/mL, and the bacteriostatic titer increased to 158.85 mm/ml.The plant height and leaf number of cotton plants treated with BHZ-29 fermentation broth were higher than those of cotton inoculated with Verticillium dahliae. The number of bacteria was 1.15 × 107 CFU/g, and the number of fungi was 1.60 × 105 spores/g. The disease index of the cotton seedlings treated with the optimized fermentation broth was 2.2, and a control effect of 93.8% was achieved. B. velezensis BHZ-29 could reduce the disease index of cotton Verticillium wilt and had a controlling effect on the disease. The best effect was achieved in the treatment group with an inoculation concentration of 2 × 108 CFU/ml, the disease index was 14.50, and a control effect of 84.18% was achieved. The fermentation process parameters of the number of viable bacteria and antibacterial titer by strain B. velezensis BHZ-29 were optimized to lay a foundation for the practical production and application of strain B. velezensis BHZ-29 in agriculture.

Harvesting optimization and Omega-3 recovery improvement from Schizochytrium DT3 using surfactant-aided dispersed air flotation: Response surface methodology

Microalgae's potential to produce high value bioactives is contingent on the cost-effective harvesting of algal biomass. The use of CTAB (cetyl trimethylammonium bromide) assisted dispersed air flotation as a harvesting technique for Schizochytrium biomass, was optimized as a cost-effective means for recovery (R) and concentration factor (CF) using Response Surface Methodology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to employ surfactant assisted dispersed air flotation (SDAF) in the recovery of a heterotrophic thraustochytrid strain. A Box-Behnken design of experiment investigating the operating parameters of CTAB amount, air flow rate and volume on Schizochytrium was employed. Initially, both responses were analyzed individually and then used to simultaneously maximize both variables. The optimized conditions of CTAB (500 mg/L), air flow of 2 L/min and volume of 600 mL resulted in a R of 91 % and CF of 19 times. Although a secondary step is necessary for further concentration, this technique utilizes 70 times less energy as compared to conventional centrifugation techniques which are used to recover Schizochytrium sp. This is significant as this technique can be easily adapted to existing bioreactors, as they are already equipped with gas spargers. In addition, the presence of surfactant carried through demonstrated an improvement in the recovery of long chain poly unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) by 6 %, particularly in DHA and DPA which was not observed in washed biomass.

Supercritical CO2 Extraction of Fatty Acids, Phytosterols, and Volatiles from Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) Fruit.

Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is a coastal Mediterranean aromatic medicinal plant rich in essential oil components, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Studies highlight the potential health benefits of myrtle bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antiproliferative properties. Since limited research exists on myrtle fruit's lipid fraction, the aim of this study was to apply supercritical CO2 extraction to obtain bioactive compounds from myrtle berries focusing on the fatty acids, sterols, and essential oils. The optimization of the supercritical CO2 extraction of myrtle fruit using CO2 as solvent was carried out using the response surface methodology with Box-Behnken experimental design. The following conditions were tested: temperature (40, 50, and 60 °C), pressure (200, 300, and 400 bar), and flow rate (20, 30, and 40 g min-1) on the yield of lipid extract as well as on the yield of fatty acids, phytosterols, and volatiles present in the extract and constituting its bioactive potential. In the extracts examined, 36 fatty acids, 7 phytosterols, and 13 volatiles were identified. The average yield of the extract was 5.20%, the most abundant identified fatty acid was essential cis-linolenic acid (76.83%), almost 90% of the total phytosterols were β-sitosterol (12,465 mg kg-1), while myrtenyl acetate (4297 mg kg-1) was the most represented volatile compound. The optimal process conditions obtained allow the formulation of extracts with specific compositions.

Optimization of preparation conditions for Salsola laricifolia protoplasts using response surface methodology and artificial neural network modeling

BackgroundSalsola laricifolia is a typical C3–C4 typical desert plant, belonging to the family Amaranthaceae. An efficient single-cell system is crucial to study the gene function of this plant. In this study, we optimized the experimental conditions by using Box-Behnken experimental design and Response Surface Methodology (RSM)-Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model based on the previous studies.ResultsAmong the 17 experiment groups designed by Box-Behnken experimental design, the maximum yield (1.566 × 106/100 mg) and the maximum number of viable cells (1.367 × 106/100 mg) were obtained in group 12, and the maximum viability (90.81%) was obtained in group 5. Based on these results, both the RSM and ANN models were employed for evaluating the impact of experimental factors. By RSM model, cellulase R-10 content was the most influential factor on protoplast yield, followed by macerozyme R-10 content and mannitol concentration. For protoplast viability, the macerozyme R-10 content had the highest influence, followed by cellulase R-10 content and mannitol concentration. The RSM model performed better than the ANN model in predicting yield and viability. However, the ANN model showed significant improvement in predicting the number of viable cells. After comprehensive evaluation of the protoplast yield, the viability and number of viable cells, the optimal results was predicted by ANN yield model and tested. The amount of protoplast yield was 1.550 × 106/100 mg, with viability of 90.65% and the number of viable cells of 1.405 × 106/100 mg. The corresponding conditions were 1.98% cellulase R-10, 1.00% macerozyme R-10, and 0.50 mol L−1 mannitol. Using the obtained protoplasts, the reference genes (18SrRNA, β-actin and EF1-α) were screened for expression, and transformed with PEG-mediated pBI121-SaNADP-ME2-GFP plasmid vector. There was no significant difference in the expression of β-actin and EF1-α before and after treatment, suggesting that they can be used as internal reference genes in protoplast experiments. And SaNADP-ME2 localized in chloroplasts.ConclusionThe current study validated and evaluated the effectiveness and results of RSM and ANN in optimizing the conditions for protoplast preparation using S. laricifolia as materials. These two methods can be used independently of experimental materials, making them suitable for isolating protoplasts from other plant materials. The selection of the number of viable cells as an evaluation index for protoplast experiments is based on its ability to consider both protoplast yield and viability. The findings of this study provide an efficient single-cell system for future genetic experiments in S. laricifolia and can serve as a reference method for preparing protoplasts from other materials.

Formulation and Evaluation of Gambier (Uncaria gambir)-Chitosan Microparticle Intranasal Delivery for Alzheimer’s Diseases

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the most common form of dementia continues to be the deadliest neuro degenerative disease in recent years. Despite significant efforts to mitigate the progression of the disease, there is no known cure and development towards a more effective treatment is still lacking. AD is marked by exceptionally low amount of acetylcholine in the brain, formation of tau protein, and amyloid beta plaque. Current drugs of choice for treating AD, namely donepezil and memantine, are acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors which focused on delaying the onset of cognitive decline by maintaining acetylcholine concentration. Gambier water extract (GWE) contains high level of polyphenols which act as an antioxidant, exhibit strong correlation with AChE inhibitor. The aim of this research is to formulate and encapsulate GWE inside a microparticle system composed of chitosan and different crosslinkers, STPP (IMGS) and CaCl2 (IMGC), which were then characterized as AChE inhibitor using Ellman’s method. Variations of the formula were designed following Box-Behnken experimental design with chitosan and crosslinker concentration, crosslinker type, and stirring speed as variables. Initial activity of GWE, IMGS and IMGC as antioxidant were confirmed with DPPH method, obtaining a strong activity of 88.01, 82.11, and 84.99% DPPH inhibition at 100 ppm respectively. Promisingly, at concentration of 100 ppm GWE demonstrated AChE inhibition of 30.36%. However, this activity reduced after encapsulation into IMGS and IMGC, with 14.63% and 18.65% AChE inhibition, which can be linked to the relatively sustained diffusion of GWE from the polymer matrix. IMGS and IMGC diffusion profile showed release of 23.24% and 21.89% after 6 hours, with significant increase in diffusion after 24 hours with 74.92% and 71.19% respectively. Despite showing sustained release behaviour, both IMGS and IMGC ex-vivo diffusion significantly improved when compared to GWE which only diffused 51.84% after 24 hours. This result indicates encapsulation of GWE into a polymeric carrier could increase gambier diffusion through the nasal mucous membrane, significantly improving the potential to penetrate into the brain systemic circulation. Combined with desirable intranasal delivery characteristics, this research was able to demonstrate the promising potential of gambier water extract polymeric system as AChE inhibitors for AD therapy.

Optimization of a high through-flow design turbine using response surface method

Enhancing the through-flow capability of the turbine facilitates the potential to decrease the external dimension of the engine, leading to a reduction in weight and an increase in the thrust-to-weight ratio. The optimization of blade profile in terms of aerodynamic design is an essential strategy to improve the overall performance of the high through-flow design turbine. This study aims to develop an automated optimization technique, utilizing the response surface method (RSM), to enable reliable prediction and rapid optimization of aerodynamic performance. A parametric modeling method is devised to generate blade profiles with continuous curvature throughout the automated optimization process. The Box–Behnken experimental design, in combination with Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes numerical calculation, is employed to construct a second-order polynomial RSM approximation model. The optimization process comprises two levels: improving the through-flow capability and reducing blade profile loss. The optimized profile, Opt1, achieves a substantial 13.19% improvement in through-flow capability at the cost of a 12.27% increase in blade profile loss. Thus, further optimization is performed to minimize blade profile loss based on the Opt1 scheme. Geometric constraints are applied to the most influential parameters affecting through-flow capability to mitigate their impacts. Compared to the Opt1, the final optimized profile, Opt2, achieves a substantial 31.83% decrease in blade profile loss with a negligible sacrifice of 0.23% in through-flow capability.

Optimization of Active Chlorine Production in a Filter-Press Type Electrochemical Reactor through Continuum Modelling and Response Surface Methodology

This study proposes a methodology to optimize the design of an electrochemical flow-by reactor to increase the active chlorine production. The performances of various reactor configurations were evaluated using Computational Fluid Dynamics, starting from the dimensions of the well-known FM01-LC reactor channel (B = 4 cm, L = 16 cm, and S = 1 cm), increasing or decreasing each component by 25%. These conditions were calculated using a Box-Behnken design of experiments, screening out the above dimensions as parameters in addition to the volumetric flow, which was operated at two different rates: 1 and 5 l min−1. A surface response methodology (RSM) was utilized to optimize the response variables, and determine the best design parameters. The combined computational study herein proposed suggests that the optimization of the flow electrochemical reactor design is a compromise between the flow uniform distribution, and mass transfer. It is found that the optimization method used is adequate at the experimental level, since the optimized channel (0.01 M) presents better performance than the conventional FM01-LC channel (0.002 M), after 60 min of experimental electrolysis. It is expected the current analysis will contribute to the development of new filter-press-type electrochemical reactors optimizing chlorine production for numerous applications.

A New Hyaluronic Emulgel of Hesperetin for Topical Application-An In Vitro Evaluation.

The present study aimed to formulate and characterize a hesperetin formulation to achieve adequate deposition and retention of hesperetin in the epidermis as a target for some cosmetic/dermatological actions. To derive the final emulgel, various formulations incorporating different proportions of Polysorbate 80 and hyaluronic acid underwent testing through a Box-Behnken experimental design. Nine formulations were created until the targeted emulgel properties were achieved. This systematic approach, following the principles of a design of experiment (DoE) methodology, adheres to a quality-by-design (QbD) paradigm, ensuring a robust and purposeful formulation and highlighting the commitment to a quality-driven design approach. The emulsions were developed using the phase inversion method, optimizing the emulgel with the incorporation of hyaluronic acid. Physically stable optimized emulgels were evaluated for their globule size, surface charge, viscosity, pH, electrical conductivity, and hesperetin content. These assays, along with the temperature swing test, were used to select the optimal formulation. It was characterized by a droplet size, d[4,3], of 4.02 μm, a Z-potential of -27.8 mV, an O/W sign, a pH of 5.2, and a creamy texture and proved to be stable for at least 2 months at room temperature. Additionally, in vitro release kinetics from the selected emulgel exhibited a sustained release profile of hesperetin. Skin assays revealed adequate retention of hesperetin in the human epidermis with minimum permeation. Altogether, these results corroborate the promising future of the proposed emulgel in cosmetic or dermatological use on healthy or diseased skin.

A novel stepwise microwave hydrodistillation and extraction process for separating seed oil and essential oil simultaneously from perilla seeds

Stepwise microwave hydrodistillation and extraction (SMHDE) was utilized to separate perilla essential oil as a byproduct while boosting perilla seed oil yield and quality. The optimal process for producing perilla seed oil was determined by Plackett–Burman and Box–Behnken design experiments based on a factor screening experiment. Under ideal working conditions, the yield of seed oil was 36.49% ± 0.07%. The content of α-linolenic acid in perilla seed oil obtained by SMHDE was 69.90%, which was significantly greater than that obtained by Microwave-assisted method (MAE) (66.59%) and that obtained by Soxhlet extraction (SE) (66.51%). The yield of perilla seed essential oil obtained by SMHDE was 0.55 ± 0.14 mL/kg, and the main component was perillaldehyde, which was present at a concentration of 20.50%. GC‒MS analysis revealed that the content of volatile compounds in seed oil obtained by SMHDE (9.20%) was significantly lower than that obtained by MAE (10.94%) and SE (15.23%). Compared with traditional methods, SMHDE can effectively increase seed oil yield and quality without negatively influencing its fatty acid composition or physicochemical properties. These findings support the use of SMHDE to increase the production and quality of seed oil and prevent the waste of perilla essential oil resources.

Optimization of the extrusion parameters for the production of lentil-quinoa extrudates enriched with pumpkin.

This study aimed to develop a protein-fiber-rich extruded product based on yellow lentil, quinoa, and pumpkin flours. The final product quality is affected by formulation and extrusion parameters. Therefore, the effect of the pumpkin-flour ratio (A: 25-75%) and feed moisture content (C: 14-22%) besides barrel screw speed (B: 120-180 rpm) on the physical attributes of extrudates was investigated. Box-Behnken experimental design and stepwise-response surface method were used to analyze the effects of various process variables and ingredients on extrudates. The pumpkin-flour ratio had a significant positive correlation with bulk density (BD), water solubility index (WSI), and oil absorption index. Whereas the correlation between pumpkin-flour ratio with hardness, porosity, expansion ratio (ER), and water absorption index (WAI) was negative (P < 0.05). The feed moisture content positively affected the water activity (aw) and WAI and negatively affected the harness of samples (P < 0.05). The screw speed had a positive effect on ER, porosity, and WSI, whereas it negatively influenced the hardness, BD, and aw. By increasing the pumpkin-flour ratio, air cell size and wall thickness of samples had been decreased. The results showed that 44.2% pumpkin flour, 22% feed moisture, and 172.1 rpm screw speed gave an optimized product. There was no significant difference between predicted and experimental values (except for ER). The optimized snack was a good source of fiber (around 15%), protein (17.3%), and antioxidants (TPC = 15.28 mg GAE.g-1 and antiradical scavenging activity (DPPH) = 33.66%). The caloric value of the optimized snack was 362.6 cal.100g-1. The current formulation can be considered as the base of snack food or plant-based meat alternatives.

Optimization of pectin extraction from crab apple peel and usage in a model meat emulsion system

The aim of this study was to optimize conditions of microwave-assisted pectin extraction from crab apple peels using the Box–Behnken experimental design. For this purpose, microwave-assisted pectin extraction was performed at different extraction time (3, 6, and 9 min), liquid/solid ratio (75, 100, and 125), and pH (1.5, 2.0, 2.5). The optimum conditions were selected as extraction time (7.77 min), liquid/solid ratio (77.53 mL/g), and pH/1.79). The response, obtained under optimum conditions was determined as 0.1128 ± 0.0137 g pectin/g crab apple peel. In addition, it was determined that the obtained pectin sample had an esterification degree of 79.14% and oil and water binding capacities of 8.5 ± 0.7 g oil/g pectin and 8.1 ± 1.5 g water/g pectin, respectively. It was determined that pectin emulsions showed higher stability at 1% pectin level. The possibilities of using pectin obtained under optimized conditions as a fat replacer in a model sausage system were investigated. Pectin was evaluated in the model sausage system at two different concentrations. With the increasing pectin concentration, the cooking loss value increased from 14 to 18%, while leakage decreased from 0.31% to 0.18%, showing a negative effect on cooking loss and a positive impact on the amount of leakage into the packaging. Pectin obtained from crab apple peel has the potential to be used for reducing fat content in sausage environment.

Optimization of insert roughness and pouring conditions to maximize bond strength of (Cp)Al-SS304 bimetallic castings using RSM-GA coupled technique

The integration of ferrous and non-ferrous materials represents a breakthrough in materials technology, enabling the fabrication of functionally graded lightweight components with enhanced properties. In this study, a Box-Behnken design of experiments was employed to investigate the effects of pouring temperature, insert temperature, insert thickness, and surface roughness on the bond strength of bimetallic components. Shear punch tests were conducted to assess the maximum loads before fracture, with the highest bond strength of 17.04 MPa achieved under specific processing conditions. The presence of intermetallic compounds, including Fe2Al5, FeAl2, and Fe4Al13, contributed to the observed increase in reaction layer thickness. Response surface methodology revealed concentric responses for pouring temperature and surface roughness with an optimal predicted bond strength of 18.02 MPa. Further optimization using Genetic Algorithm resulted in a maximum bond strength of 19.20 MPa. These findings demonstrate the potential for producing high-performance bimetallic components tailored for applications in various industries.

Experimental study on ultrasonic-assisted electrochemical polishing of NiTi alloy

NiTi alloy has a wide range of applications due to its unique superelasticity and shape memory, the superelastic function of NiTi alloy made it had been applied in building shock absorption, advanced bearings and other scenes, the shape memory function made it also applied in the fields of aerospace engine heat exchanger, cardiac medical stent and so on. In order to made NiTi alloy better applied in practice and improve its surface quality, it was crucial to polish it. In this paper, a new method of ultrasonic-assisted electrochemical polishing of NiTi alloy was innovatively proposed, and an ultrasonic electrochemical polishing device was built independently. The effects of ultrasonic amplitude, voltage and temperature on roughness were explored by Box-Behnken experimental design method. The results show that after ultrasonic-assisted electrochemical polishing, the roughness Ra had been reduced from about 2 μm to the minimum of 0.048 μm. The surface quality of NiTi alloy was improved. The impact of micro-jet of cavitation bubble on NiTi alloy mainly occurs in the early stage, and the equivalent stress on the surface of NiTi alloy was annular, showing an increasing and decreasing trend. In the whole ultrasonic electrochemical polishing solution, a large number of micro-jets will impact the surface of NiTi alloy, thus realizing the material removal. This study enhances traditional electrochemical polishing techniques by integrating ultrasonic energy fields, thus broadening the scope of electrochemical polishing applications. Additionally, it presents a novel approach and establishes a foundation for the polishing of NiTi alloys with intricate geometries in additive manufacturing.

Development and Optimization of Proniosomal Formulation of Irbesartan Using a Box-Behnken Design to Enhance Oral Bioavailability: Physicochemical Characterization and In Vivo Assessment.

This research work aimed to develop and evaluate proniosomes for the oral delivery of the lipophilic drug Irbesartan (IRB) to improve its solubility and bioavailability. Proniosomes of Irbesartan were formulated using a lipid, surfactant, and carrier by a slurry method. Based on the prepared preliminary trial batches and their evaluation, the formulation was optimized by employing a Box-Behnken design (BBD) in which concentrations of span 60 (X1), cholesterol (X2), and mannitol (X3) were used as three independent variables and the vesicular size (VS) (Y1), % entrapment efficiency (% EE) (Y2), and % cumulative drug release (% CDR) (Y3) were used as dependent variables. The optimized batch B1 was obtained from the BBD experiment after validation of checkpoint analysis, and their characterization was done for VS, % EE, % CDR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The optimized batch showed a VS of 199 ± 5.4 nm, a % EE of 99.25 ± 2.24%, and a % CDR of 97.36 ± 1.13% at 24 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study showed a smooth surface of batch B1. DSC and XRD studies indicated the amorphous nature of the proniosomal formulation. The proniosomal formulation showed increased solubility (2.65 ± 0.2 mg/mL) in phosphate buffer, pH 6.8, as compared to water (0.059 ± 0.02 mg/mL). The pharmacokinetic study in rats confirmed the increased bioavailability of the drug in optimized proniosomal formulation compared with its pure drug suspension. Cmax, Tmax, and AUC0-t of the drug also increased by 2-fold compared to those of drug suspension. Thus, in conclusion, the proniosomal formulation proved to be an efficient carrier for improved oral delivery of Irbesartan by improving the solubility and bioavailability of the drug.

Simple procedure for the simultaneous extraction and purification of anthocyanins using a jabuticaba byproduct biosorbent

The burgeoning interest in anthocyanins, fueled by their recognized nutraceutical benefits, faces challenges due to the intricate and time-consuming nature of the extraction and purification processes. This study addresses this hurdle by introducing a pioneering method for the simultaneous extraction and purification of anthocyanins from jabuticaba byproducts (Plinia cauliflora). Utilizing a BoxBehnken experimental design, the investigation fine-tuned maceration extraction conditions, pinpointing the optimal combination of time (30 min), temperature (60 ºC), and solvent composition (50% MeOH v/v), resulting in a yield of 14.43 ± 0.09 mg g−1 of anthocyanins. After optimizing extraction conditions, a simultaneous purification step was integrated into the in situ process. The biosorbent from jabuticaba byproducts demonstrated anthocyanin purification from the extract exceeding 90%, outperforming the commercial adsorbent (PoraPak™ Rxn) tested. The study unveils an eco-friendly method for anthocyanin extraction with an impressive Ecoscale rating of 86 (maximum of 100). This novel one-step extraction and purification method emphasizes significant anthocyanin recovery while aligning with circular economy principles. It offers notable time and cost savings, enhancing overall production efficiency.