酵母甘露糖蛋白体外发酵及其代谢产物的抗炎活性

通过体外肠道菌群厌氧发酵技术研究酵母甘露糖蛋白（mannoprotein,MP）的益生活性。结果表明,MP可调节肠道菌群结构,在门水平增加了拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）的相对丰度,降低了厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）、变形菌门（Proteobacteria）的相对丰度,降低了Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes比值。MP显著提高了发酵液中短链脂肪酸尤其是乙酸和丙酸的含量。MP与菊粉具有相似的益生菌活性,菊粉可促进双歧杆菌属（Bifidobacterium）的增殖,而MP可选择性促进拟杆菌属（Bacteroides）、韦荣球菌属（Veillonella）、Clostridium＿sensu＿srticto、布劳特氏菌属（Blautia）、粪杆菌属（Faecalibacterium）、纺锤链杆属（Fusicatenibacter）和产丁酸球菌属（Butyricicoccus）的生长。脂多糖诱导RAW 264.7巨噬细胞模型结果表明MP对炎症没有显著调节作用（P>0.05）,而其发酵液具有显著抗炎活性,且其活性与菊粉组相似,均优于空白组。因此,MP有望成为通过调...     

Effect of hexagonal structure nanoparticles on the morphological performance of the ceramic scaffold using analytical oscillation response

Porous bony scaffolds are utilized to manage the growth and migration of cells from adjacent tissues to a defective position. In the current investigation, the effect of titanium oxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles on mechanical and physical properties of porous bony implants made of polymeric polycaprolactone (PCL) is studied. The bio-nanocomposite scaffolds are prepared with composition of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) and TiO₂ powder using the freeze-drying technique for different weight fractions of TiO₂ (0 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 15 wt%). In order to identify the microstructure and morphology of the fabricated porous bio-nanocomposites, the X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are employed. Also, the biocompatibility and biodegradability of the manufactured scaffolds are examined by placing them in a simulated body fluid (SBF) for 21 days, their weight and pH changes are measured. The rate of degradation of the PCL-HA scaffold can be controlled by varying the percentage of its constituent components. Due to an increasing growth and activity of bone cells and the apatite formation on the free surface of the fabricated bio-nanocomposite implants as well as their reasonable mechanical properties, they have the potential to be used as a bone substitute. Additionally, with the aid of the experimentally extracted mechanical properties of the scaffolds, the vibrational characteristics of a beam-type implant made of the proposed porous bio-nanocomposites are explored. The results obtained from SEM image indicate that the scaffolds produced by the employed method have high total porosity (70%–85%) and effective porosity. The pore size is obtained between 60 and 200 μm, which is desirable for the growth and propagation of bone cells. Also, it is revealed that the addition of TiO₂ nanoparticles leads to reduce the rate of dissolution of the fabricated bio-nanocomposite scaffolds.     

Simulation of dielectric behavior in RFeO$$_{}$$ orthoferrite ceramics (R = rare earth metals)

Due to their colossal dielectric constant (CDC), \(\hbox {RFeO}_{3}\), orthoferrite ceramics (R = rare earth metal) have recently attracted much attention. In the present research, the dielectric constants of \(\hbox {RFeO}_{3}\) orthoferrite ceramics, whether with or without CDC, have been simulated. The type of synthesis method, the type of R material, temperature, and frequency as the effective parameters on the dielectric behavior are introduced to the model. Another input parameter is the ratio of \(\hbox {Fe}^{+2}/\hbox {Fe}^{+3}\) peak area (in the XPS diagram), which is the most important parameter that affects the CDC behavior. Initially, a colossal database is formed by means of WebPlotDigitizer software and 2930 experimental data, and then the simulation is carried out through gene expression programming. Two case studies are also performed on \(\hbox {PrFeO}_{3}\) and \(\hbox {NdFeO}_{3}\) orthoferrite ceramics to validate the accuracy of the presented model. \(\hbox {PrFeO}_{3}\) exhibits significant CDC behavior whereas the \(\hbox {NdFeO}_{3}\) ceramic samples possess little CDC property, both of which were precisely simulated by the model. Two-dimensional tenth-degree equations resulting from the model predict the dielectric constant variations accurately.     

Assessment of the properties of polycrystalline rock salt synthesized under nominally dry and wet conditions

Polycrystalline rock salt’s compression is a function of applied stresses,exposure duration to the applied stresses,ambient temperature,and water content.Rock salt’s compressional behavior under different conditions and its effects on the specimens’mechanical properties have been investigated in the literature.However,the one-dimensional(1D)compression behavior of polycrystalline rock salt at various water contents and how the specimen’s compression at different water contents further affects its physical and mechanical properties are not fully understood yet.In this study,polycrystalline rock salt specimens were prepared under nominally dry and wet conditions and some of the dry and wet specimens were annealed after the preparation.The relationship between the porosity of the specimens and the logarithm of the applied axial stresses during the 1D compression was found to follow a linear relationship after reaching unique critical porosities of 32%and 37%for the dry and wet specimens,respectively.Unloading and reloading the specimens did not result in any major changes in the porosity of the specimens.The specimens compressed under wet condition showed an average final porosity of 2.6%compared to 6.9%for the dry specimens.The dry and wet specimens that were annealed after the compression exhibited a lower porosity in comparison to the dry and wet specimens,respectively.Unconfined compression experiments on the specimens showed dry and wet specimens possess averaged unconfined compressive strengths(σ_u)of 64.3 and 16.2 MPa,respectively.Annealing decreased σ_uof the dry specimens to 39.6 MPa and increased σ_uof the wet specimens to 41 MPa.     

Mixing assessment of non-cohesive particles in a paddle mixer through experiments and discrete element method (DEM)

In this study the mixing kinetics and flow patterns of non-cohesive, monodisperse, spherical particles in a horizontal paddle blender were investigated using experiments, statistical analysis and discrete element method (DEM). EDEM 2.7 commercial software was used as the DEM solver. The experiment and simulation results were found to be in a good agreement. The calibrated DEM model was then utilized to examine the effects of the impeller rotational speed, vessel fill level and particle loading arrangement on the overall mixing quality quantified by the relative standard deviation (RSD) mixing index. The simulation results revealed as the impeller rotational speed was increased from 10?RPM to 40?RPM, generally a better degree of mixing was reached for all particle loading arrangements and vessel fill levels. As the impeller rotational speed was increased further from 40?RPM to 70?RPM the mixing quality was affected, for a vessel fill level of 60% and irrespective of the particle loading arrangement. Increasing the vessel fill level from 40% to 60% enhanced the mixing performance when impeller rotational speed of 40?RPM and 70?RPM were used. However, the mixing quality was independent of vessel fill level for almost all simulation cases when 10?RPM was applied, regardless of the particle loading arrangement. Furthermore, it was concluded that the particle loading arrangement did not have a considerable effect on the mixing index. ANOVA showed that impeller rotational speed had the strongest influence on the mixing quality, followed by the quadratic effect of impeller rotational speed, and lastly the vessel fill level. The granular temperature data indicated that increasing the impeller rotational speed from 10?RPM to 70?RPM resulted in higher granular temperature values. By evaluating the diffusivity coefficient and Peclet number, it was concluded that the dominant mixing mechanism in the current mixing system was diffusion.     

On the mechanical and biological properties of bredigite-magnetite (Ca7MgSi4O16-Fe3O4) nanocomposite scaffolds

The aim of the present study was to study the mechanical and biologocal properties of the bredigite-magnetite (Ca₇MgSi₄O₁₆-Fe₃O₄) nanocomposite with various amounts of magnetite (0, 10, 20 and 30 wt%). According to the obtained results, the properties of the constructed scaffolds have an extreme dependence on the magnetite content. In this research, the bredigite-30 wt% magnetite as the optimum sample showed a fracture toughness of 2.69 MPa m^1/2 and a Young's modulus of 29 GPa. Increasing bredigite content led to the increase of pH values in the SBF solution. This was originated from the interchange/interaction of Ca²⁺ ion on the scaffold surface. The sample containing 10 wt% magnetite presented a rocky and irregular surface while that of 30 wt% illustrated a smooth and flat outer layer with coarse projections. The results confirmed that the biodegradation rate of the pure bredigite is more than that of 20 wt% sample. The event is originated from the dissolution of the Si ions of the bridigite particles in the absence of magnetite.     

Size dependency in nonlinear instability of smart magneto-electro-elastic cylindrical composite nanopanels based upon nonlocal strain gradient elasticity

In the present article, a new size-dependent panel model is established incorporating the both hardening-stiffness and softening-stiffness small scale effects jointly with electrostatics and magnetostatics to study analytically the buckling and postbuckling behavior of smart magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) composite nanopanels under combination of axial compression, external electric and magnetic potentials. To this end, the nonlocal strain gradient elasticity theory in conjunction with the Maxwell equations is applied to the classical panel theory to develop a more comprehensive size-dependent panel model including simultaneously the both nonlocality and strain gradient size dependency. With the aid of the virtual work’s principle, the size-dependent differential equations of the problem are derived. The attained non-classical governing differential equations are solved analytically by means an improved perturbation technique within the framework of the boundary layer theory of shell buckling. Explicit analytical expressions associated with the nonlinear axial stability equilibrium paths of the electromagnetic actuated smart MEE composite nanopanels including nonlocality and strain gradient micro-size dependency are proposed. It is displayed that the nonlocal size effect leads to reduce the buckling stiffness, while the strain gradient size dependency causes to enhance it. Moreover, it is found that by applying a negative electric field as well as positive magnetic field, the influences of the nonlocal and strain gradient size effects on the critical buckling load of an axially loaded MEE composite nanopanel are more significant.

     

Formation of AlN Nano Particles Precipitated in St-14 Low Carbon Steel by Micro and Nanoscopic Observations

In low carbon steels, dissolution and precipitation of the second phases such as carbides and nitrides during annealing cycles can affect the final structure and properties of the materials. The interaction of above processes depends on parameters such as reheating temperature, heating rate, annealing temperature, soaking time and finishing temperature in hot rolling stage before cold rolling. The effects of heating rate and annealing temperature on the microstructure and hardness were investigated. Two heating rates for annealing temperatures of 550, 610 and 720℃ were applied on cold-rolled specimens and St-14 low carbon steel, which were immediately quenched after isothermal annealing. The intercept method was used tO measure average grain sizes. However, resulted microstructures are dif- ferent for the two heating rates. While pancaked structures were observed in specimens annealed with low heating rate, in samples annealed with high heating rate, equiaxed microstructures were observed. Vickers micro-hardness values decreased at all temperatures, which were more significant at higher temperatures. At longer annealing time, signs of increase of hardness values were detected. All results and observations consistently suggest that a precipitati- on process has occurred concurrently with restoration processes during annealing. In addition, the energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis resulted from transmission electron microscopic micrographs have proved that the nano particles precipitated in grain boundaries are AlN.     

Nitrate removal from water using zero‐valent aluminium

Nitrate pollution in surface and groundwater is known to adversely affect human health, water quality and the health of aquatic ecosystems. Zero‐valent aluminium is a strong reductant for ions such as nitrate. In this study, its use in nitrate reduction efficiency was evaluated as a function of pH, aluminium dosage and aluminium particle size through a lab‐scale investigation. The most effective pH for complete nitrate removal, with an initial concentration of 14.0 ± 1.0 mg N/L, was found to be 13 ± 0.2. Under this condition, complete removal was achieved in 5 min, using aluminium particle size of 1–3 µm and aluminium‐to‐nitrate (NO₃^–‐N) ratio of 125. The 1–3 µm and 297–841 µm aluminium particles removed nitrate at a reaction rate constant (k) of 0.048 ± 0.017 (mg‐N/L)^1.53/min and at 0.042 ± 0.014 (mg‐N/L)^1.28/min, respectively. The use of smaller aluminium particles was found to be more effective for nitrate removal than large particles, and it was observed that for these particle sizes, aluminium dosages was less of a factor than any other experimental conditions evaluated.