Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis Research Articles

Feammox bacterial biofilm formation in HFMB

Nitrogen pollution has been increasing with the development of industrialization. Consequently, the excessive deposition of reactive nitrogen in the environment has generated the loss of biodiversity and eutrophication of different ecosystems. In 2005, a Feammox process was discovered that anaerobically metabolizes ammonium. Feammox with the use of hollow fiber membrane bioreactors (HFMB), based on the formation of biofilms of bacterial communities, has emerged as a possible efficient and sustainable method for ammonium removal in environments with high iron concentrations. This work sought to study the possibility of implementing, at laboratory scale, an efficient method by evaluating the use of HFMB. Samples from an internal circulation reactor (IC) incubated in culture media for Feammox bacteria. The cultures were enriched in a batch reactor to evaluate growth conditions. Next, HFMB assembly was performed, and Feammox parameters were monitored. Also, conventional PCR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were performed to characterize the bacterial communities associated with biofilm formation. The use of sodium acetate presented the best performance for Feammox activity. The HFMB operation showed an ammonium (NH4+) removal of 50%. SEM analysis of the fibers illustrated the formation of biofilm networks formed by bacteria, which were identified as Albidiferax ferrireducens, Geobacter spp, Ferrovum myxofaciens, Shewanella spp., and Anammox. Functional genes Archaea/Bacteria ammonia monooxygenase, nrxA, hzsB, nirS and nosZ were also identified. The implementation of HFMB Feammox could be used as a sustainable tool for the removal of ammonium from wastewater produced because of anthropogenic activities.

Impacts of ohmic-heating on the surface characteristics, membrane integrity, morphology, and chemical compounds of Bifidobacterium animalis paraprobiotic

The aim of this paper was to obtain paraprobiotic from Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb-12 (BB) with a promising ohmic-heating (OH) condition through response surface modeling, based on the flow cytometry and spectrophotometry analyses. Some properties of the obtained BB paraprobiotic (BBP) were studied, including the cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), cell auto- and co-aggregation (CAA and CCA), and membrane integrity (MI). Among fitted models, the linear model was more accurate for co-aggregation (R2-pred 85.77%), and the quadratic model for CSH (R2-pred: 84.17%), auto-aggregation (R2-pred=87.25%), MI (R2-pred: 83.65%). The electric field (EF) had the most destructive effect on the MI of BBP. However, OH temperature had the most enhancing effect on the surface characteristics. The surface characteristics of BBP (CSH: 44.82, CAA: 38.05, and CCA: 40.79) obtained by the OH process at optimum condition was remarkably more than BB without OH treatment (CSH: 34.21, CAA: 27.18, and CCA: 28.5). The confirming analysis regarding the MI changes was performed successfully by scanning electron microscopy analysis. Lactic and acetic acids were the most amounts of characterized metabolites in BBP and BB. The OH condition, including EF of 8 V/cm, OH temperature of 88˚C, BB population of 8 (log CFU/mL), and OH time of 3 min, were considered optimum condition. At this optimum OH condition, the responses for CSH, CAA, CCA, and MI were observed 44.82, 38.05, 40.79, and 94.82 %, respectively.

Tannic acid strengthen adhesion of poly(AAm-co-GG) hydrogels for multiple solid surfaces repairing

This study aims to develop bio-compatible mechanically robust, adhesive hydrogels using acrylamide and gellan gum. Tannic acid (TA) and N, N-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) were used as physical and chemical crosslinkers respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis verified the successful synthesis of hydrogels through free radical addition polymerization. The rheological tests, such as frequency sweep, creep recovery, and amplitude sweep were performed to evaluate the effect of TA on the adhesive behavior and viscoelastic properties of hydrogels. Results highlighted the pivotal role of polymer chain interactions in regulating the adhesive behavior. The tannic acid concentration was varied to assess the adhesive performance, higher tannic acid concentration resulted in improved adherence. The adhesion strength order was received as 33.6 > 18 > 7.56 > 6.7 > 6.23 kPa. The prepared adhesive hydrogels performed exceptionally well on wood, cloth, rubber, glass, and ceramics-like materials. Furthermore, the hydrogels were practically found efficient at low as well as at high temperatures. The low price, high efficiency, easy to synthesize, and bio-friendly. etc. characteristics can make these hydrogels to be applied convincingly as adhesives in the future.

Experimental and analytical investigation of the tensile mechanism of textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) composites and fabric grids in elevated temperatures

The textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) combines high-strength fabric textiles with cementitious mortar matrix to enhance mechanical behaviour and durability, especially at high temperatures. The current study investigated how basalt, carbon, and glass textile grids and TRM composites respond under direct tensile and thermal loading up to 800 ℃. Changes in microstructure were analyzed using scan electron microscopy (SEM), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV). The results indicated that temperature significantly affected the coating material and cementitious mortar, weakening the grids and composite specimens. Carbon and glass fibre grids proved more resilient, and the carbon and glass TRM reduced 50% of their ultimate stress at 500 ℃, while for basalt TRM is 200 ℃. A slight gain of strength was observed for all TRM specimens at 300 ℃, and SEM analysis revealed critical changes in the mortar matrix and interfacial transition region. The results were further utilized to calibrate the Gibson model considering humidity and early-stage coating material changes, and yielding results consistent with experimental data.

Effect of wood and peanut shell hydrochars on the desiccation cracking characteristics of clayey soils

Soil cracking can significantly alter the water and nutrient migration pathways in the soil, influencing plant growth and development. While biochar usage has effectively addressed soil cracking, the feasibility of using less energy-intensive hydrochars in desiccating soils remains unexplored. This study investigates the impact of wood and peanut shell hydrochars on the desiccation cracking characteristics of clayey soil. A series of controlled environmental laboratory incubations with regular imaging was conducted to determine crack development's dynamic in unamended and hydrochar-amended soils. The results reveal that the addition of wood hydrochar at 2% and 4% dosage reduced the crack intensity factor (CIF) by 22% and 43%, respectively, compared to the unamended control soil. Similarly, the inclusion of peanut shell hydrochar at 2% and 4% lowered the CIF by 22% and 51%, respectively. The presence of hydrophilic groups on the surface of hydrochars, such as O–H, CH, and C–O–C, enhanced the water retention capacity, as confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared analysis. The CIF decrease is attributed to mitigated water evaporation rates, enabled by enhanced water retention within the hydrochar pore spaces. These findings are supported by scanning electron microscopy analyses of the hydrochar morphology. Despite CIF reduction with hydrochar incorporation, the crack length density (CLD) increased across all hydrochar-amended series. In contrast to unamended soil which exhibited pronounced widening of large cracks and extensive inter-pore voids, the incorporation of hydrochar resulted in higher CLD due to the formation of finer interconnecting crack meshes. Consequently, the unamended control soil suffered greater water loss due to heightened evaporation rates. This study sheds new light on the potential of hydrochars in addressing desiccation-induced soil cracking and its implications for water conservation.

Effect of printing parameters on impact energy absorption of additively manufactured hierarchical structures

Purpose This study aims to examine how the thickness of layers and printing speed impact the energy absorption capacity of honeycomb structures through drop-weight experiments. In addition, the effect of printing orientation on the resulting microstructure and mechanical performance was targeted to be examined. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, after manufacturing test specimens using fused deposition modeling technique with three distinct layer thicknesses (0.16 mm, 0.20 mm and 0.28 mm) and printing speeds (40 mm/min, 50 mm/min and 70 mm/min), drop weight tests were carried out. Then to see the effect of printing orientation on mechanical performance, three-point-bending tests were performed and damage mechanisms were comparatively examined through scanning electron microscopy. Findings An increase in layer thickness from 0.16 mm to 0.28 mm resulted in a notable 37% decrease in the impact resistance of the printed part. In addition, increasing the printing speed from 50 to 70 mm/min reduced the energy absorption capacity of the printed part by approximately 36.5%. Moreover, in terms of printing direction, transversely printed specimens showed 10% lower flexural strength than longitudinally printed specimens. Finally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation showed that internal defects were more prominent in transversely printed specimens, resulting in premature failure. Furthermore, delamination was also detected in transversely printed specimens as another damage mechanism accelerating material failure. Originality/value It is seen that the effect of printing parameters on the fundamental mechanical properties including tensile strength, strain at break, ductility and elastic modulus were studied by various researchers. However, to the best of authors’ knowledge, the effect of printing speed and layer thickness on the energy absorption of polylactic acid based hexagonal honeycomb was not encountered. In addition, in-depth SEM analysis to discover the influence of printing direction significantly contributes to the literature.

Bicone nanoflower evolution and multi-peak emission of polymer caped Cu doped ZnO.

A low-temperature polymer-assisted wet chemical method was used to synthesise Cu-doped ZnO bicone nanoflowers at three different PEG concentrations.The effects of PEG concentration on the structural, morphological and optical properties of Cu doped ZnO nanostructures were studied. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the as-synthesized ZnO nanostructures are highly crystalline with a hexagonal wurtzite phase. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the prepared nanostructures have bicone-nanoflower morphology and PEG concentration has strongly influenced the size as well the shape of nanoflowers. The surface passivation effect of PEG on the band gap energies was studied by analysing UV -visible spectra of all the samples. The room-temperature fluorescent spectra of all the nanoflowers showed multiple peak emissions, both in the ultra-violet and visible regions, with varying intensities.These recasted multiple peaks are attributed to the morphological modification caused by the PEG addition.&#xD.

Study on the mechanical and damage properties of laminated limestone under acid mine drainage dissolution

To explore the chemical and mechanical effects of acid mine drainage on water and rock, acid mine drainage (AMD) dissolution tests, triaxial compression tests, and acoustic emission tests were performed on limestone rock samples with different bedding dip angles. Combined with scanning electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses, the changes in the internal pores and surface morphologies of the rock samples before and after dissolution were analyzed. The results were as follows. (1) AMD dissolution mainly occurred in the shallow surfaces and bedding planes of the limestone samples. During dissolution, the shape of the matrix crystal disappeared to form small pores, and residual substances appeared during the dissolution of the bedding plane. These small pores were prone to the creation of large honeycomb-like dissolved pores. (2) With increasing bedding plane angle, the compressive strengths and elastic moduli of the limestone samples exhibited V-shaped distributions. Additional branch cracks were derived from the limestone samples after dissolution, and dissolution reduced the mechanical strength of the limestone by decreasing the crack initiation stress and damage stress. (3) With increasing bedding dip angle, the uniaxial failure modes of the rock samples changed from matrix tensile failure and shear failure along the bedding plane to plane tensile failure. After dissolution, the limestone matrix was prone to cracking and spalling along the surface of the sample. (4) There were differences in the triaxial compression failure modes between the dissolved limestone and the undissolved limestone. When α = 0° or 90°, the limestone samples formed additional branch fissures after dissolution. When α = 45°, the formation of penetrating cracks along the bedding plane was obviously controlled by the bedding plane. (5) A chemical–mechanical damage model was established and modified by the compression coefficient K, which could effectively reflect the deformation of the dissolved rock sample during loading.

Bio-inspired synthesis of silver nanoparticles usingsalsola imbricataand its application as antibacterial additive in glass ionomer cement.

Nanotechnology has gained immense popularity and observed rapid development due to the remarkable physio-chemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) and related nanomaterials. The green production of nanoparticles has many benefits over traditional techniques because the current procedures are expensive, time-consuming, and involve harmful substances that limit their applicability. This study aimed to use a novel green source, the Salsola imbricata (SI) plant, which is commonly found in Central Asia and known for its medicinal properties as a reducing and stabilizing agent for the synthesis of AgNPs. The current study also utilized efficient statistical design, the Plackett-Burman Design of Experiment (DOE) method to synthesize the nanoparticles. The characterization of nanoparticles was carried out using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Plackett-Burman design results showed that only two out of four factors i.e., AgNO3 concentration and incubation time, were significant for the synthesis of AgNPs. While remaining factors, incubation temperature and plant extract: AgNO3 ratio were non-significant. The SEM analysis result showed that SI-AgNPs had a size of 20-50nm. The SI-AgNPs demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens such as Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus, with the highest efficacy observed at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. The addition of SI-AgNPs in glass ionomer cement significantly increased the antimicrobial efficacy of GIC at different concentration (p≤0.000 for 0.2% and 0.1%, p≤0.01 for 0.05% and p≤0.05 for 0.025% respectively). Based on the results of the current study, the plant based AgNPs can be further evaluated in detail as alternate antimicrobial agent either alone or in combination with other antimicrobial agents for different dental applications.

Isolation and characterization of Banyan Tree Root Filler for Polymer Composites in Light-Weight Applications

Abstract The applicability of bio fillers as reinforcement with polymers is promoted by cost- and environmentally-conscious concerns. Nowadays, a large range of reinforcements are employed for this purpose, including cellulosic fillers and natural fibres owing to the favorable mechanical behavior, minimal price, negligible tool wear, low density, and eco-friendliness etc. The main purpose of the investigation is to explore the possibilities of utilizing plant sources as reinforcing filler in polymeric matrices. In this study particulate fillers were obtained from banyan tree’s aerial roots and were subjected to various characterization such as physiochemical evaluation, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (TGA), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). From the physiochemical analysis it was found that the banyan tree aerial root filler (BTAR) contained 40.13% of Cellulose, 15.22% of Hemicellulose, 15.31% of Lignin and 6.86% of Pectin. The density of the BTAR filler was found as 0.27 kg/cc whereas average particle size was 136.3 µm. The maximum inflection temperature referred to the maximum degradation of the BTAR filler was 295.7oC. The SEM analysis exposed the rough surface of filler, with micro-structured strands and pores. The rough surface and the pores could help in better bond ability of the matrix and reinforcement when combined. With these properties the BTAR filler could be a potential candidate as a strengthening material for polymers in different light weight applications.

Swell-shrink and microstructural response of expansive soil treated with nanomaterials

ABSTRACT Expansive soils like Black Cotton Soil, exhibit numerous engineering hurdles due to their high swell-shrink behaviour, resulting in structural instability. Traditional stabilization techniques often prove inadequate and available nanomaterials are expensive, creating a demand for a cost-effective and eco-friendly stabilizer like nano rice husk ash (nRHA). This study tackles the challenge of stabilizing expansive soil using nRHA, synthesized via two distinct ball milling methods. Various concentrations of nRHA (0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, and 1.0%) were tested to assess their effectiveness in reducing the swell-shrink behaviour of Black Cotton Soil.r Result indicate that a 0.4% dosage of 2 + 5 hours nRHA (n 2,0.4) significantly decreases the soil’s swell-shrink potential. This treatment triggers the formation of Calcium Aluminium Oxide (CAO) and Calcium Aluminium Silicate Hydrate (CASH) gels, validated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. This study advances nRHA treatments in enhancing the swell-shrink behaviour of expansive Soil.

Preparation and properties investigation of flame‐retardant rigid polyurethane foam composites based on alkylphosphate oligomer

AbstractIn this work, FR‐PNX, an alkylphosphate oligomer was introduced into rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) to fabricate FR‐PNX/RPUF composites. The flame retardancy, thermal stability, and combustion properties of composites were investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), thermogravimetric (TG), microcalorimetry (MCC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), et al. The flame retardancy tests demonstrated that the incorporation of 50 phr of FR‐PNX yielded composites that the highest LOI of 23.6 vol% and achieved a V‐0 rating in the UL‐94 test. TG results indicated that FR‐PNX promoted the decomposition of FR‐RPUF in the process, but enhanced the high‐temperature stability of the composites. MCC analyses revealed that the addition of FR‐PNX suppressed the heat release during combustion, and FR‐PNX50/RPUF exhibited the lowest total heat release of 17.3 MJ/m2, a 35% reduction compared to the pure sample. Moreover, the peak heat release rate was decreased to 83.1 W/g, representing a 46.9% reduction compared to pure RPUF. SEM and Raman analyses of the char residue demonstrated that the incorporation of FR‐PNX facilitated the formation of a dense and continuous char layer in the FR‐RPUF, with increased graphitization degree of the char layer, thereby enhancing the composite's fire resistance through the development of a more stable fire barrier.

Demulsification of Pickering Emulsions by Chemical Dissolution of Stabilizers.

Demulsification of particle-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions is crucial in diverse fields such as treatment of produce water, recovery of valuable products of Pickering emulsion catalysis, and so on. In this work, we investigated a facile method for destabilizing emulsions by dissolving stabilizer particles by the introduction of acid or base. Nanoellipsoidal hematite-stabilized decane-in-water emulsions are destabilized by dissolving hematite with oxalic or hydrochloric acid in situ. Time required for complete demulsification decreased as the acid concentration is increased. The demulsification time is typically on the order of a few hours for the chosen protocol. Similarly, the silica-stabilized decane-water emulsion is demulsified by the addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide. Demulsification kinetics is presented as the temporal change of the emulsion volume with time. Emulsion volume decreases in two stages: an initial slow decrease followed by an exponential decrease. Scanning electron microscopy analysis shows that the stabilizing particles are completely dissolved and recrystallized as salts of respective kinds. An estimate of the desorption free energy suggests that particle size should be reduced to a few nanometers for inducing destabilization. This work describes a facile method to destabilize oil-in-water emulsion, and it can be generalized to any other particle-stabilized emulsions by choosing appropriate chemical reagent for dissolution.

#2490 Analyzing the morphology of mesothelial cells when exposed to peritoneal dialysis solutions

Abstract Background and Aims Glucose remains the predominant osmotic agent in peritoneal dialysis (PD), yet its prolonged use is associated with an inevitable decline in peritoneal filtration capacity. Persistent contact with glucose during dialysis can induce significant morphological and functional changes in the peritoneum. In this study, we explore the morphological alterations in mesothelial cells exposed to both conventional glucose-based PD solutions and an innovative biocompatible PD solution (XyloCore) containing L-carnitine and Xylitol. Method Met5A mesothelial cells were seeded and cultured on a polyester filter (with a pore size of 0.4 micrometers, Transwell, 12 well type, Millipore) utilizing a full medium. The impact of PD solutions, differentiating between glucose-based and XyloCore, was assessed on cells cultivated on transwells. These cells were exposed to PD solutions on the apical side and to culture medium on the basal side. The cells were then employed for proteomic and metabolomic assessments and were also fixed and scrutinized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results Through unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis, discernable proteomic distinctions emerged between wild-type (WT) cells (control) and cells exposed to either glucose-based PD solution or XyloCore. In SEM analysis, control cells exhibited a distinct flat epithelial appearance. Contrastingly, subjecting WT cells to treatment with a glucose-based PD solution induced significant alterations in cellular morphology. Notably, cells displayed elongated shapes, loosening of cell-cell contacts, and a consistent denuding of the culture surface. In contrast, XyloCore maintained a better cellular morphology and mitigated cell detachment. Conclusion Preserving the integrity of the mesothelial barrier is crucial for maintaining peritoneal ultrafiltration capacity. The findings suggest that glucose-based PD solutions trigger early morphological changes in cell shape and cell-cell contacts, likely stemming from alterations in cytoskeleton or adhesion molecules. The exploration of new osmotic agents in clinical practice holds paramount significance for the future of peritoneal dialysis.

Advancement of electro-optical properties through changes in the physicochemical composition of hybrid thin films by doping reduced graphene oxide into a sol-gel process solution.

A hybrid thin film was fabricated by doping graphene oxide into a sol-gel solution containing a mixture of zirconium, bismuth, and indium oxide. The thin film was fabricated using a brush coating process. The graphene oxide doping ratios used were 0, 5, and 15 wt%. During the thin film fabrication process, the produced sol-gel solution generates a contractile force due to the shear stress of the brush bristles, resulting in a microgroove structure. This structure was confirmed through scanning electron microscopy analysis, which revealed the clear presence of rGO. Comparing the electrical properties of a zirconium bismuth indium oxide thin film without graphene oxide doping and a thin film doped with 15 wt% graphene oxide, the electro-optical properties were significantly improved with graphene oxide doping. In general, the threshold voltage decreased by approximately 0.42 V. In addition, bandgap measurements confirmed the improved conductivity characteristics with graphene oxide doping. Since this improvement in electro-optical properties is associated with the reduction process due to graphene oxide doping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis was performed to assess the intensity change of each element. Based on these observations, hybrid thin films doped with graphene oxide emerge as promising candidates for next generation thin film.

Post-service analysis of the degradation and protective mechanisms of chromate-based structural aircraft coatings

The substitution of chromate-containing structural coating systems in aviation with alternatives complying with nowadays strict environmental, health and safety regulations remains a formidable challenge. This complexity is partly due to the absence of a standardized from-test-to-market methodology, including a performance comparison between chromate-containing and alternative coating systems. To address this gap, the present study delves into the identification of crucial degradation factors that merit inclusion in such a methodology. Concurrently, it investigates the protective mechanisms inherent in chromate-containing coating systems and proposes improvements that can be applied to alternative coating systems. This study entails a comprehensive post-service examination of the degradation of paint applied to an aircraft component with over 35 years of service, employing electrochemical, microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The findings underscore the role of thermo-oxidation as a significant degradation factor in the aging process of such coatings. Furthermore, the investigation elucidates a notable phenomenon in which aluminium ions within the coating pores form an aluminium hydroxide gel onto which chromate adsorbs. This process contributes to an increase in pore resistance upon exposure to electrolyte, leading to a self-healing barrier effect within the coating. Remarkably, this self-healing mechanism continues to offer long-term protection even when the coating matrix is sub-optimally cured due to application errors. Furthermore, this study reveals that the significant changes in capacitance during immersion testing result primarily from inhibitor leaching, emphasizing the effectiveness of combining Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis for studying coating degradation.

Two-phase Hybrid Thermal Interface Alkali-treated E-Glass Fiber/MWCNT/Graphene/Copper Oxide Nanocomposites for Electronic Gadgets.

Two-phase hybrid mode thermal interface materials were created and characterized for mechanical properties, thermal conductivity, and wear behaviour. Therefore, the ultimate goal of this current research was to use alkali-treated glass fibre and other allotropes to produce high-performance two-phase thermal interface materials. Three different polymer composites were prepared to contain 20 vol.% alkalies [NaOH] treated e-glass fibre [E] and epoxy as a matrix with varying proportions of multi-walled carbon nanotube [MWCNT], graphene [G], copper oxide [C]. The one-phase material contained epoxy+20%e-glass+1%MWCNT [EMGC1], the two-phase hybrid composite contained epoxy+20%e-glass+1%MWCNT+1%graphene+1%CuO [EMGC2], and two-phase material contained epoxy+20%e-glass+1%graphene+1%CuO [EMGC3]. Vacuum bagging method was used for fabricating the composites. The higher thermal conductivity observed was 0.3466 W/mK for EMGC2, the alkali-treated glass fibre/hybrid mode nanofillers epoxy matrix composite was mechanically tougher than the other two composites [EMGC1 & EMGC3]. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the fine filler dispersion and homogenous interaction with the glass fibre/epoxy resin composite of the upper and lower zone, which also revealed the defective zone, fibre elongation, fibre/filler breakages, and filler leached surfaces. Finally, it was concluded that the hybrid mode two-phased structure EMGC2 epoxy matrix composite replicated the maximum thermal conductivity, mechanical properties, and wear properties of the other two specimens.

Assessing the impact of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour) Spreng leaf extract on bread quality

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThe potential of Plectranthus amboinicus aqueous extract (PAAE) to enhance the quality properties of wheat bread was investigated. PAAE was incorporated as an ingredient in bread formulations to improve shelf life.FindingsThe results indicate that the technological characteristics of bread formulations were enhanced with the inclusion of up to 75% PAAE. This enhancement led to increased specific volume and expansion properties. Scanning electron microscopy analysis demonstrated improved interaction between gluten and starch. PAAE exhibited potential in retarding bread hardening and preventing mold growth.ConclusionsPAAE holds promise as a novel ingredient for use in baked products. Its inclusion in bread formulations significantly improved technological characteristics, including specific volume and color, and positively influenced the interaction between gluten and starch. Additionally, PAAE showed potential in extending the shelf life of bread and inhibiting fungal growth.Significance and NoveltyThis study is significant due to the introduction of a novel ingredient, PAAE, in the field of baking. The incorporation of this extract represents an innovation in the quest for improvements in the nutritional and technological properties of baked goods. The ability of PAAE to function as an antifungal agent holds great relevance for the food industry.

Experimental study on dewatering and reinforcement of dredged slurry treated by PHDs-PVDs under step vacuum preloading

Nowadays, the utilization of prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) or prefabricated horizontal drains (PHDs) in combination with vacuum preloading (VP) has emerged as a prevalent and effective strategy for treating dredged slurry. Nevertheless, both of these methods possess certain inherent limitations. In this study, three groups of parallel model experiments are conducted to compare the effectiveness of PVDs, PHDs and PHDs-PVDs under step VP in treating dredged slurry. Firstly, the water discharge, settlement and pore water pressure are monitored during the experiments. Then, the shear strength and water content of the soil at various locations after experiments are measured and the soil profiles at different cross sections are gauged. Additionally, soil excavation is conducted to evaluate the deformation characteristics of PHDs and PVDs. Finally, a scanning electron microscopy analysis is to assess the clogging of filter membranes. The results indicate that the proposed method can combine the advantages of both PHDs and PVDs, effectively enhancing the treatment effectiveness of the slurry. These findings elucidate the dewatering and reinforcement mechanism of PHDs-PVDs-VP and provide valuable insights for its practical engineering application.

Scanning Electron Microscopy and Multivariate Analysis Between Dripper Performance and Quality Attributes of Aquaculture Effluent Diluted in Well Water

Scanning Electron Microscopy and Multivariate Analysis Between Dripper Performance and Quality Attributes of Aquaculture Effluent Diluted in Well Water