Vegetable Fibres Research Articles

Evaluation of Pyropia Perforata algae as consolidant in deteriorated linen fibers

The use of the marine algae has showed a good performance as consolidant in textile structures. In this work show the results of the Pyropia Perforata algae as an alternative consolidant in deteriorated linen textile fibers. First, it was obtained a dry extract of the algae and was characterized by Fourier Transformed Infrarred Spectroscopy (FTIR). Were prepared consolidant solutions based on algae extract at 0.5%, 1.5% and 2.5% w/w, these consolidant solutions were applied on natural fiber linen specimens previously deteriorated. The specimens were assay by mechanical techniques for known the effect of the consolidant. The result show that the solution with 1.5% of algae extract content present the best mechanical behaviour. The Pyropia Perforata algae is a viable proposal to be used as consolidant of vegetal fibers.

Fluorination of flax fibers for improving the interfacial compatibility of eco-composites

Because of their specific properties, vegetal fibers are increasingly used as sustainable polymer reinforcements for eco-composites. Nevertheless, their polar character hinders them from being used more frequently at industrial scale due to their incompatibility with mostly dispersive polymers (the cheapest and most common ones). In this study, direct fluorination treatment was carried out to covalently graft fluorine atom at the outmost surface of flax fibers. Such a grafting has been proved by FT-IR, 19F NMR and XPS spectroscopies, and these characterizations allowed to understand chemical change due to the treatment. This chemical modification induced an augmentation of the dispersive character of flax fibers, by significantly lowering the polar component of surface energy without significant change of the dispersive component. Young's modulus was also maintained. Thereby, treated fibers become perfectly compatible with hydrophobic polymer, and an improvement in the mechanical performance of the resulting composite is expected according to the literature.

Diet as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease: is it ready for prime time?

Diet remains an important topic for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), yet few guidelines for dietary recommendations exist. There is a growing interest in the use of diet as treatment or adjuvant therapy for both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Here, we highlight the latest evidence on the use of diet for treatment of symptoms, active disease and maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED) and the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) are studied diets that have gained popularity, but there is growing interest in the use and efficacy of less restrictive diets such as the Mediterranean diet. Recent data suggest healthful dietary patterns alone, with an emphasis on whole foods that are high in vegetable fibre and that promote less consumption of ultra-processed foods may also help achieve remission in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. In this review, we summarize the literature on diet as treatment for IBD. We highlight the latest clinical dietary studies, randomized clinical trials, as well as new and emerging diets for the treatment of IBD.

Associations between Consumption of Dietary Fibers and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Mortality in Chinese Adults: Longitudinal Analyses from the China Health and Nutrition Survey.

Although many studies have explored the relationship between total dietary fiber intake and the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases, the results are mixed. There is also a lack of research on the association between dietary fiber intake from different food sources and disease. Using data from the China Nutrition and Health Database from 2004 to 2015, Cox proportional risk models were used to explore the associations between total dietary fiber and fiber intake from different food sources and the occurrence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. After multi-factorial adjustment, the hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of total dietary fiber intake (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1) in type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality cohorts were 1.20 (0.93, 1.55), 0.91 (0.75, 1.12), 0.93 (0.64, 1.35), 1.13 (0.60, 2.12), 1.13 (0.60, 2.12), and 1.13 (0.84, 1.52). Whole-grain fiber intake was positively associated with hypertension but not with the occurrence of other diseases. No association was observed between legume fibers, fruit fibers, and vegetable fibers in the cohorts of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality. Our study did not find any association between total dietary fiber and dietary fiber intake from different food sources and type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality in the Chinese population. The role of dietary fiber in the Chinese population may be overestimated. More extraordinary efforts are needed to further confirm the association between dietary fiber and these diseases in the Chinese population.

Effect of Agave americana fibers used as reinforcement in the preparation of composites based on recycled PVC

AbstractThis work deals with the preparation and the study of a new composite obtained from a thermoplastic polymer and a vegetal fiber. The polymer used is a recycled polyvinylchloride (PVC) and the fiber used was extracted from Agave americana, a plant which grows easily under Mediterranean type climates. Prior chemical treatment of the extracted fiber was necessary to modify the surface of the fiber in order to optimize the adhesion between this fiber and the recycled PVC during the preparation of composites from these materials. For this purpose, our investigations led us to attempt various reactions modification of the surface fiber. The method that gave the best results consists of an alkaline treatment followed by a reaction with acetic anhydride. Once completed chemicals treatments of fiber, the material is mixed with the recycled PVC which serves as a matrix to prepare composites at varying rates from 5% to 30% by weight of agave modified fibers. The effects of the incorporation of raw and processed agave fibers on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of PVC/agave fiber composites were examined and discussed.

Vegetative innervation of the human vocal larynx

Background. Numerous publications have noted the piano of unequal‑muscular relations arising in the process of vocalization, and described intra‑laryngeal sensitive (afferent) and motor (efferent) nerve endings. Pari estomp a significant part of the efferent pathways are vegetative nerve fibers that control the ulcer trophic state of the tissue substrate and have a direct effect on the muscles of the larynx, changing the metabolism of muscle cells.Objective: to analyze the features of vegetative innervation of the larynx in the area of vocal folds on the sectional material.Materials and methods. In the study of vegetative innervation of the mucous membrane and laryngeal muscles, we used the material obtained in sectional studies of 28 people who died as a result of injuries incompatible with life, opt cardiovascular insufficiency and opt pneumonia at the age of 54–85 years, in whom there were no life‑threatening ENT diseases. Adrenergic nerve fibers were detected by the Bjerklund method modified by V.N. Shvalev and N.I. Zhuchkova, and cholinergic nerve fibers were studied using the Karnovsky–Roots method based on incubation of sections in a solution of a specific substrate.Results. Adrenergic and cholinergic nerve conductors, as a rule, use common ways of penetration into the larynx under the walker of blood vessels and as part of the laryngeal nerves. Onyx are localized in the mucous membrane and muscles of the larynx and have reduce features. Autonomic nerve structures located in the muscles are observed directly in the middle of the muscle fibers.Conclusion. The abundance of adrenergic and cholinergic nerve fibers and endings, combining different structural elements of the larynx into a single morphofunctional complex, is the material main influence of vegetative nervous system over the folded mechanism of voice formation and over the processes of voice disorders in various diseases.

Green Polymeric Composite: Natural Vegetable Fibers from Northern Brazil

In this work, types of plant fibers that are used in the manufacture of polymeric composite materials are presented. The fibers presented are found in the northern region of Brazil. They are natural fibers that are commonly used for making decorative crafts. There are numerous plant fibers that are still under study, including the fiber extraction process for the manufacture of composite material. The fibers presented here have already been researched through static mechanical tests. This presentation shows vegetable fibers obtained from fruits, roots, stems and leaves. Evaluations in static loading in traction show that the fibers are promising for applications in replacement of synthetic fibers, fiberglass.

Considering Intestinal Hyperpermeability and Immune-Inflammatory Metabolism in the Treatment of Food Allergy

Food Allergy is a chronic systemic immuno-inflammatory condition that depends on several factors, but, above all, the gastrointestinal epithelial barrier. The rupture of this intestinal barrier results in a deleterious increase in intestinal permeability allowing the paracellular permeation of molecules greater than 150 Da into the bloodstream, producing an equivalent immune response, decreasing the immune tolerance. Intestinal Hyperpermeability has been linked not only to food allergy but also to Metabolic Syndrome and Non-Alcoholic Fat Liver Disease. Here we review the factors that contribute to producing Intestinal Hyperpermeability, as well the factors that contribute to the restoration of the epithelial barrier, improving the clinical outcome of food-allergic patients. The main factors that increase the Intestinal Hyperpermeability are A) Immune-Inflammatory (food allergy itself and autoimmune conditions); B) Iatrogenic (steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, antacids, antibiotics, and gastric-bypass surgeries); C) Infectious (rotavirus, HIV, SARS-CO2, Helicobacter pylori, Candida albicans, etc.); and D) Lifestyle-related (alcoholic beverages, food addiction, food overconsumption, consumption of industrialized food with high-fructose content and emulsifiers). The main factors that restore the intestinal barrier and immune tolerances are the intestinal microbiota and functional nutrients such as Vitamin A and vegetal fibers. Mucoprotectants agents, such as gelatin tannate and xyloglucan, are in study to become part of the medical arsenal to treat Intestinal Hyperpermeability conditions.

Estimating and mapping the availability of earth resource for light earth building using a soil geodatabase in Brittany (France)

Light earth is a natural insulating material composed of earth and vegetal fibres. It can be used to insulate existing and new buildings to reduce energy and resources consumption, and excavated earth generation by the construction sector. A pedological database is crossed with suitability thresholds in order to evaluate spatially the availability of earth resources. Then, the soil suitability is mapped, and suitable soil amounts metrics are estimated for Brittany territory. A sensitivity analysis is performed to understand the potential variability of the results. Study estimates that 48% of Brittany's soil horizons are suitable for light earth building. Every year, 1.3 Mt of suitable soil are excavated in Brittany. Using only these excavated earths, all existing and new buildings in Brittany could be insulated with light-earth in less than 8 years. This study shows that suitable earth availability is not a limiting factor to develop light earth insulation in Brittany.

A Review of the Use of Natural Fibers in Cement Composites: Concepts, Applications and Brazilian History.

The use of natural lignocellulosic fibers has become popular all over the world, as they are abundant, low-cost materials that favor a series of technological properties when used in cementitious composites. Due to its climate and geographic characteristics, Brazil has an abundant variety of natural fibers that have great potential for use in civil construction. The objective of this work is to present the main concepts about lignocellulosic fibers in cementitious composites, highlighting the innovation and advances in this topic in relation to countries such as Brazil, which has a worldwide prominence in the production of natural fibers. For this, some common characteristics of lignocellulosic fibers will be observed, such as their source, their proportion of natural polymers (biological structure of the fiber), their density and other mechanical characteristics. This information is compared with the mechanical characteristics of synthetic fibers to analyze the performance of composites reinforced with both types of fibers. Despite being inferior in tensile and flexural strength, composites made from vegetable fibers have an advantage in relation to their low density. The interface between the fiber and the composite matrix is what will define the final characteristics of the composite material. Due to this, different fibers (reinforcement materials) were analyzed in the literature in order to observe their characteristics in cementitious composites. Finally, the different surface treatments through which the fibers undergo will determine the fiber–matrix interface and the final characteristics of the cementitious composite.

Association Between Dietary Fiber Intake and Heart Failure Among Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2018.

ObjectiveTo explore the association between dietary fiber and heart failure (HF).MethodsData were collected from the 2009–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Dietary fiber intake data were obtained from two 24-h dietary recall interviews. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models were used to explore the association of dietary intakes of total, cereal, fruit, and vegetable fiber with HF prevalence.ResultsA total of 21869 adults were included in this study. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for HF was 0.49 (0.28 to 0.87, P for trend = 0.016) for the highest tertile versus lowest tertile of total fiber intake. Similar results were observed for cereal but not fruit and vegetable fiber intake. Dose-response analysis indicated that dietary intake of total and cereal fiber were inversely associated with HF in a linear manner.ConclusionIntakes of total and cereal fiber were inversely associated with HF in adults.

Elaboration and Characterization of Raw Clay Matrix Composites Reinforced by Vegetable Fibers with a View to Their Industrial Uses

The increasing use of composites reinforced with vegetable fibers in the industrial field poses a serious problem of the reliability of the structures produced. For us, this credibility can be ensured when developing the composite, by a judicious choice of matrix and reinforcement, a choice leading to obtaining a material having acceptable mechanical and physicochemical characteristics. The main objective of this study is to characterize a composite material with a clay matrix reinforced with coconut and palm nut fibers. To achieve this objective, we first opted for the implementation of this composite by contact molding, at different fiber percentages (2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%), and we then subjected our specimens to mechanical tests (three-point bending and compression). The mechanical characterization allowed us to have a Young’s modulus in compression varying between 63.82 and 68.82 MPa for palm nut fibers and from 68.28 to 74.43 MPa for coconut fibers (this allows us to note that our coconut fibers make the material rigid in compression), and a Young’s modulus in bending varying between 5.71 and 6.51 MPa for palm nut fibers and from 6.50 to 6.525 MPa for coconut fibers (this allows us to see that our coconut fibers make the material rigid in bending). The results also show that the rate of water absorption of the composite increases with the increase in the fiber content, which is explained in particular by the fact that the fibers of plant origin are hydrophilic and have a porous character; therefore, they absorb water. This study also shows that there is a reduction in the density of the fiber composite with increasing fiber content.

Novel infrared-terahertz fusion 3D non-invasive imaging of plant fibre-reinforced polymer composites

The reinforcement of polymer composites using plant fibres has received vast and growing attention for investigation owing to their capability to serve as semi-structural materials, especially as a substitute for fiberglass. However, in this type of research, the structural complexity, due to geometrical mismatches and inherent variability to the properties of vegetable fibres and plant fibre composites would benefit from more effective non-invasive inspection techniques. In this work, a novel infrared-terahertz fused approach was proposed, and a new unsupervised deep residual fusion algorithm was developed in order to combine the outputs from two different physical mechanisms. Specifically, infrared imaging provided the details of the defects and the morphological information from the surface and subsurface, while terahertz imaging recorded the distribution of the fibres and the resin. Finally, the fused infrared-terahertz slices were reconstructed into a form of 3D exhibition for inspection and evaluation of two plant fibre-reinforced polymer composites in first time using multiphysical imaging and fusion.

Nutritional, functional, and therapeutic assessment of muffins fortified with garden cress seeds

This study was designed to explore the nutraceutical, functional, and therapeutic potential of garden cress (Lepidium sativum) seeds (GCSs) based on their highly nutritious, affordable, and rich contents of alpha-linoleic acid (ALA). The nutraceutical potential of GCSs in safety and treatment trials on Sprague–Dawley rats was observed, which strengthened its role in lowering weight gain, blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), while increasing high-density lipoproteins (HDL), total leucocyte count (TLCs), hemoglobin (Hb), and red blood cells (RBCs). A marketable recipe of GCSs-fortified muffins at assorted fortification levels of 5 to 20% indicated a significant increase of 14%, 68%, 74%, and 45% in protein, fiber, ash, and healthy fats, respectively. Farinographic studies of GCS blends resulted in overall raised dough quality characteristics along with increasing fortification levels. Whereas the sensorial evaluation revealed the fortification levels of ≤15% were highly appreciated. GCSs should be included in daily eatables since they have cardio- and immuno-protective activity and are a rich source of vegetal proteins, fiber, minerals, and lipids. Novelty impact statement The seeds of Lepidium sativum (garden cress) are nutritious, loaded with many functional ingredients, and are now being acknowledged for their nutraceutical potential for various maladies. These seeds still lack their utilization in edibles for their regular utilization. This study can help food industries to fortify them into ordinary bakery items to empower their daily dietary utilization to get positive health outcomes.

Patent prospecting of biosorbents used for oil and derivatives sorption

Oil and derivatives leaks are growing concerns worldwide, as they harm the environment, the socio-economic sector, and human beings. Therefore, alternative, and sustainable ways, such as bioadsorption with vegetable fibers, have been studied to clean these oils and derivatives effectively and non-aggressively. In this work, a patent prospection was carried out in the Espacenet® database and the National Institute of Industrial Property - (INPI). The evolution, origin, and applications were analyzed, and the most used fibers in the patents were found. As a result, the first patent was filed in 1999, and the countries that filed the most patents were Japan (45%), Brazil (28%), and China (25%). It is also seen that the most used fibers are cotton and coconut due to their wide availability around the world. Therefore, the development of technologies that use vegetable fibers to clean spilled oil and derivatives has excellent potential since they are environmentally and economically favorable.

PREPARATION OF COOKED SAUSAGE PRODUCTS WITH FOOD FIBERS

A study of the possibility of adding dietary fiber to cooked sausages is conducted. Analyzing the literature, it was found that the addition of plant fiber to meat products will improve the quality and biological value of finished products by reducing the amount of fat and energy value, improving taste and technological parameters. Dietary fiber leads to the purification of the body from toxins, complete assimilation of food and normalization of the intestinal microflora. Sausages with fiber of wheat, flax, pumpkin and oat fiber were prepared in the work. The main indicators of quality of the received products according to current DSTU 4436: 2005 “Boiled sausages, sausages, sausages, meat loaves” are investigated. It is shown that the addition of plant fibers does not have a negative effect on the organoleptic characteristics of the finished product. It is established that according to the set of organoleptic characteristics it is better to add wheat and pumpkin fiber to the composition of cooked sausages. Physicochemical and microbiological parameters of sausages with the addition of vegetable fibers were determined. It is shown that the content of moisture and fat obtained products meet the standards of current regulations. The protein content in cooked products is slightly lower than regulated by the current DSTU. The total number of microorganisms in cooked meat sausages with vegetable fiber increases slightly compared to DSTU, which may be due to the presence of microflora in the vegetable raw materials that are added. Summarizing the data obtained and taking into account the beneficial properties of turkey meat and fiber, it can be argued that the resulting cooked sausages with the addition of dietary fiber is a functional product that can be recommended to fans of dietary and healthy eating.

Debonding of Vegetal FRCM from Concrete Beams Subjected to Bending Loads

The increasing need of society to develop more sustainable and renewable materials has made vegetal fibers an interesting potential substitute for synthetic fibers in strengthening systems, due to their considerable strength and deformation capacity. This paper aims to increase the knowledge on how the materials interact between them in vegetal FRCM composites to strengthen concrete structures. To do it, two fibers were selected: cotton (CO), due to its good deformation capacity, and hemp (HE), due to its high strength. A low-viscosity and high adherence epoxy resin was used to coat the yarns to protect them from the alkali environment of the cementitious matrix. To study the FRCM-substrate interaction, an adaptation of the test methodology described in ISO 10080:2005 was developed and performed. Three different lengths (30, 40, and 50 cm) were used to obtain the optimal bonding length for hemp case. A single case (50 cm) for cotton was tested to compare its behaviour against hemp. In the FRCM-substrate interaction, it is noticed that hemp-FRCM shows complete bonding as all except one specimen failed by mesh failure. In the case of cotton-FRCM, its deformation capacity (at least 4 times hemp-FRCM) made all specimens deform until the geometric end of the testing set up without the mesh breakage, bearing a lower load but keeping it constant through fiber-matrix friction. In terms of load, hemp-FRCM reached the highest load, 10% higher than cotton-FRCM’s peak load. To conclude, the testing method for assessing steel reinforcement bonding in reinforced concrete was proved to be satisfactory at assessing FRCM-concrete interaction, being able to transmit the load from the substrate to the composite without the slippage of the vegetal-FRCM.

Association between Dietary Fiber Intake and Hyperuricemia among Chinese Adults: Analysis of the China Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance (2015).

This study aimed to assess the association of dietary fiber intake with serum uric acid (SUA) levels and risk of hyperuricemia (HUA) among Chinese adults using the latest nationally representative data. A total of 66,427 Chinese adults aged 18 years and over from the China Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance in 2015 were included in this study. Dietary intakes were measured with a 3-day 24 h dietary recall and the household condiment weighing method. Mixed-effect linear and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations of dietary fiber intake with SUA levels and risk of HUA, respectively. Compared to the lowest intake group, the coefficient and 95% confidence in the highest intake group of total fiber were −0.06 (−0.08, −0.04) (p-trend < 0.001), −0.18 (−0.2, −0.16) (p-trend < 0.001) for cereal fiber, 0.03 (0.01, 0.04) (p-trend = 0.051) for legume fiber, 0 (−0.01, 0.02) (p-trend = 0.869) for vegetable fiber and 0.01 (−0.001, 0.04) (p-trend = 0.296) for fruit fiber. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of HUA for the highest vs. lowest intake group of total fiber were 0.88 (0.84, 0.91) (p-trend = 0.001), 0.67 (0.63, 0.71) (p-trend < 0.001) for cereal fiber, 1.05 (1, 1.09) (p-trend = 0.248) for legume fiber, 1.01 (0.97, 1.05) (p-trend = 0.982) for vegetable fiber and 1.06 (1, 1.12) (p-trend = 0.264) for fruit fiber. Our findings suggest that consumption of total fiber and cereal fiber were significantly inversely associated with SUA levels and HUA risk among the Chinese adult population. Developing and implementing effective public education programs are urgently needed to increase the intake of dietary fiber, especially cereal fiber among Chinese adults.

Analysis of Polymeric Composites of Phormium Tenax

Phormium tenax is a vegetal fiber with a mechanical strength of 711 ± 61.1 MPa, which is higher than the range of sisal (468-640MPa) and similar to the well-known curauá fiber (913 MPa). In this study, Phormium tenax composites coated with maleated polypropylene in a polypropylene matrix were prepared with 20%, 30%, and 35wt% of fibers, with and without aluminum sheets made from beverage cans. Some samples were made by extrusion and compression molding process, and others only through compression molding. In addition, density tests indicated lightness in composites of Phormium tenax. Samples were submitted to thermal analyzes, X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform with Infrared Region, and scanning electron microscopy. Their fibers content of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, ashes,and total extractives are respectively 44.27%, 13.20%, 15.02%, 23.4%, and 4.11%. Some based-PP composites reinforced with Phormium tenax showed improvement in the flexural strength, such as based-PP reinforced with long and continuous fibers, with a flexural strength of 64.94 MPa, and 52,30 MPa, respectively. It was concluded that tensile strength in PP-based composites reinforced with Phormium tenax could be enhanced with some adjustments in the material processing.

Physico-Chemical and Thermomechanical Analysis and ‎Characterization of ‎a Thermoplastic Composite Material Reinforced by Washingtonia Filifera Novel Vegetable Fibers

In this paper, ‎morphological, physico-chemical and thermal properties investigations‎ are carried out for a ‎novel ‎composite material reinforced by Washingtonia Filifera (WF) palm fibers using a 20 weight (wt) % loading rate. The experimental analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) shows the longitudinal roughness of the surface, which plays a very important role in the adhesion between the WF fibers and the High Density ‎PolyethylenE (HDPE) resin. FTIR tests of the composite (WF 20%/ HDPE) represent out of plane vibrations involving ring and CH2 symmetric bending in cellulose chain.‎ Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Derivative thermogravimetric ‎(DTG) thermal analysis show a thermal stability at 210°C, 2.5% residual mass ‎and 745 °C maximum ‎temperature. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that the ‎crystallinity index is 59.2%, with a size of ‎‎23 nm. Using tensile tests, a Young modulus of 858.6 MPa, ‎17% elongation and a maximum stress of 15 MPa ‎are found. The obtained characteristics of WF reinforced composite are better than those of Bamboo reinforced composites which has been proven to have characteristics superior to those of standard particleboard and medium density fiberboard used mainly in the construction industry.