Stearic Research Articles

Visible light-driven self-heating photocatalytic decarboxylation of fatty acid over α-Fe2O3

Here we report a temperature-dependent strategy that achieves high-efficiency photocatalytic decarboxylation of long-chain fatty acids to Cn-1 n-alkanes, e.g., producing ∼0.5 M of n-heptadecane from stearic acid in a single operation with ∼91% selectivity, far beyond no more than mM limit capacities of conventional photocatalysis. Through the use of high boiling-point n-alkane solvents for getting the best self-heating based on the photothermal conversion effect of α-Fe2O3, i.e., high temperatures, which force the standing C-chain at low temperatures down onto the α-Fe2O3 surface for energy-storing, allowing photo-induced hole-electron pairs to readily approach and react with the more strained C-COO- bonds. And the consumption of photogenerated electrons shifts from the conventional PCET of the photo-Koble reaction into a step-wise pathway to form more favorable carbanion intermediate that reacting with H+ into RH is accelerated with lifting temperature. Our work offers a practical approach to upgrade photocatalytic decarboxylation by a convenient photo-to-heat route.

Effect of stearic acid modification on properties of pearl millet starch

AbstractThe present study aims Pennisetum glaucum (commonly known as pearl millet) starch modification with stearic acid at various concentrations (2.4, 2.6, and 4.8%) to improve starch functionality. The interaction of stearic acid and starch was verified by X-ray diffractogram which showed peaks at 15.1°, 23.2°, and a doublet with peaks at 17.1° and 18°confirming that an A-type crystalline starch was successfully isolated from pearl millet. The crystallinity pattern of the starch-stearic acid complex was similar to native starch, but there was a slight increase in peak intensity, and an additional peak at 21.42° (SSA3) was recorded, which might be due to aggregates of stearic acid. The surface of the starch granules was slightly dented and punctured as a result of the stearic acid modification, which SEM confirmed. DSC pattern showed that compared to native starch, the starch-stearic acid complex had higher peak temperatures of 123.21 °C (SSA3), demonstrating greater thermal stability. Complex formation was also interpreted from the FTIR spectrum, which showed a small peak at 1698 cm−1 in starch-stearic acid composite samples, which might be due to the stretching vibration of C═O of stearic acid. The complexing index of the sample increased from 26.81 to 90.32% on increasing the stearic acid concentration from 2.4 to 4.8%, respectively. This characterization confirmed the reaction between the hydroxyl group of starch and stearic acid, which showed an increase in thermal stability and can also help improve hydrophobicity, which implies that this complex has the potential for usage in food packaging with improved barrier properties. Graphical abstract

Heavy Pigs Reared for Italian Dry-Cured Products: Does Immunocastration Influence the Fatty Acid Profile of Loins and Backfat?

The Italian pig sector requires heavy pigs (raised for at least nine months and slaughtered at >160 kg). In order to avoid boar taint and lower the impact on welfare, immunocastration provides an alternative to surgical castration. This study investigated the effects of immunocastration compared to surgical castration on the chemical composition and fatty acid profile of loins (longissimus dorsi muscle) and adipose tissue in Italian heavy pigs raised for dry-cured ham. Twenty-four male pigs were subjected to surgical castration (n = 12) or immunocastration (n = 12). Carcass parameters were monitored at slaughter, and samples of longissimus dorsi muscle and subcutaneous fat were analysed. This study showed no significant differences in carcass characteristics and proximate composition of fresh meat. However, variations were observed in the fatty acid profiles of meat and adipose tissue between groups. Notably, saturated fatty acids, particularly stearic acid (18:0), were higher in the intramuscular fat (IMF) of the immunocastrated pigs compared to the surgically castrated pigs. Conversely, monounsaturated fatty acids, predominantly oleic acid (18:1n-9), were higher in the IMF from the surgically castrated pigs compared to the immunocastrated pigs. While immunocastration may offer benefits in terms of animal growth and carcass composition, it could lead to unfavourable lipid changes in fresh loin meat for Italian heavy pigs.

Time-Dependent and Coating Modulation of Tomato Response upon Sulfur Nanoparticle Internalization and Assimilation: An Orthogonal Mechanistic Investigation.

Nanoenabled strategies have recently attracted attention as a sustainable platform for agricultural applications. Here, we present a mechanistic understanding of nanobiointeraction through an orthogonal investigation. Pristine (nS) and stearic acid surface-modified (cS) sulfur nanoparticles (NPs) as a multifunctional nanofertilizer were applied to tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.) through soil. Both nS and cS increased root mass by 73% and 81% and increased shoot weight by 35% and 50%, respectively, compared to the untreated controls. Bulk sulfur (bS) and ionic sulfate (iS) had no such stimulatory effect. Notably, surface modification of S NPs had a positive impact, as cS yielded 38% and 51% greater shoot weight compared to nS at 100 and 200 mg/L, respectively. Moreover, nS and cS significantly improved leaf photosynthesis by promoting the linear electron flow, quantum yield of photosystem II, and relative chlorophyll content. The time-dependent gene expression related to two S bioassimilation and signaling pathways showed a specific role of NP surface physicochemical properties. Additionally, a time-dependent Global Test and machine learning strategy applied to understand the NP surface modification domain metabolomic profiling showed that cS increased the contents of IA, tryptophan, tomatidine, and scopoletin in plant leaves compared to the other treatments. These findings provide critical mechanistic insights into the use of nanoscale sulfur as a multifunctional soil amendment to enhance plant performance as part of nanoenabled agriculture.

Gas-liquid chromatography analysis of phospholipids and triglycerides in Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) larvae: Effect of different diets

The Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is an important insect pest on a wide range of stored food diets. This study employed gas-liquid chromatography to investigate the influence of different diets (pistachio, raisins, and walnuts) on the composition of phospholipids and triglycerides in fifth instar larvae of P. interpunctella. The fatty acid profiles of the larvae revealed seven essential fatty acids including myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. The fatty acid composition of larvae-extracted phospholipids and triglycerides also varied according to the diet type. In terms of phospholipids, the highest concentration of myristic acid was observed in larvae fed walnut. Raisins exhibited the highest levels of palmitoleic and oleic acid, while pistachio demonstrated the highest concentration of linoleic acid. However, no significant differences were observed among the treatments concerning palmitic acid, stearic acid, and linolenic acid. Regarding triglycerides, no significant differences were found among the treatments in terms of myrisitc acid and oleic acid. However, the raisins treatment displayed the highest amount of palmitoleic acid, while both pistachio and walnut treatments exhibited the highest levels of linoleic acid. Additionally, the concentration of linolenic acid in larvae fed walnut was higher than other test diets. These findings provide valuable insights into the fatty acid composition of P. interpunctella fed different diets. Such knowledge can be utilized in developing pest management strategies, as the manipulation of fatty acid profiles in insects’ diet could potentially impact their growth, development, and fitness.

GC-MS analysis and antioxidant activity of Gyrocarpus asiaticus Willd.

Aims: The plant Gyrocarpus asiaticus Willd mainly found in south India comes under the family Hernandiaceae. Present phytochemical analysis by GC-MS is to identify compounds and their structural determination and examine antioxidant properties of the plant. Methodology: GC-MS analysis of a hydroalcoholic extract of Gyrocarpus asiaticus Willd was done on Shimadzu QP 2010 Ultra, and carrier gas was used as Helium and Nitrogen. In-vitro antioxidant activity of hydroalcoholic extract carried out by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, Ascorbic acid used as a standard drug and analyzed by UV-Visible spectrophotometer (Analytical 2008). Result: The GC-MS analysis of the hydroalcoholic extract shows there are several phytochemical constituents present. From the library of the GC-MS, there are a total of 105 compounds are identified like Alpha -toluenephosphoric acid, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, diethyl ester, n-Tetradecanoic acid, Eicosen-1-ol, N -Tridecoic acid, Phytyl eicosanoate, Pentadecane carboxylic acid, Heptadecanoic acid, 9-Octadecenoic acid, Octadecanoic acid, Doxepin, Rotenone, Vitamin D3, Vitamin D2, Beta carotene, Calcifediol, Vitamin E, Amoxapine, Cholesteone. The in-vitro antioxidant study of 20,40,60,80,100 μg/ml concentration of the hydroalcoholic extract of the plant shows % of free radical scavenging activity like 46.07, 56.27, 68.35, 73.89, and 73.55 and shows IC50 value 44.63. Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic extract of Gyrocarpus asiaticus WILLD shows various biologically active compounds and significant antioxidant activity.

Epoxy resin/ aluminium hydroxide/expanded graphite synergistic effects on advancing flame retardancy, mechanical structure and thermal management of octadecanoic acid and octadecanol-based eutectic phase change materials

In the present research, a novel approach wherein a flame-retardant composite phase change material (PCMs) is devised by incorporating eutectic PCMs, epoxy resin (ER), aluminium hydroxide (ATH), and expanded graphite (EG). This innovative formulation capitalizes on the synergistic interaction between ER and ATH, alongside the porous structure of EG, resulting in a triple-layer encapsulation of the eutectic PCMs. The outcome of this formulation is marked by remarkable thermal stability, even under extreme conditions such as exposure to temperatures as high as 800 °C. Notably, one of the representative samples, denoted as S5, showcases impressive attributes with a thermal conductivity of 1.335 W∙m-1K−1 and a substantial phase change latent heat of 150.4 J∙g−1. It was observed an increase in latent heat up to 181.3 J∙g−1 after 100 heating–cooling cycles of composite PCMs. This indicates the good thermal reliability of the form-stable composite PCMs synthesized. Moreover, the composite PCMs exhibit outstanding mechanical properties, especially S5 which showed a 14.69 % and 400.12 % increase in compression strength and compression modulus compared with pure eutectic PCM (S0), respectively. Besides, the ternary composition of ER, ATH, and EG enhances the flame retardancy of the composite PCMs, yielding a substantial reduction of 67.33 % in peak heat release rate and 50.38 % in total heat release. This collaborative effect also establishes a robust defense mechanism against the rapid propagation of flames, as exemplified by the attainment of a V-0 rating in the UL-94 test. As a result, the flame-retardant ER/ATH/EG ternary-based form-stable composite PCM presents itself as a promising candidate for ensuring both safety and efficiency in thermal management applications.

Effect of electron beam irradiation pretreatment and different fatty acid types on the formation, structural characteristics and functional properties of starch-lipid complexes

The effects of different electron beam irradiation doses (2, 4, 8 KGy) and various types of fatty acids (lauric acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid) on the formation, structure, physicochemical properties, and digestibility of starch-lipid complex were investigated. The complexing index of the complexes was higher than 85 %, indicating that the three fatty acids could easily form complexes with starch. With the increase of electron beam irradiation dose, the complexing index increased first and then decreased. The highest complexing index was lauric acid (97.12 %), stearic acid (96.80 %), and oleic acid (97.51 %) at 2 KGy radiation dose, respectively. Moreover, the microstructure, crystal structure, thermal stability, rheological properties, and starch solubility were analyzed. In vitro digestibility tests showed that adding fatty acids could reduce the content of hydrolyzed starch, among which the resistant starch content of the starch-oleic acid complex was the highest (54.26 %). The lower dose of electron beam irradiation could decrease the digestibility of starch and increase the content of resistant starch.

Characterization of flavor-related compounds and sensory profiles of four fermented fish products prepared from silver rasbora (Rasbora argyrotaenia) and anchovy (Stolephorus sp.)

Fermented fish products are grouped into salt and salt-carbohydrate types based on the fermentation substrate. A series of biochemical reactions on the substrate affects the flavor characteristics of the resulting products. This study compared the amino acids, fatty acids, and volatile compound profiles of four fermented fish products: bekasam, rusip, fish paste, and fish sauce made from silver rasbora and anchovy. The quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) was carried out to determine the sensory profiles of those products. The results indicated that rusip and bekasam, which belong to salt-carbohydrate fermented fish, were characterized as high in arginine, stearic, capric, and oleic acid, with ketones, lactones, and fatty acid derivative compounds dominating their flavor profiles. The flavor profile of fish paste was characterized by high concentrations of aldehydes such as 3- methylbutanal and hexanal, whereas that of fish sauce was characterized by large concentrations of pyrazine and aromatic compounds. Based on the findings of the QDA, no significant difference was observed within the sensory variables of fish sauce and fish paste prepared from anchovy and silver rasbora, indicating that both fish are equally usable as raw materials. Whereas different saltiness was identified in both rusip and bekasam prepared from anchovy and rasbora. The results of PCA on QDA data separated fermented fish type 1 from the type 2. Fermented fish type 1 was more correlated with umami and sweet taste, while type 2 was correlated with fishy, salty, sour, and astringent taste. The result is useful as a basis for further product development and quality control.

The role of C18 fatty acids in improving the digestion and retrogradation properties of highland barley starch

In this study, five C18 fatty acids (FA) with different numbers of double bonds and configurations including stearic acid (SA), oleic acid (OA), elaidic acid (EA), linoleic acid (LA), and α-linolenic acid (ALA), were selected to prepare highland barely starch (HBS)-FA complexes to modulate digestibility and elaborate the underlying mechanism. The results showed that HBS-SA had the highest complex index (34.18 %), relative crystallinity (17.62 %) and single helix content (25.78 %). Furthermore, the HBS-C18 FA complexes were formed by EA (C18 FA with monounsaturated bonds) that had the highest R1047/1022 (1.0509) and lowest full width at half-maximum (FWHM, 20.85), suggesting good short-range ordered structure. Moreover, all C18 FAs could form two kinds of V-type complexes with HBS, which can be confirmed by the results of CLSM and DSC measurements, and all of them showed significantly lower digestibility. HBS-EA possessed the highest resistant starch content (20.17 %), while HBS-SA had the highest slowly digestible starch content (26.61 %). In addition, the inhibition of HBS retrogradation by fatty acid addition was further proven, where HBS-SA gel firmness (37.80 g) and aging enthalpy value were the lowest, indicating the most effective. Overall, compounding with fatty acids, especially SA, could be used as a novel way to make functional foods based on HBS.

Nutritional composition of ghee of various animal origins produced in some silk road countries

This study aimed to investigate the fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals of ghee from various animal milk from different countries, such as India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Turkey. Ghee consists of 98.9% of fat, irrespective of the animal source. Among the short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids, all samples contain butyric (C4:0), caproic (C6:0), caprylic (C8:0), and capric acid (C10:0). Mare and goat ghee additionally contain undecanoic acid (C11:0). Major fatty acids were myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), and monounsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid (C18:1 cis 9). Notably, camel and mare ghee have the highest values of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Regarding minerals, the average levels were 5.48 mg/100 g for calcium, 5.04 mg/100 g for potassium, and 23.6 mg/100 g for phosphorus. Ghee also contains β-carotene at an average of 392 µg/100 g, vitamin A at 606 µg/100 g, and vitamin E at 1650 µg/100 g. The aforementioned results underscore the variation in the nutritional composition of ghee according to its geographical origin and source.

Effects of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids on cognitive impairment: evidence from Mendelian randomization study.

Prior observational studies have suggested correlations between saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) with cognitive function. However, causal relationships remains unclear. We assessed the causal impact of two SFAs (palmitic acid [PA] and stearic acid [SA]) and two MUFAs (oleic acid [OA] and palmitoleic acid [POA]) on cognitive function-related traits, and dementia-related traits by univariable Mendelian randomization (UVMR) and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analyses. UVMR indicated β of 0.060 (P = 4.05E-06) for cognitive performance score and 0.066 (P = 4.21E-04) for fluid intelligence per standard deviation (SD) increase in OA level. MVMR indicated: (i) β of -0.608 (P = 8.37E-05) for fluid intelligence score per SD increase in POA; (ii) β of 0.074 (P = 0.018) for fluid intelligence score per SD increase in OA; (iii) β of 0.029 (P = 0.033) for number of incorrect matches in round per SD increase in PA; and (iv) β of 0.039 (P = 0.032) for number of incorrect matches in round per SD increase in SA. In addition, a secondary MVMR analysis after excluding the effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids suggested that: (i) β of -0.043 (P = 1.97E-02) for cognitive performance score per SD increase in PA and (ii) β of -0.079 (P = 1.79E-03) for cognitive performance score per SD increase in SA. Overall, UVMR and MVMR suggest that OA may be beneficial for cognitive function, while POA, PA, and SA may have detrimental effects on cognitive function.

Suppression of Ag dewetting in submicron Cu@Ag particles in paste for improving sinter bondability through surface modification

Operating temperature of a wide-bandgap semiconductor-based power device can reach 300 °C, which requires a next-generation die-attach sinter material. Ag-coated Cu (Cu@Ag) particles have been considered as a low-cost filler material in pastes for sinter bonding, replacing pure Ag particles. However, there are two main problems: out-diffusion of core Cu and Ag dewetting. Although the Ag shell is sufficiently thick, Ag dewetting induces accelerated out-diffusion of the core Cu and the resultant Cu oxidation through the formation of thin Ag coating parts. Accordingly, a surface-modification method using stearic acid was developed to suppress Ag dewetting and improve the sinterability of Cu@Ag particles. Sinter-bonding characteristics were examined using pastes containing surface-modified submicron Cu@Ag particles. Sinter bonding was conducted at 250 °C under 10 MPa for 1–10 min with N2 blowing using eight types of initial and surface-modified submicron Cu@Ag particles with Ag contents of 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt% (A10, A20, A30, and A40). The shear strength of the bondline containing surface-modified A10 exhibited 17.56 MPa when bonded for 3 min, compared with 11.67 MPa of the initial A10. After a bonding time of 10 min, the shear strength increased to 20.41 MPa. Surface-modified A10 (low Ag content), with the highest efficiency in Ag dewetting suppression, exhibited sinter-bonding characteristics similar to those of Cu@Ag particles with higher Ag contents without surface treatment. Surface-modified A20 provided a sufficient strength of 20.83 MPa after 3 min of bonding.

Removal of residual organic pollutants from pulp paper industry wastewater using bacterial strains Acinetobacter baumannii (OK582199) PC4 and Bacillus cereus (OK582201) PC10 via biostimulation and bioaugmentation process

This study examines how native bacteria, combined with two specific aerobic strains (Acinetobacter baumannii PC4 and Bacillus cereus PC10), contribute to the detoxification of pulp and paper industrial wastewater (PPIW) through biostimulation and bioaugmentation processes. The growth of two native bacteria were stimulated in pulp paper industry wastewater by the addition of carbon (1% glucose) and nitrogen (0.5% peptone w/v). After the growth of these native bacteria in biostimulation process showed significant reduction in various physico-chemical parameters i.e. lignin (53%), color (46%), COD (76%), and BOD (86%). Similarly, reductions in various heavy metals were also observed, such as Fe (73%), Zn (36%), Cr (41%), Cu (22%), and Ni (65%). The growing native bacterial co-culture were identified as Enterobacter cloacae strain PC7 (OQ672613) and Bacillus sp. strain PCB (OK614116). However, the addition of Acinetobacter baumannii (OK582199) PC4 and Bacillus cereus (OK582201) PC10 enhanced the reduction of various physico-chemical parameters in range of 10–––28%. Consequently, the UV–Vis absorption peak showed reduction due to the decolorization of wastewater and degradation of various pollutants. Moreover, GC–MS analysis indicated that most of the compounds detected in the control were diminished after bacterial treatment. However, compounds such as Pentadecane, 2-Methyl, Silane (dodecylosy) trimethyl, Octadecanoic acid, trimethylsilyl ester, and Docasane were noted as recalcitrant. Additionally, new metabolic products such as 1-ethyl-5,6-dimethoxy-2,3-dihydroindole, Trimethylsily ether of glycerol, and 1-(Trimethylsilylmethyl1) dimethylsilyloxy tetradecane were detected. Due to degradation of various pollutants toxicity reductions were found up to 76% during a comparative evaluation between control and bacterial treated wastewater using the Phaseolus mungo L. seed germination test. Hence, it was concluded that the biostimulation and bioaugmentation process would be an effective technique for degrading residual organic pollutants from pulp and paper industrial wastewater (PPIW) for safe disposal.

Induction heating of magnetic nanoparticles: role of thermo-physical properties of the coating moieties

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are utilized for magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH)-based cancer therapeutics, where the MNPs are surface functionalized to impart desired stability and biological properties. In this study, the MFH properties of palmitic (PA) and stearic (SA) acid-coated superparamagnetic Fe3O4 MNPs, with similar sizes (∼ 10 ± 0.8 nm, and ∼ 11 ± 0.7 nm, respectively), and saturation magnetizations (∼ 40.8 emu/g, and ∼ 41 emu/g, respectively), are systematically probed to understand the role of the thermo-physical properties of the coating moieties on the MFH efficiency. PA and SA-coated MNPs are prepared using a one-step microwave-assisted co-precipitation technique, and the presence of the surface coatings is confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses. Magneto-calorimetric studies show a high induction heating efficiency, surpassing the threshold of MFH for a biologically relevant field-frequency range. The maximum heating efficiencies are found to be ∼ 164.5 ± 5.4 W/gFe and ∼ 223.9 ± 6.4 W/gFe for the PA and SA-coated MNPs, respectively. This indicates ∼ 36.1 % higher specific absorption rate (SAR) for the SA-coated MNPs under similar experimental conditions, even though the magneto-structural properties are identical for the PA and SA-coated MNPs. Further, finite element modelling is utilized to investigate the thermal transport from the magnetic core to the surrounding medium, where the thermo-physical properties of the coating moieties are considered. Finite element simulations indicate ∼ 32.6 % higher SAR for the SA-coated MNPs, which is consistent with the experimental findings. The higher SAR for the SA-coated MNPs is attributed to the ∼ 1.7 times higher thermal diffusivity of SA. The proposed model is experimentally validated using a third system consisting of lauric acid-coated Fe3O4 MNPs with comparable magneto-structural properties. Further, significant temperature rise in a tissue-equivalent agar medium and good bio-compatibility, as indicated by the in vitro cyto-toxicity studies, make the prepared MNPs potential candidates for MFH applications. The obtained results provide deeper insight into the role of the thermo-physical properties of the coating moieties on the induction heating efficiency of superparamagnetic MNPs.

Nano-structure and hydrophobicity co-determined barrier properties of corrosion protective ZnAl-LDH film in atmospheric environment

Salt spray is prone to convert superhydrophobic surface from Cassie-Baxter state to Wenzel state, which accelerates the metallic corrosion. Herein, corrosion process of superhydrophobic coatings were investigated by in-situ growth of LDH lamellae with different platelet spacing and modification of stearic acid. The corrosion protection mechanism of the superhydrophobic coating divided into two stages: the well-known air film blocking effect and the hydrophobicity-depended barrier performance, which is a new focus. Through investigating the influences of the nano-structure on corrosion protection via experiments and simulation, a new mechanism on corrosion protection failure of superhydrophobic surfaces in atmospheric environment is proposed.

Role of coating techniques and low surface energy materials on long-term performance of superhydrophobic titanium

This study, for the first time, compares the performance of robust superhydrophobic (SHP) titanium (CP-Ti) surfaces developed by two different coating methods, (i) dip / immersion coating and (ii) spin coating, using two different low surface energy materials, (i) stearic acid and (ii) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). A facile two-step method for the fabrication of SHP Ti surface is followed, wherein the CP-Ti was first anodized and followed by the coating. The anodization of CP-Ti increased its surface roughness by developing a homogeneous coverage of randomly distributed micro-clusters, whose chemical composition was TiO2-xCly. Subsequent low surface energy organic coatings did not alter the surface morphology. The XPS analysis of stearic acid coated SHP Ti showed that the molecular structure of stearic acid is retained intact whereas the PDMS coated sample showed a partial modification of PDMS molecular structure with the presence of additional -[Si(O)2-O]- bonds apart from the inherent -[Si(CH3)2-O]- bonds. The water contact angle (WCA) and sliding angle (SA) values of SHP Ti were 170±5° and 6±2°, respectively. The SHP Ti showed excellent self-cleaning properties for both hydrophobic and hydrophilic contaminants. The adhesion test of the coatings showed the detachment of coating was within 5%. The coatings prepared by dip / immersion method retained their superhydrophobicity for an abrasion distance of about twice the length, (75±25 cm), due to a higher coating thickness, as compared to those obtained by the spin coating technique (40±20 cm). Further, the stearic acid-coated CP-Ti showed a better abrasion resistance while the stability of the PDMS-coated samples in different pH and Cl- environments was better. Nevertheless, both the stearic acid and PDMS-coated SHP CP-Ti samples showed excellent long-term stability against ambient atmosphere and UV exposure.

Continuous cropping system altered soil microbial communities and nutrient cycles.

Understanding the response of microbial communities and their potential functions is essential for sustainability of agroecosystems under long-term continuous cropping. However, limited research has focused on investigating the interaction between soil physicochemical factors and microbial community dynamics in agroecosystems under long-term continuous cropping. This study probed into the physicochemical properties, metabolites, and microbial diversity of tobacco rhizosphere soils cropped continuously for 0, 5, and 20 years. The relative abundance of bacterial genera associated with nutrient cycling (e.g., Sphingomonas) increased while potential plant pathogenic fungi and beneficial microorganisms showed synergistic increases with the duration of continuous cropping. Variations in soil pH, alkeline nitrogen (AN) content, and soil organic carbon (SOC) content drove the shifts in soil microbial composition. Metabolites such as palmitic acid, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, stearic acid, and hippuric acid may play a key role in soil acidification. Those results enhance our ability to predict shifts in soil microbial community structure associated with anthropogenic continuous cropping, which can have long-term implications for crop production.

Effect of roasting on the oil content, bioactive components, fatty acid composition and mineral content of purslane seeds

SummaryIn this study, the effect of microwave on oil contents, bioactive components, antioxidant activity, polyphenols, tocopherols, fatty acid compositions and nutrients of purslane seeds was investigated. The moisture amount of the purslane seeds decreased significantly, while the oil and bioactive properties of the seeds increased compared to the control. Raw (control) and purslane seeds roasted in microwave contained 24.72 and 26.27 mg/100 g gallic acid, 34.12 and 38.30 mg/100 g 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid, 111.57 and 118.55 mg/100 g catechin, 8.70 and 3.46 caffeic acid, 5.95 and 5.09 mg/100 g syringic acid, 18.73 and 8.34 mg/100 g rutin and 3.07 and 2.26 mg/100 g quercetin, respectively. Stearic, linoleic, arachidic, linolenic, behenic and erucic acid results of the oils of raw and purslane seeds roasted in microwave were partially increased compared to raw seed oil. The applied heat treatment had a positive effect on the tocopherol results of the purslane seed oils, and the tocopherol contents of the oils obtained from the roasted seeds increased compared to the control. In general, the protein and mineral values of heat‐treated purslane seeds increased (except Ca, Fe and Mn).

Efficiency of clustering methods and self-organizing maps of Adriatic sardines and anchovies regarding organochlorine and fatty acid burden.

The Adriatic Sea plays a crucial role as both a significant fishing ground and a thriving trading market for small pelagic edible fish. Recognized for their nutritional value, these fish are esteemed for their high protein content and abundance of polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, making them a sought-after and healthful food choice. Nevertheless, pelagic species can also serve as a reservoir for lipophilic organochlorine pollutants, posing potential risks to human health. In this study, we compared traditional classification methods traditional principal component analysis (PCA) and Ward's clustering with an advanced self-organizing map (SOM) algorithm in determining distribution patterns of 24 organochlorines and 19 fatty acids in sardine and anchovy samples taken from the eastern Adriatic. The outcomes reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the three approaches (PCA, Ward's clustering, and SOM). However, it is evident that SOM has proven to be the most effective in offering detailed information and data visualization. Although sardines and anchovies exhibit similar distribution patterns for p,p'-DDE, PCB-28, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-118, and PCB-170, they differ in the concentrations of fatty acids such as stearic, palmitic, myristic, oleic, docosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acid. Our findings supply valuable insights for environmental authorities and fish consumers concerning the potential risks associated with organochlorines in these two types of fish.