Double Yield Research Articles

Experimental evidence of negative agricultural impacts and effectiveness of mitigation strategies of invasive green iguanas (Iguana iguana) in Puerto Rico

Losses in crop yield due to invasive insects, weeds, pathogens, and herbivores cost trillions of dollars per year globally. To prevent further spread of invasive agricultural pest species, continuous monitoring and prevention are crucial. Once introduced, however, assessing the impact of an invasive pest on agricultural production and testing management strategies are essential. The green iguana (Iguana iguana), a globally widespread invasive herbivore, is considered a possible agricultural pest although no quantitative data on its impact are available. In this study, we evaluated the impact of the invasive green iguana on cucumber (Cucumis sativus, var. Dasher II) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa, var. Black-seeded Simpson) yield by testing the efficacy of two management strategies – Neem-based pesticide and mesh fencing – compared to open field cultivation in Puerto Rico. Mesh fencing led to 20% more growth and doubled cucumber yield compared to open field cultivation, while spraying Neem led to an 18% increase in plant growth but no effect on cucumber yield. We found no difference in lettuce growth or yield among treatment and control plots. This study supports categorizing the green iguana as an invasive agricultural pest species and demonstrates the reptile’s potential to reduce crop yield. It also shows that Neem application at the manufacturer’s suggested concentration is not an effective mitigation technique for reducing crop loss due to green iguana herbivory. Government agencies in regions where the green iguana has the potential to be introduced should consider the species a threat to food production when developing monitoring programs and drafting regulations.

CO2‐Mediated Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane over Zn Modified SSZ‐39 Catalysts

AbstractTo reveal the catalytic function of Brønsted acid sites (BAS) and different Zn Lewis acid sites (LAS) over SSZ‐39 and Zn modified SSZ‐39 in the direct dehydrogenation of propane (DHP) and CO2‐mediated oxidative dehydrogenation (CO2‐ODHP) to propylene, a series of Zn‐modified H(Na)SSZ‐39 catalysts with various Zn loadings was prepared and conducted comparative studies between DHP and CO2‐ODHP. Detailed characterization results reveal the Zn‐loading‐dependent formation of Zn sites, primarily including Zn2+ and [Zn−O−Zn]2+, as well as their contributions in generating Lewis acid sites while neutralizing Brønsted acid sites of HSSZ‐39, namely bridged Si(OH)Al groups. In DHP, in comparison to bare HSSZ‐39, Zn/HSSZ‐39 catalysts exhibited a significantly enhanced C3H8 conversion. The presence of CO2 even further promoted C3H8 conversion in comparison to DHP. Given the above observations, we prepared Zn/NaSSZ‐39, in which the incorporation of Na further enriches the Lewis acid sites while neutralizing Brønsted acid sites of zeolite. Zn/NaSSZ‐39 even outperforms Zn/HSSZ‐39 catalysts with almost doubled C3H6 yield for CO2‐ODHP. The BAS has a poor CO2‐ODHP performance but can enhance the CO2 conversion towards CO significantly, while the Zn LAS is favorable for the CO2‐ODHP reaction, and plausible reaction paths of CO2‐ODHP on active sites are proposed.

Electrochemical Lithium Intercalation & Exfoliation in 2D TMDs and Its in-Situ Studies

We developed a lithium ion battery intercalation & exfoliation method with detailed experimental procedures for the mass production of 11 two dimensional TMDs and inorganic nanosheets, such as MoS2, WS2, TiS2, TaS2, ZrS2, graphene, h-BN, NbSe2, WSe2, Sb2Se3 and Bi2Te3, among them 3 TMDs achieved mono- or double layer yield > 90%. This method involves the electrochemical intercalation of lithium ions into layered inorganic materials and a mild sonication process. The Li insertion can be monitored and finely controlled in the battery testing system, so that the galvanostatic discharge process is stopped at a proper Li content to avoid decomposition of the intercalated compounds. The intercalation strategy can also be used to tune 2D TMDs’ physical and chemical properties for various applications. For example, we developed a one-step covalent functionalization method on MoS2 nanosheets for membrane fabrication, which exhibited excellent water desalination performance. For lithium intercalation mechanism, the state-of-the-art In-Situ Liquid Phase TEM is an ideal technique for identifying the phase changes during intercalation process. With self-designed electrochemical liquid cell utilized, we can directly vapture the dynamic electrochemical lithiation and delithiation of electrode in a commercial LiPF6/EC/DEC electrolyte, such as LiF nanocrystal formation, lithium metal dendritic growth, electrolyte decomposition, and solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) formation. Combining with other in-situ techniques, such as in-situ XAS, XRD and Raman, etc, the underlying lithium intercalation mechanism in TMDs were further investigated, which render us a comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic correlation between the intercalation process and TMDs.

NEBOAS: A Neutron yiElds Based On AcceleratorS application

The web-based application NEBOAS was developed to calculate the neutron yield of the accelerator-based neutron source MONNET (MONo-energetic NEutron Tower) at JRC-Geel. Neutrons are produced with p and d-induced reactions on particular targets. NEBOAS provides double differential neutron yields, as a function of the angle of neutron emission and energy. It provides also integrated neutron yields, and neutron energy spectra. Any projectile energy may be utilized, as long as it is covered by the nuclear data available on thin targets (that just degrade the projectiles' energy) or thick targets (that stop the projectiles). The calculation employs reaction cross-section evaluations from Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF) or compilations of experimental measurements from the Experimental Nuclear Reaction Data (EXFOR), and stopping powers as recommended in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) or the Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter (SRIM-2013) databases.

Enhancement and suppression of nonsequential double ionization by spatially inhomogeneous fields

Using the three-dimensional classical ensemble approach, we theoretically investigate the nonsequential double ionization of argon atoms in an intense laser field enhanced by bowtie-nanotip. We observe an anomalous decrease in the double ionization yield as the laser intensity increases, along with a significant gap in the low momentum of photoelectrons. According to our theoretical analysis, the finite range of the induced field by the nanostructure is the fundamental cause of the decline in double ionization yield. Driven by the enhanced inhomogeneous field, energetic electrons can escape from the finite range of nanotips without returning. This reduces the possibility of re-scattering on the nucleus and imprints the finite size effect into the double ionization yield and momentum distribution of photoelectrons in the form of yield decline and a gap in the photoelectron-momentum distribution.

Estimation of the relative biological effectiveness for double strand break induction of clinical kilovoltage beams using Monte Carlo simulations.

The Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) of kilovoltage photon beams has been previously investigated in vitro and in silico using analytical methods. The estimated values range from 1.03 to 1.82 depending on the methodology and beam energiesexamined. The focus of this work was to independently estimate RBE values for a range of clinically used kilovoltage beams (70-200 kVp) while investigating the suitability of using TOPAS-nBio for thistask. Previously validated spectra of clinical beams were used to generate secondary electron spectra at several depths in a water tank phantom via TOPAS Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Cell geometry was irradiated with the secondary electrons in TOPAS-nBio MC simulations. The deposited dose and the calculated number of DNA strand breaks were used to estimate RBEvalues. Monoenergetic secondary electron simulations revealed the highest direct and indirect double strand break yield at approximately 20keV. The average RBE value for the kilovoltage beams was calculated to be 1.14. TOPAS-nBio was successfully used to estimate the RBE values for a range of clinical radiotherapy beams. The calculated value was in agreement with previous estimates, providing confidence in its clinical use in thefuture.

Negative effects of water deficit on cocoa tree yield are partially mitigated by irrigation and potassium application

Yields of most tropical crops are strongly reduced by drought, but this may be partially mitigated by irrigation and potassium application. Understanding the mechanisms regulating these relationships is essential to select crop varieties reaching high yield under environmental stress. We conducted a 2-year field experiment (2020–2022) to investigate the effects of seasonal irrigation, potassium application and their interaction on cocoa reproduction and yield, using six genotypes in Côte d’Ivoire. Potassium application increased pod number and size, contributing significantly to annual yield, but this effect was conditional to soil water availability. Similarly, irrigation when combined with potassium application almost doubled yield from 1.5 to 3.0 kg/tree (2000 kg ha−1 yr−1 to 4000 kg ha−1 yr−1, respectively). This yield effect was mostly the result of positive effects of irrigation on pod number per tree and, to a lesser extent, due to its positive effects on bean number per pod and bean mass. Irrigation effects on pod number were associated with an increased number of cherelles whereas the larger pod number during the major harvest compared to the minor harvest was associated with lower cherelle wilt. We also found a more than two-fold genotypic difference in yield, with the genotypes CI02 and CI03 and to a lesser extent hybrid M having lower yields having lower yields than the genotype CI01. These genotypic yield differences were associated with differences in both cherelle wilt and initial cherelle production rates. The effects of withholding irrigation on yield were significantly dependent on the genotype, reflecting a potential genotypic difference in drought tolerance. The development of climate adaptive strategies for cocoa production requires integrating effects of irrigation, potassium application and cocoa genotype on yields. Future research should focus on unraveling the underlying genotypic and ecophysiological mechanisms of the results presented here, and identifying other potential approaches to enhance the resilience of cocoa to increasing water deficit under climate change.

Ultrafast Charge Transfer Cascade in a Mixed-Dimensionality Nanoscale Trilayer.

Innovation in optoelectronic semiconductor devices is driven by a fundamental understanding of how to move charges and/or excitons (electron-hole pairs) in specified directions for doing useful work, e.g., for making fuels or electricity. The diverse and tunable electronic and optical properties of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and one-dimensional (1D) semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNTs) make them good quantum confined model systems for fundamental studies of charge and exciton transfer across heterointerfaces. Here we demonstrate a mixed-dimensionality 2D/1D/2D MoS2/SWCNT/WSe2 heterotrilayer that enables ultrafast photoinduced exciton dissociation, followed by charge diffusion and slow recombination. Importantly, the heterotrilayer serves to double charge carrier yield relative to a MoS2/SWCNT heterobilayer and also demonstrates the ability of the separated charges to overcome interlayer exciton binding energies to diffuse from one TMDC/SWCNT interface to the other 2D/1D interface, resulting in Coulombically unbound charges. Interestingly, the heterotrilayer also appears to enable efficient hole transfer from SWCNTs to WSe2, which is not observed in the identically prepared WSe2/SWCNT heterobilayer, suggesting that increasing the complexity of nanoscale trilayers may modify dynamic pathways. Our work suggests "mixed-dimensionality" TMDC/SWCNT based heterotrilayers as both interesting model systems for mechanistic studies of carrier dynamics at nanoscale heterointerfaces and for potential applications in advanced optoelectronic systems.

Heat 'n Beat: A Universal High-Throughput End-to-End Proteomics Sample Processing Platform in under an Hour.

Proteomic analysis by mass spectrometry of small (≤2 mg) solid tissue samples from diverse formats requires high throughput and comprehensive proteome coverage. We developed a nearly universal, rapid, and robust protocol for sample preparation, suitable for high-throughput projects that encompass most cell or tissue types. This end-to-end workflow extends from original sample to loading the mass spectrometer and is centered on a one-tube homogenization and digestion method called Heat 'n Beat (HnB). It is applicable to most tissues, regardless of how they were fixed or embedded. Sample preparation was divided into separate challenges. The initial sample washing and final peptide cleanup steps were adapted to three tissue sources: fresh frozen (FF), optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound embedded (FF-OCT), and formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE). Third, for core processing, tissue disruption and lysis were decreased to a 7 min heat and homogenization treatment, and reduction, alkylation, and proteolysis were optimized into a single step. The refinements produced near doubled peptide yield when compared to our earlier method ABLE delivered a consistently high digestion efficiency of 85-90%, reported by ProteinPilot, and required only 38 min for core processing in a single tube, with the total processing time being 53-63 min. The robustness of HnB was demonstrated on six organ types, a cell line, and a cancer biopsy. Its suitability for high-throughput applications was demonstrated on a set of 1171 FF-OCT human cancer biopsies, which were processed for end-to-end completion in 92 h, producing highly consistent peptide yield and quality for over 3513 MS runs.

A double ovulation protocol for Xenopus laevis produces doubled fertilisation yield and moderately transiently elevated corticosterone levels without loss of egg quality.

The African claw-toed frog, Xenopus laevis, is a well-established laboratory model for the biology of vertebrate oogenesis, fertilisation, and development at embryonic, larval, and metamorphic stages. For ovulation, X. laevis females are usually injected with chorionic gonadotropin, whereupon they lay typically hundreds to thousands of eggs in a day. After being rested for a minimum of three months, animals are re-used. The literature suggests that adult females can lay much larger numbers of eggs in a short period. Here, we compared the standard "single ovulation" protocol with a "double ovulation" protocol, in which females were ovulated, then re-ovulated after seven days and then rested for three months before re-use. We quantified egg number, fertilisation rate (development to cleavage stage), and corticosterone secretion rate as a measure of stress response for the two protocol groups over seven 3-month cycles. We found no differences in egg number-per-ovulation or egg quality between the groups and no long-term changes in any measures over the 21-month trial period. Corticosterone secretion was elevated by ovulation, similarly for the single ovulation as for the first ovulation in the double-ovulation protocol, but more highly for the second ovulation (to a level comparable to that seen following shipment) in the latter. However, both groups exhibited the same baseline secretion rates by the time of the subsequent cycle. Double ovulation is thus transiently more stressful/demanding than single ovulation but within the levels routinely experienced by laboratory X. laevis. Noting that "stress hormone" corticosterone/cortisol secretion is linked to physiological processes, such as ovulation, that are not necessarily harmful to the individual, we suggest that the benefits of a doubling in egg yield-per-cycle per animal without loss of egg quality or signs of acute or long-term harm may outweigh the relatively modest and transient corticosterone elevation we observed. The double ovulation protocol therefore represents a potential new standard practice for promoting the "3Rs" (animal use reduction, refinement and replacement) mission for Xenopus research.

High-resolution infrared spectroscopy of jet cooled cyclobutyl in the α-CH stretch region: large-amplitude puckering dynamics in a 4-membered ring radical.

Gas-phase cyclobutyl radical (c-C4H7) is generated at a rotational temperature of Trot = 26(1) K in a slit-jet discharge mixture of 70% Ne/30% He and 0.5-0.6% cyclobromobutane (c-C4H7Br). A fully rovibrationally resolved absorption spectrum of the α-CH stretch fundamental band between 3062.9 cm-1 to 3075.7 cm-1 is obtained and analyzed, yielding first precision structural and dynamical information for this novel radical species. The α-CH stretch band origin is determined to be 3068.7887(4) cm-1, which implies only a modest (≈0.8 cm-1) blue shift from rotationally unresolved infrared spectroscopic studies of cyclobutyl radicals in liquid He droplets [A. R. Brown, P. R. Franke and G. E. Douberly, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2017, 121, 7576-7587]. Of particular dynamical interest, a one-dimensional potential energy surface with respect to the ring puckering coordinate is computed at CCSD(T)/ANO2 level of theory and reveals a double minimum Cs puckered geometry, separated by an exceedingly shallow planar C2v transition state barrier (Ebarr ≈ 1 cm-1). Numerical solutions on this double minimum potential yield a zero-point energy for the ground state (Ezero-point ≈ 27 cm-1) greatly in excess of the interconversion barrier. This is indicative of highly delocalized, large amplitude motion of the four-membered ring structure, for which proper vibrationally averaging of the moment of inertia tensor reproduces the experimentally determined inertial defect remarkably well. Finally, intensity alternation in the experimental spectrum due to nuclear spin statistics upon exchange of three indistinguishable H atom pairs (IH = ½) matches Ka + Kc = even : odd = 36 : 28 predictions, implying that the unpaired electron in the radical center lies in an out-of-plane pπ orbital. Thus, high-resolution infrared spectroscopy provides first experimental confirmation of a shallow double minimum ring puckering potential with a highly delocalized ground state wave function peaked at a planar C2v transition state geometry consistent with a cyclobutyl π radical.

Synergistic control of microstructures and properties in eutectic high-entropy alloys via directional solidification and strong magnetic field

The AlCoCrFeNi2.1 eutectic high-entropy alloy (Ni2.1 EHEA), as an exemplary representative of the high-entropy alloy family, has garnered significant research attention owing to its exceptional comprehensive properties. In this study, we investigated the influence of various growth velocities on the microstructure, lamellar spacing, and mechanical properties of the Ni2.1 EHEA. We observed that at lower growth velocities, the structure consisted of an alternating face-centered-cubic (FCC) phase and B2 phase lamellae aligned in a single direction, with the lamellae orientation parallel to the direction of the heat flow. The yield strength increased with the growth rate, while the ultimate tensile strength decreased with increasing the growth velocity. Ductility remained relatively consistent, and a double yield phenomenon was observed in the elastic-plastic deformation region. Under conditions of high growth velocities, the microstructure transitioned from a single-directional full lamellar structure to a multi-stage lamellar arrangement. The most favorable comprehensive mechanical properties were achieved at a growth rate of 200 μm/s, resulting in a yield strength of 450 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 1092 MPa, and a remarkable ductility of ∼32% in the directionally solidified samples—double that of the arc-melted sample. The evolution law of directional solidification structures under the coupling effect of different magnetic fields and different growth rates was studied. The interaction of the thermoelectric-magnetic force and thermoelectric-magnetic convection and the potential mechanism of microstructure evolution under the effect of magnetic field were deeply analyzed. The results reveal that at a growth rate of 2 μm/s, the spacing between eutectic layers decreases as the magnetic induction intensity increases, leading to the transformation of some regular layers into spherical layers. Similarly, at a growth velocity of 10 μm/s, the eutectic structure exhibited a Columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET). However, as the growth rate further increases, the limited exposure time to the magnetic field prevented significant structural changes.

Efficient tumor treatment by triphenylphosphine conjugated nanocellulose composite hydrogels for enhanced mitochondria targeting

The study of mitochondria-targeted antitumor treatment has been extensively developed as target sites to improve the efficiency of cancer therapy. On this basis, cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) with large specific surface areas, which can conjugate large amounts of active groups, have been provided with the potential antitumor platform for developing mitochondria-targeted triggers. Herein, an efficient mitochondria-targeting nanocellulose composite hydrogel based on triphenylphosphine (TPP) conjugated quaternized cellulose nanocrystal (QCNC) and agarose was developed and used as mitochondria targeting triggers to deliver drugs to cancer cells. Furthermore, TPP conjugated dihydroartemisinin (DHA) was loaded into the nanocellulose composite hydrogels, accompanied by the significant generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and resulted in cell apoptosis. This DHA-loaded nanocellulose composite hydrogel has achieved a doubled ROS yield than free DHA, and the results showed that the viability of the A549 cell was reduced by 50 % by nanocellulose composite hydrogels treatment compared to free DHA. Moreover, the nanocellulose composite hydrogel demonstrated nontoxic performance in vitro cytotoxicity studies on HUVEC cells. This current study indicates the strong potential for using nanocellulose as biocompatible and efficient mitochondria-targeted triggers in cancer therapies.

Steps to achieve carvone-rich spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) essential oil: a case study on the use of different distillation methods.

Spearmint essential oil is a valuable medical and food product. Spearmint essential oil is effective for the treatment of flatulence, indigestion, nausea, and colic along with Alzheimer, obesity, and fungal infections. This study evaluated the quality and quantity of spearmint essential oil by examining some extraction strategies. The procedures were hydro-distillation, hydro-steam distillation, microwave-assisted hydro-distillation, and open hydro-distillation. The hydro-distillation had five pH levels (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) and four NaCl concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2%). microwave-assisted hydro-distillation at a power of 225 W was applied for 60, 90, and 120 minutes for process durations. The solvent extraction of herbal distillate obtained by an open hydro-distillation system was done using n-pentane and n-hexane to achieve a recovered essential oil by a rotary evaporator. The results showed that the lowest pH in the hydro-distillation process led to obtaining double yield compared to the control. Additionally, at 1 and 1.5% NaCl concentrations, the oil yield increased by 12.86 and 20.87%, respectively. Although the yield was reduced by microwave-assisted hydro-distillation, however within 120 minutes, carvone increased by 12.7% and limonene decreased by 42.3%. The best quality of spearmint oil belonged to solvent extraction followed by rotary evaporator.

Sustainable Maize Crop Production in Owena Basin, Nigeria

To improve maize production, efforts must be doubled to expand the current extent of land suitability profiling. Lingering questions hinged on whether maize is presently grown on land that supports its optimal growth and if farmers’ knowledge of their farmland suitability informs their decision to cultivate improved maize varieties. However, attaining the level of food self-subsistence largely requires optimum land use and the adoption of innovative advancement to double farmers' yields. Unfortunately, land suitability profiling and farmers’ cultivation of Improved Maize Varieties (IMV) still require more attention in the scheme of initiatives to revitalize agriculture. Previous research addressed other crops rather than maize staples and assessed areas exclusive of the current study area. This paper used Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Multicriteria Analysis (MCA) to map out land areas suitable for maize cultivation and further used frequency, counts, and parametric estimator to data from 466 maize farmers to profile farmers who cultivated IMV, examine the effect of cultivating IMV and its determinants. Results showed the suitability of AHP for land evaluation, revealing the highly, moderately, marginally, and least suitable areas of land for maize cultivation occupying 5.09%, 56.53%, 37.47%, and 0.89% of the total land. The result also divulges the dominance of old respondents where the age of farmers who did not cultivate IMV ranged between 50 and 61 years while the age of respondents who cultivated IMV ranged between 52 and 72 years. A small-scale production pattern was observed as the area of land under cultivation varied between 1.9 and 2.67 acres for respondents who grew IMV and those who did not. The Potential Outcome mean (POmean) estimation for respondents who did not grow IMV was 8127.70kg and 11695.8 kg for respondents who cultivated IMV, and the size of land cultivated and access to extension services significantly (at P>|z|=0.000) contributed to the likelihood of farmers growing IMV. The study highlights the importance of harnessing the comparative advantage of land by cultivating the crop it best supports suggesting the need to embrace IMV cultivation and practices including but not limited to the cultivation of legumes to help maintain the soil integrity and further advocate for improved communication between farmers and agricultural services developers.

Agronomic performance and remote sensing assessment of organic and mineral fertilization in rice fields.

Rice heavily relies on nitrogen fertilizers, posing environmental, resource, and geopolitical challenges. This study explores sustainable alternatives like animal manure and remote sensing for resource-efficient rice cultivation. It aims to assess the long-term impact of organic fertilization and remote sensing monitoring on agronomic traits, yield, and nutrition. A six-year experiment in rice fields evaluated fertilization strategies, including pig slurry (PS) and chicken manure (CM) with mineral fertilizers (MIN), MIN-only, and zero-fertilization. Traits, yield, spectral responses, and nutrient content were measured. Sentinel-2 remote sensing tracked crop development. Cost-effective organic fertilizers (PS and CM) caused a 13% and 15% yield reduction but still doubled zero-fertilization yield. PS reduced nitrogen leaching. Heavy metals in rice grains were present at safe amounts. Organic-fertilized crops showed nitrogen deficiency at the late vegetative stages, affecting yield. Sentinel-2 detected nutrient deficiencies through NDVI. Organic fertilizers, especially PS, reduce nitrogen loss, benefiting the environment. However, they come with yield trade-offs and nutrient management challenges that can be managed and balanced with reduced additional mineral applications. Sentinel-2 remote sensing helps manage nutrient deficiencies. In summary, this research favors cost-effective organic fertilizers with improved nutrient management for sustainable rice production.

Yogurt Enriched with Mango Peel Extracts (Mangifera indica) in Chitosan–Xanthan Gum Dispersions: Physicochemical, Rheological, Stability, and Antioxidant Activity

Different strategies have been developed to incorporate bioactive compounds into food products to improve their biological activity against degradation effects. The aim of this study was to develop natural yogurt enriched with mango (Mangifera indica) peel extracts (MPEs) in chitosan–xanthan gum dispersions and to evaluate their physicochemical, rheological, and antioxidant activity. A hydroethanolic extract of mango peel was obtained, with a yield of 33.24 ± 1.27%, a total content of phenolic compounds of 305.04 ± 10.70 mg GAE/g, and an antioxidant activity of 1470.41 ± 59.75 μMol Trolox/g. The encapsulation of the extracts was achieved using a chitosan–xanthan gum dispersion, resulting in the rheological characteristic of a strong gel. The incorporation of dispersions into yogurt did not modify the physicochemical properties and increased their bioactive properties. The rheological properties show samples with double yield points and a decrease in viscoelastic parameters. These results show dispersions as a strategy to incorporate bioactive compounds into dairy products, preserve the physicochemical and rheological properties of yogurt, and improve their biological activities (such as antioxidant activity) and activities related to the compounds found in the MPE.

Microband-driven martensitic transformation in as-hot-rolled metastable medium-entropy alloys

Hot rolling triggers dynamic recrystallization and dislocation-based microbands. Dislocations within these microbands in as-hot-rolled metastable medium-entropy alloys prompt deformation-induced martensitic transformation at ambient temperature, a phenomenon not identifiable in the as-annealed counterparts. This results in ∼43% total elongation despite the as-rolled states with the added benefit of doubled yield strength.

Novel synthesis strategy of SAPO-11 molecular sieve with superior performance for hydroisomerization of long-chain n-alkanes: Supergravity-cyclone assisted hydrothermal crystallization method

In this work, we successfully synthesized high performance SAPO-11 molecular sieve via the novel supergravity-cyclone assisted hydrothermal crystallization method for the first time. The initial gel was subjected to cyclone treatment and supergravity shearing treatment to obtain the secondary molecular sieve precursor mixture with high viscosity and micro-bubble distribution. The effects of supergravity shear-cyclone operation on the physicochemical properties of SAPO-11 molecular sieve were investigated. The supergravity-cyclone treatment improved the textural properties and acidity of SAPO-11 molecular sieve. The effects of support properties on the properties of active phase of NiWS-support catalyst and its catalytic performance for hydroisomerization of n-hexadecane were further investigated. NiW/SAPO-11-B showed more active phase with hydroisomerization kinetics advantage and nearly doubled yield of i-hexadecane compared with conventional SAPO-11-based catalyst. The process and mechanism of synthesizing high performance SAPO-11 molecular sieve via the supergravity-cyclone technology were explored. It was found that the supergravity-cyclone assisted crystallization method shortened the crystallization time of SAPO-11 and improved the crystallization efficiency. In addition, the hydroisomerization kinetics of n-hexadecane on SAPO-11-based NiWS supported catalyst was studied. The structure–activity relationship between the structure of active phase and the formation of CUS was investigated, and the influence of support properties on the properties of NiWS active phase and their synergistic mechanism in the hydroisomerization of n-hexadecane were revealed. This is expected to provide a new strategy for the synthesis of high performance SAPO-11 molecular sieve and the preparation of non-noble metal supported catalyst with superior hydroisomerization performance for long-chain alkanes.

Predicting the double-yield phenomenon in low-density polyethylene film using three-network viscoplastic model

Several Semi-Crystalline Polymers (SCPs) exhibit a Double-Yield (DY) phenomenon in the stress vs. strain response when subjected to uniaxial tensile load. There are only few constitutive models that can predict the DY phenomena at different temperatures and strain rates. These models were developed considering no deformation of crystalline phase, when the amorphous phase gets deformed, whereas in reality all the phases deform concurrently. In this investigation, a Three-Network (TN) viscoplastic model was employed to capture the DY phenomenon in the Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) films by considering simultaneous deformations in the amorphous and crystalline (lamellar) phases. The TN model comprised of three parallel networks, A, B, and C, with A and B consisting of non-linear springs and dashpots in series with each other and C containing a non-linear spring solely. While network A of the TN model influences the inter-lamellar shear resistance and the first yield point in the engineering stress vs. strain curve, networks B and C operate together to predict the second yield point. Furthermore, network B regulates the resistance to intra-lamellar shear fragmentation and orientation of lamellar phases. Network C accounts for both the rubbery effect of the amorphous phase and the resistance to fibril deformation along the loading direction at higher strains. To retrieve the TN model parameters, uniaxial tensile tests were conducted on the LDPE films at two different strain rates and temperatures ranging from ambient temperature (25 °C) to 110 °C. The engineering stress vs. strain graphs exhibited the DY phenomenon for all temperatures considered. Stress vs. strain curves were calibrated using the TN model in MCalibration software at certain temperatures (25 °C, 50 °C, 70 °C, and 90 °C) and loading rates (∼10−3/s and 10−2/s). The calibration results corroborated the experimental findings, particularly in terms of capturing the DY phenomenon. Also, simulations using calibrated TN model parameters satisfactorily predicted experimental stress-strain plots at remaining temperatures (40 °C, 60 °C, 80 °C, and 110 °C), demonstrating its versatility in predicting stress and strain characteristics. For the wide range of temperature (25 °C–110 °C) and strain rates considered, an overall difference of ∼5% is observed between the experimental and predicted stress vs. strain data.