Low Content Research Articles

Investigation of Impact Behaviour of Sisal Fiber Reinforced Phenol Formaldehyde Composites

Short Sisal fiber reinforced Phenol Formaldehyde resin composites are prepared with varied fiber lengths (5 mm and 10 mm) and for varied weight fraction (20%, 25% and 30%) of the fibers. Here in this work, Sisal fiber is used as reinforcement. Since it is abundantly available in nature and majority of it is getting wasted without being used as reinforcement in engineering applications. Over the last thirty years composite materials, plastics and ceramics have been the dominant emerging materials. The 10 mm fiber length reinforced composite shown improved mechanical properties than 5 mm fiber length reinforced composite. Increase in impact strength is seen when the fiber content in the composite is increased from 20% to 25% and 25% to 30%. The fiber strength, for different fiber lengths and fiber volume fraction, the work of fracture is proportional to the fiber length and fiber volume fraction. Although results show increment in impact strength with fiber volume fraction, proportionality is not demonstrated. This suggests that there are other mechanisms that affect the impact strength of the composites. Crack propagation is the predominant toughening mechanism in notched impact test. Improvement in impact strength characterizes that fibers as stress transferring medium are able to absorb impact energy effectively. Good interaction with crack increases the energy needed for further crack formation and propagation. The exceptional case could be due to low fiber content and relatively short fiber length so that the energy is not dissipated effectively. Weak interfacial bonding of natural fibers is mainly due to incompatibility of hydrophobic matrix and hydrophilic fiber. High moisture absorption causes dimensional changes of natural fibers as well.

Nutritional differences in eggs, chicken, and plantain from agroecological, conventional, and commercial systems: a case study in Valle del Cauca, Colombia

ABSTRACT This case study examines the nutritional differences between agroecological, conventional, and commercial products in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Using a participatory methodology with local farmers, eggs, chicken, and plantain were selected for analysis. Moisture, protein, fat, ash, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium contents were compared across the three production systems. Statistical analyses included ANOVA and MANOVA. Results indicate that agroecological products from the studied farms tended to have lower moisture content. Agroecological eggs showed higher fat content (11.09 g/100 g vs 9.32 g/100 g conventional and 8.45 g/100 g commercial). Agroecological chicken presented higher protein content (22.37 g/100 g vs 20.73 g/100 g conventional and 18.1 g/100 g commercial) and potassium (281 mg/100 g vs 298 mg/100 g conventional and 213 mg/100 g commercial). Agroecological plantain had higher ash content (0.85 g/100 g vs 0.77 g/100 g conventional and 0.79 g/100 g commercial) and calcium (8 mg/100 g vs 5 mg/100 g conventional and 6 mg/100 g commercial). These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). While these findings suggest potential nutritional benefits of agroecological production in this region, further studies with a larger number of replicates are needed to confirm these trends on a broader scale.

Precipitation Patterns and Their Role in Modulating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Arid Desert Soil

Nitrous oxide (N2O) ranks as the third most significant greenhouse gas, capable of depleting the ozone layer and posing threats to terrestrial ecosystems. Climate change alters precipitation variability, notably in terms of frequency and magnitude. However, the implications of precipitation variability on N2O emissions and the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately understood. In this study, employing laboratory incubation methods on three representative sandy soil types (sandy soil, shrub soil, and crust soil), we examined the impacts of diverse precipitation levels (5 mm and 10 mm) and frequencies (7 days and 14 days) on N2O emissions from these soil types. This study aims to clarify the complex connections between soil N2O emission fluxes and soil physicochemical properties in the soil environment. Our findings reveal that the N2O emission flux exhibits heightened responsiveness to 5 mm precipitation events and a 14-day precipitation frequency, and compared to other treatments, the 5 mm precipitation and 14-day precipitation frequency treatment resulted in a 20% increase in cumulative nitrous oxide emissions. Consequently, cumulative N2O emissions were notably elevated under the 5 mm precipitation and 14-day precipitation frequency treatments compared to the other experimental conditions. The N2O emission flux in sandy soil displayed a positive correlation with available phosphorus (AP) and a negative correlation with pH, primarily attributed to the exceedingly low AP content in sandy soil. In shrub soil, the soil N2O emission flux exhibited a significant positive correlation with NH4+-N and a negative correlation with NO3−-N. Conversely, no significant correlations were observed between soil N2O emission flux and soil physicochemical properties in crust soil, underscoring the importance of considering plant–soil microbial interactions. Our findings suggest that soil nitrous oxide emissions in arid and semi-arid regions will be particularly responsive to small and frequent rainfall events as precipitation patterns change in the future, primarily due to their soil physicochemical characteristics.

Kyanite-muscovite-dumortierite vein mineralization mechanisms from advanced microstructural analysis using EBSD

Abstract Dumortierite, an aluminous borosilicate mineral, is relatively rare in Earth’s crust, but it is the second most abundant aluminous borosilicate after tourmaline. Boron is an element with many uses in modern societies worldwide, from health products to wind turbine blades for clean energy, but of limited availability and at future risk of supply. Only a limited number of studies have been published on dumortierite mineralization processes and the factors that control its abundance and distribution remain poorly understood. Here we present the first comprehensive electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) study of dumortierite mineralization mechanisms in kyanite-muscovite-dumortierite veins occurring in the metapelites of the Amgaon Gneiss Supracrustals, in the Girola hill area, Sakoli region, Central India. Advanced microstructural and chemical analyses show that mixed-mode brittle-viscous deformation in kyanite, by fracturing and easy glide on (100) [001] slip system, facilitates fluid-rock interactions with reactive hydrothermal fluids rich in B, F, and K and containing Na, Ti, Mg, Fe and Pt. These interactions cause the dissolution of kyanite along fracture and cleavage surfaces and the precipitation of muscovite (F = 0.32 wt %) and topaz (F = 16.48 wt %). The motion of ripplocation defects in muscovite facilitates fluid migration along cleavage surfaces and crystallisation of dumortierite needles within these surfaces. Fluid flux removes silica in solution from the system, so reactions may continue. The observed mineral assemblage, the microstructural signature of kyanite and muscovite, the moderate fluorine content of topaz, and low fluorine content of muscovite, together suggest that dumortierite mineralization results from hydrothermal activity, possibly in a transitional magmatic-hydrothermal environment, likely at P &amp;gt; 2.5 kbar and 400°&amp;lt;T &amp;lt; 550°, that could be linked with granite intrusions in the area. Using EBSD we demonstrate that dumortierite mineralization is focussed along muscovite basal cleavage surfaces and dumortierite needle elongation is likely controlled by the fluid flux direction. These new results advance our understanding of dumortierite mineralization mechanisms and conditions and have important implications for our understanding of the distribution of this aluminous borosilicate mineral in muscovite-rich rocks.

Identification of potential antigenic proteins and epitopes for the development of a monkeypox virus vaccine: an in silico approach.

Virus assembly, budding, or surface proteins play important roles such as viral attachment to cells, fusion, and entry into cells. The present study aimed to identify potential antigenic proteins and epitopes that could be used to develop a vaccine or diagnostic assay against the Monkeypox virus (MPXV) which may cause a potential epidemic. To do this, 39 MPXV proteins (including assembly, budding, and surface proteins) were analyzed using an in silico approach. Of these 39 proteins, the F5L virus protein was found to be the best vaccine candidate due to its signal peptide properties, negative GRAVY value, low transmembrane helix content, moderate aliphatic index, large molecular weight, long-estimated half-life, beta wrap motifs, and being stable, soluble, and containing non-allergic features. Moreover, the F5L protein exhibited alpha-helical secondary structures, making it a potential "structural antigen" recognized by antibodies. The other viral protein candidates were A9 and A43, but A9 lacked beta wrap motifs, while A43 had a positive GRAVY value and was insoluble. These two proteins were not as suitable candidates as the F5L protein. The KRVNISLTCL epitope from the F5L protein demonstrated the highest antigen score (2.4684) for MHC-I, while the GRFGYVPYVGYKCI epitope from the A9 protein exhibited the highest antigenicity (1.754) for MHC-II. Both epitopes met the criteria for high antigenicity, non-toxicity, solubility, non-allergenicity, and the presence of cleavage sites. Molecular docking and dynamics (MD) simulations further validated their potential, revealing stable and energetically favorable interactions with MHC molecules. The immunogenicity assessment showed that GRFGYVPYVGYKCI could strongly induce immune responses through both IFN-γ and IL-4 pathways, suggesting its capacity to provoke a balanced Th1 and Th2 response. In contrast, KRVNISLTCL exhibited limited immunostimulatory potential. Overall, these findings lay the groundwork for future vaccine development, indicating that F5L, particularly the GRFGYVPYVGYKCI epitope, may serve as an effective candidate for peptide-based vaccine design against MPXV.

Circular Cross-Linked Polyethylene Enabled by In-Chain Ketones.

Cross-linked polyethylenes (PEs) are widely employed, but the permanent links between the chains impede recycling. We show that via imine formation with diamines keto-functionalized polyethylenes from both free-radical (keto-low-density PE, keto-LDPE) and catalytic (keto-high-density PE, keto-HDPE) nonalternating ethylene-CO copolymerization can be cross-linked efficiently in the melt, resulting in gel fractions of the formed cross-linked PEs of up to 85% and improved tensile properties. The imine-based cross-links in the material can be hydrolyzed at 140 °C to recycle up to 97% of the initial thermoplastic keto-polyethylene. Low keto contents of ≤1.5 mol % are found ideal to retain PE-like thermal properties, achieve sufficient cross-link density, and maintain circular recyclability.

Impact of Agricultural Activities on Soil Particle Size, pH, and Organic Matter in the Dimonika Biosphere Reserve, Mayombe (Republic of Congo)

Land-use change disrupts several soil physico-chemical parameters. This study aimed to analyze the influence of agricultural activities, topography, and localities on soil texture, pH, and organic matter in the Dimonika Biosphere Reserve. To achieve this, 90 soil samples were collected using an auger based on land use types, topography, and localities. Analyses of soil texture, pH, total organic carbon (TOC), and total nitrogen (TN) were conducted at the IRSEN laboratory in Pointe-Noire. The results showed that clay texture predominates in the studied area, which is related to the nature of the soils. The Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test highlighted a significant effect of agricultural activities on soil acidity, with an acidic pH ranging from 4.2 to 5 in cultivated areas, compared to a very acidic pH (3.5 to 4.2) in mature forests. However, neither topography nor localities affected pH. Total organic carbon significantly decreased in old plantations (1.3&amp;plusmn;0.3%) and fallows (1.5&amp;plusmn;0.5%) compared to mature forests (1.9&amp;plusmn;0.5%) and savannahs (2.3&amp;plusmn;0.6%), while total nitrogen showed no notable variations. Topography also had no influence on organic status (TOC, TN). However, at the local level, the Makaba area stood out with significantly higher TOC (2&amp;plusmn;0.5%) and TN (0.2&amp;plusmn;0.03%) compared to Les Saras (0.14&amp;plusmn;0.03%) and Kayes (0.16&amp;plusmn;0.2%). The C/N ratio, influenced only by agricultural activities, was below 15, indicating rapid organic matter mineralization and a low TOC content. Several potential solutions were proposed for sustainable soil management.

Experimental study on the shear behaviour of high-strength lightweight concrete beams incorporating graphene oxide.

Graphene oxide (GO) has achieved significant progress in the material behaviour of cement-based materials. However, research on its structural behaviour in high-strength lightweight concrete (HSLWC) structures is limited, which restricts its engineering applications. This study focused on investigating the effects of low contents of GO on the shear behaviour of HSLWC beams. A total of four HSLWC beams with GO contents of 0, 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05% (by weight of cement) were designed to observe failure modes, load‒deformation curves, shear capacities, crack behaviour and load‒strain curves under four-point loading by a 300 kN servo loading device. The results revealed that all the beams exhibited shear compression failure. GO improved the shear capacity of the HSLWC beams, and this strengthening effect increased with increase in GO content. When the content of GO was 0.05%, the ultimate load of the beam reached a maximum, which was 39.2% greater than that of the control beam. GO can endow the HSLWC beams with a certain degree of ductility. In addition, a modified JGJ 12-2006 model was proposed to predict the shear capacity of HSLWC beams containing different GO contents on the basis of a comparison of typical models. This study can provide exploratory engineering practice for evaluating and designing GO-reinforced HSLWC structures.

Investigating Genetic Diversity and Correlations Between Mineral Concentration and Neurotoxin (β-ODAP) Content in the Lathyrus Genus

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is a nutritious legume crop well-adapted to fragile agro-ecosystems that can survive under challenging climatic conditions. The cultivation of grass pea faces stigma primarily due to the presence of β-N-Oxalyl-L-α, β-diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP), which is associated with a risk of inducing neurolathyrism upon prolonged consumption of its grains as a staple diet. The grass pea improvement program of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) aims to reduce β-ODAP content to a safe level along with improving yield potential and nutritional quality of grass pea. In this study, 183 germplasm accessions representing 13 different Lathyrus species and 11 L. sativus breeding lines were evaluated for β-ODAP content based on Rao protocol and mineral concentration using ICP-OES. Significant variability was observed among the accessions for the studied traits. The results showed low β-ODAP content and high mineral concentration in 25 accessions of crop wild relatives, which included L. cicera, L. ochrus, and L. cassius, with one accession IG65277 of L. cassius, in addition to two lines, IG117034 and ACC1335, of L. sativus having very low β-ODAP content. Furthermore, some accessions of L. pseudocicera, L. aphaca, L. cicera, L. marmoratus, L. gorgoni, and L. tingitanus also showed low β-ODAP content. The results showed significant positive correlations among different trait combinations, viz., K and P (r = 0.193 ***), K and Fe (r = 0.177 ***), Mn and Fe (r = 0.210 ***), Mn and Se (r = 0.137 ***), β-ODAP and Mg (r = 0.158 **), and β-ODAP and Ca (r = 0.140 **). L. cicera, L. ochrus, and L. cassius were identified as a great source for improving the mineral concentration and reducing β-ODAP content in the cultivated grass pea.

Fine-Tuning Porous Structure of Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient Separation and Purification of Astaxanthin by Defect Engineering.

Efficient separation of bioactive compounds from nature source, particularly that of astaxanthin (AXT), remains challenging due to their low content in complicated matrix and readily degradable structure. Herein, a modulator-induced defect engineering is presented on the stable zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) to optimize pore size and pore chemistry for the efficient separation and purification of AXT for the first time. High adsorption capacity of 26.21mgg-1 is achieved on the best-performing defect Zr-MOF (d-UiO-67-4), superior over the other reported adsorbent for AXT. Meanwhile, d-UiO-67-4 exhibits the selective adsorption of AXT over other carotenoids analogues with similar structure and properties. This is attributed to the preferential non-covalent interactions between defect framework and AXT revealed by the spectroscopy analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. High purity of AXT with 89.0%±2.3% extraction efficiency can be realized after the purification of AXT by d-UiO-67-4. The practical separation performance of d-UiO-67-4 for AXT extracted from Haematococcus pluvialis is demonstrated by fixed-bed column-based dynamic adsorption and desorption experiments. This work broadens the preparation methods for thermosensitive active substances and provided new research ideas for the controlled adsorption of functional food factors.

Effect of meat type and fat level on burger meat characteristics: A combined approach using imaging and sensory techniques.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fat level and meat cut type on burger meat through color, texture, image, and sensory analyses, and to explore the ability of the imaging technique as a complementary tool for consumer quality perception. For this purpose, burger meat samples were prepared by combining pork and beef meat (50/50%) with other nonmeat ingredients. The differences between samples were fat level: around 15 g fat/100 g (code HF) or 10.5 g fat/100 g (code LF); cut types: from cow carcasses (code C) or yearling (code Y). Instrumental color and texture measures analysis, an image analysis, and a sensory evaluation were carried out on samples (raw and cooked) at two times: day 0 and day 1 before expiry dates. The results showed that the samples made with meat from cows presented lower L* and higher a* and b* values than the samples made from yearling. However, the fat level did not affect this parameter. This same pattern was observed for the image measurements. Regarding texture, the samples with higher fat content (and lower moisture content) had higher hardness values. Generally, meat type had no effect on textural parameters. The samples that consumers gave the highest overall acceptance scores were those made of cow meat at both fat content levels. These samples also had the highest raw and cooked color scores. The fat level slightly affected hardness, with the same pattern observed for the instrumental measures of texture. The analyses showed a good correlation between instrumental techniques and sensory evaluation.

A Comparison Between the Reduction Behavior of DRI and BF Pellets in H2 and CO Atmospheres

AbstractThe reduction behavior of two different iron ore pellets that are used in blast furnace (BF) and direct reduction (DRI) was investigated in this research. Single pellets reduction experiments were conducted isothermally using pure CO and H2 as reducing agent in the temperature range 700 °C to 1100 °C. Reduction by H2 was significantly faster than reduction by CO for both pellets and reduction rate increased with increasing the temperature. When CO was used as the reducing agent, the BF pellet achieved a reduction degree of 32% at 700 °C and 67% at 800 °C, while the DRI pellet reached 28% and 59% at the same temperatures. This difference is due to the lower magnetite content in BF pellets (1.93%) compared to DRI pellets (9.11%). However, at 1000 °C and 1100 °C, the DRI pellet achieved 93% and 100% reduction, and the BF pellet 88% and 94%, respectively, due to the higher porosity in the DRI pellet (38%) compared to BF (32%). Kinetics controlling model for hydrogen reduction of both pellets suggested as D2 (2D Diffusion through the solid ash), however, A1 (1D Nucleation and growth) and R3 (3D Chemical reaction) were found as the most compatible models for CO reduction of DRI and BF pellets, respectively. Graphical Abstract

Effects of oxidative stress on the changes of viability of Paeonia lactiflora seeds with different water content before and after cryopreservation.

Cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen (LN) is an efficient long - term seed preservation strategy and water content is one of the main factors affecting seed viability after cryopreservation. In this study, Paeonia lactiflora seeds with varying water content were used as materials to determine changes in the antioxidant system before and after cryopreservation. When the water content of P. lactiflora seeds was 15.96% - 10.12%, the viability of P. lactiflora seeds decreased significantly compared with that of the seeds without cryopreservation, but at the water content of 8.14% - 7.56% there were no significant differences. However, when the water content of P. lactiflora seeds decreased to 6.01% - 5.19% the viability was slightly increased compared to the seeds without cryopreservation. The content of superoxide anion (O2-), hydroxyl radical (·OH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl group (PCO) of seeds with high water content (15.96% - 10.12%) were significantly increased after cryopreservation. However, superoxide anion (O2-), hydroxyl radical (·OH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) did not change significantly in seeds with low water content (6.01% - 5.19%) after cryopreservation, while oxidative stress indexes MDA and PCO decreased. These three substances were significantly negatively correlated with seed viability. In terms of antioxidant substances, the contents of catalase (CAT), ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) decreased and the activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) increased during the cryopreserved process of seeds with varying water content. These changes were significantly correlated with ROS content and the changes of MDA and PCO, among which AsA content, GSH content and CAT activity were positively correlated with seed viability. The changes of GR and DHAR activity were negatively correlated with seed viability. In summary, when the water content of the seeds ranged from 8.14% - 5.19%, ROS content did not increase significantly after cryopreservation compared with that of before preservation. The changes of MDA and PCO contents before and after cryopreservation, it was inferred that no obvious oxidative damage occurred in seeds, so the viability of seeds did not decrease compared with that of before cryopreservation. Therefore, the optimum water content of P. lactiflora seeds for cryopreservation is 8.14% - 5.19%.

Therapeutic potential of β-hydroxybutyrate in the management of pancreatic neoplasms: exploring novel diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Pancreatic neoplasm, a highly aggressive and often fatal cancer, poses challenges due to late detection and nonspecific symptoms. Therefore, both early diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic approaches are necessary to augment the condition of these patients. Cancer cells undergo metabolic deregulation, which enables their proliferation, survival, and invasion. As a result, it is crucial to focus on the metabolic pathways in prevalent cancers and explore treatment strategies that target these pathways to control tumor growth effectively. This is particularly relevant in cancers like pancreatic cancer, which undergo numerous metabolic alterations. The ketogenic regimen, characterized by low carbohydrate and protein contents and high-fat sources, does not involve caloric restriction. This allows for the induction of ketogenesis and an increase in ketone bodies, while insulin and glucose levels remain low even after meals. This unique metabolic state may influence the tumor microenvironment. Given the lack of unanimous agreement on the precise role and mechanism of the ketogenic diet, this review aims to clarify the diagnostic value and accuracy of ketone bodies in various types of pancreatic tumors and explore the potential anti-cancer effects of the ketogenic diet when used alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy, also to determine the potential of the ketogenic diet to be used as adjuvant therapy. The outcomes of this study are instrumental in enhancing our understanding of the benefits and drawbacks associated with employing this diet for the management and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Three-Dimensional Printing of Metallic Parts by Means of Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)

Obtaining metallic parts via Additive Manufacturing can yield several advantages over using other traditional manufacturing methods such as machining. Material extrusion (MEX) can handle complex shapes with porous structures and, at the present time, much low-end and desktop equipment is available. In the present work, different industrial and medical applications of metallic Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) parts are presented. First, an overview of the process, equipment, and of the metal-filled filaments currently available is provided. Then, the properties of parts and different applications are shown. For example, metal-filled filaments with a low metal content that can be used to obtain plastic parts with metallic appearance (with either steel, copper, or bronze), and filaments with a high metallic content allow obtaining metallic parts with high mechanical strength after a sintering operation. The present contribution aims to be an up-to-date panorama for current industrial and medical results and lessons learnt from the application of FFF to obtain metallic parts.

Evaluating the human abuse potential of concurrent use of electronic cigarettes and low nicotine cigarettes among adults who smoke.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stated its intention to reduce the nicotine content of combustible cigarettes to render them less addictive. This study evaluated the impact of providing adults who smoke with both very low nicotine content cigarettes (VLNCCs) and electronic cigarettes (ECs) of varying nicotine content on measures of human abuse potential. Participants (n = 213) were adult combustible cigarette users. They smoked their usual brand cigarettes (UBCs) during Phase 1 (baseline; week 1) and were provided with and encouraged to exclusively use VLNCCs during Phase 2 (weeks 2-4). During dual-product Phases 3 (weeks 5-7) and 4 (weeks 8-10), participants received both VLNCCs and ECs (assigned to one of two EC devices in higher or lower nicotine concentrations and choice of flavor), with instructions to use them freely in Phases 3 and 4. Assessments included product use, exposure, acceptability, risk perception, and withdrawal-related measures. Results indicated that participants used significantly fewer UBCs during the VLNCC and dual-product phases and smoked fewer VLNCCs during the dual-product phases than the VLNCC-only phase. Neither EC liquid nicotine concentration nor flavor influenced product use. The three study product phases resulted in less product liking and more withdrawal symptoms than the UBC phase. These results suggest that adults who smoke are able to switch much of their tobacco product use from UBCs to VLNCCs and will substitute combustible UBCs and VLNCCs with noncombustible nicotine-containing ECs, but most remain dual users, at least in the short term. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Co-infiltration and dynamic formation of Pd3ZnCx intermetallic carbide by syngas boosting selective hydrogenation of acetylene.

Transition metal carbide shows excellent performance in selective hydrogenation of acetylene, however, the carburization of Pd-based intermetallic compounds remains infeasible. Here we report the successful synthesis of an unprecedented Pd3ZnCx intermetallic carbide, via co-infiltration of zinc and carbon in one-step carburization by syngas. Utilizing state-of-the-art in situ characterizations and theoretical calculation, we unveil the dynamic evolution of Pd3ZnCx during carburization, forming a Pd3Zn like cubic phase carbide structure. A unique transitional state (Pdt) with low content of Zn/C co-infiltration is clearly identified facilitating phase transition and sustain incorporation of carbon and zinc at elevated temperatures. The Pd3ZnCx carbide shows by far the best catalytic performance in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene with a high selectivity (>90%) even at a high H2/C2H2 ratio. Our results therefore provide a co-infiltration strategy and dynamic insights for the one-step synthesis of Pd based intermetallic carbides, towards high-performance intermetallic compound for selective hydrogenation of acetylene.

Dry-Cured Ham, ‘Kraški Pršut’, from Heavy Pig Production—A Pilot Study Focusing on the Effect of Ham Weight and Salting

A pilot study was conducted with the aim of adapting the processing of “Kraški pršut”, dry-cured ham, for thighs from heavy pigs. The focus was on the effect of ham weight and salting duration on the quality of dry-cured ham. From a pool of thighs harvested from heavy pigs, a total of 32 green hams were selected (from 16 carcasses) based on weight (two classes; L—lighter, H—heavier) and we used left and right ham for either the standard or a shortened salting phase. Salting duration consisted of phase 1 (7 days for all hams) and phase 2 (7 or 14 days for L, 10 or 17 days for H, in the case of shortened and standard salting, respectively). Equivalent conditions for all hams were maintained during the remaining phases, with a total maturation period of 18 months. The analysis focused on chemical, physical and rheological properties, sensory attributes, and consumer perceptions. The H hams had lower processing losses, resulting in higher moisture and water activity, lower salt content in internal biceps femoris muscle, and a softer texture (instrumental and sensory) than L hams. The salting duration mainly affected weight losses in the salting phase and, consequently, salt content, which was lower in the shortened salting phase, while no effects were observed on texture. The sensory panel perceived weight’s effect on hardness, with L hams being perceived as harder, and salting’s effect on sourness, with hams submitted to longer salting perceived as sourer than H hams. Consumer testing indicated a general preference for softer and less salty hams. Overall, the results show that the applied reduction in salting duration was not substantial, and future trials should explore further optimization in terms of salting and resting phases.

Optimized Cultivation of Stropharia rugosoannulata Using Winter Jujube Wastes and Safety Risk Assessment of the Cultivated Mushrooms

Substantial agricultural waste, including winter jujube residues, pits, and sawdust, is generated during the planting and processing of winter jujubes. To recycle these wastes, they were used to cultivate Stropharia rugosoannulata. The nutrient composition, mineral elements, 179 pesticide residues, and heavy metals in the wastes and S. rugosoannulata were tested. Cultivating the liquid spawn of S. rugosoannulata with 40 g/L winter jujube residue as a substitute for glucose significantly increased the mycelial pellets’ biomass by 136%, resulting in more uniform pellets. Secondary strains of S. rugosoannulata were cultured using winter jujube pits, showing no significant difference in mycelial growth rate and vigor compared to the control (CK) across additive levels of 10%–30%. The fruit bodies of S. rugosoannulata cultivated with winter jujube sawdust exhibited no detectable pesticide residues and a lower heavy metal content than the allowable limits, with a protein content of 36.7 g/100 g. Additionally, the mineral element potassium surpassed sodium by over 200 times, rendering it a potassium-rich, low-sodium food source. Utilizing winter jujube wastes for S. rugosoannulata cultivation effectively repurposed these wastes through sustainable recycling. This approach not only reduces cultivation costs but also yields safe and nutritious edible fungal products.

The Flexural Strength and the Effect of the Autoclave Sterilization of Polypropylene/Natural Rubber Blended Materials

Background: Rubber dam clamps are used extensively in dentistry, especially during root canal treatment. However, existing rubber dam clamps have several drawbacks, including discomfort and potential damage to vital tissue in the oral cavity. To address these existing issues, a new rubber dam clamp should be developed. The aim of this study was to identify the optimum ratios of polypropylene and natural rubber (PP/NR) for a customized rubber dam clamp in dentistry. This study was focused on the flexural strength of PP/NR in various ratios. Moreover, the impact of autoclave sterilization was also considered. Methods: Six proportions of PP/NR blends (100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40 and 50/50) were prepared and assessed for flexural strength using a three-point bending test. After this test, the PP/NR blends with 100/0, 90/10 and 80/20 ratios were selected and underwent autoclave sterilization for 1, 5 and 10 cycles. Eventually, the flexural strength testing was repeated and investigated. An analysis of variance and Tukey’s test were used to evaluate the flexural strength of various PP/NR blends before autoclave sterilization at p &lt; 0.05. An analysis of variance and Dunnett’s T3 test were used to evaluate the flexural strength of selected PP/NR blends before and after autoclave sterilization at p &lt; 0.05. Results: The results revealed that the flexural strength of PP/NR blended materials showed a statistically significant difference in every group of this study. The autoclave sterilization test revealed that the flexural strength of the PP/NR 90/10 and 80/20 ratios was significantly increased after sterilization for 1, 5 and 10 cycles. In addition, the PP/NR 90/10 ratio was also comparable to the 100/0 ratio. The lower NR content in PP/NR blends resulted in significantly higher flexural strength, and autoclave sterilization had an effect on this property. Conclusions: This study suggested that the PP/NR blend with a 90/10 ratio might be considered as an alternative material for developing rubber dam clamps.