Split-attention effects in multimedia learning environments: eye-tracking and EEG analysis

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This study aimed to evaluate the split-attention effect in multimedia learning environments via objective measurements as EEG and eye-tracking. Two different...     

Polar Lipids Reduce In Vitro Duodenal Lipolysis Rate of Oat Oil and Liquid Oat Base Products

Alternative ways for increased appetite control are today widely sought for due to the growing global health issues connected to obesity. In in vivo studies, oat has been proven an attractive candidate for inducing satiety. Oat is rich in polar lipids, of which the galactolipids are especially interesting, and a hypothesis is that these lipids play an important role for the ileal brake mechanism. In this study, the aim is to investigate the role of polar oat lipids on pancreatic lipolysis rate, using a pH-stat based in vitro digestion model of the duodenum. Lipolysis of oat oil, a mix of oat oil/rapeseed oil (RSO), as well as a liquid oat base (OB) simulating an oat drink with different polar lipid content are investigated, and compared with RSO as control. Increasing the polar lipid content of the product digested leads to a significantly decreased lipolysis rate, and this effect is even observed when mixing RSO with a low amount of oat oil (10%). The results support the hypothesis that polar lipids can delay lipolysis also in a complex, natural system like the liquid OB, and even a minor amount of oat lipids can have large effect on lipolysis rates. Practical applications: The number of studies connecting galactolipids with a decreasing effect on duodenal lipolysis is growing; however, the mechanism behind this phenomenon is still not clarified. Here, the same effect is seen in a complex, natural food system. These findings open up for interesting future food products, where inclusion of oat oil, even at low concentrations, can have a prolonging effect on satiety. Oat for human consumption is an increasing market, thanks to the positive health benefits oat has been connected to, in combination with the current trend toward climate-friendly plant-based options for meat and dairy products. It is believed that oat oil can be attractive as an ingredient in various food products, for example, protein bars and spreads. More studies are needed to confirm the results in vivo. However, a great potential is seen for the use of oat oil to enhance appetite control.     

Carbon Bonding State Has a Small Effect on Melting of Direct-Reduced Iron

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - The concentration and chemical bonding state of carbon in direct-reduced iron (DRI) might affect DRI melting temperature and rate. The effects of carbon...     

Layer-by-layer self-assembly of multifunctional enzymatic UF membranes

In order to eliminate membrane fouling and to ensure enzymatic hydrolysis of urea, multifunctional biocatalytic membranes were prepared by using urease (URE) and trypsin (TRY) enzymes on the sulfonated polysulfone (SPSf) ultrafiltration membrane via layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly method. The membrane architecture consisted of multilayer assembly with TRY and URE enzymes as the outer layer and inner sandwiched layer, respectively. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) and alginate (ALG) were used as cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes. Sulfonation and PEI deposition were successfully accomplished as confirmed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy analysis, contact angle measurements, staining with toluidine blue and Congo red dyes and dead-end filtration experiments. A characteristic value of SPSf membrane with a high water permeability (1000 L/m².h.bar) and 95% bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection was observed. In static conditions, URE activities of SPSf2-PEI-URE membrane were not affected by BSA fouling, while TRY immobilizations with increased concentrations (SPSf2-PEI-URE-PEI-ALG-TRY) significantly lowered the activity of URE. In dynamic conditions, each deposited layer exhibited individual resistance to flow that can be considered as irreversible fouling and caused 90% of flux decline for the SPSf2-PEI-URE-PEI-ALG-TRY membrane assembly. The recovery of the initial flux for the multilayered membrane at the end of six fouling and washing cycles was observed 85%. Moreover, at the end of 5 cycles, 78% of the URE initial activity of the multilayered membrane was preserved. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48750.     

Photoinitiated synthesis of poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate-co-diethyl amino ethyl methacrylate) superabsorbent hydrogels for dye adsorption

Random copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGM), and diethyl amino ethyl methacrylate (DEAEM) were synthesized at low, and high conversions by photoinitiation. Crosslinked poly(PEGM-co-DEAEM) samples were obtained, and characterized by FTIR, SEM, DSC, TGA, and elemental analyses. Swelling behavior of the copolymers revealed that the copolymers acted as superabsorbent hydrogels. The monomer reactivity ratios were calculated using Fineman Ross, Extended Kelen Tüdøs , and Mayo Lewis methods that gave r₁(PEGM) = 0.90, r₂(DEAEM) = 0.14 at low conversions. At high conversions r₁ and r₂ values were calculated as 1.01 and 0.40, respectively. Adsorption isotherms of methyl orange (MO) onto hydrogels were studied using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models. The experimental data fitted well with the Langmuir equation. The maximum adsorption capacity for MO was 212.7 mg g⁻¹ at pH = 3. The adsorption data gave best fit with the pseudo-second order kinetic model. Thermodynamic evaluation showed spontaneous nature for MO adsorption onto poly(PEGM-co-DEAEM) hydrogels. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47707.     

The effect of methyl-tri-n-butylammonium methylsulfate and graphite nanoplates on production of antistatic acrylic polymer

Methyl-tri-n-butylammonium methylsulfate (BIL) was incorporated into acrylic resin to improve antistatic property of acrylic polymer (AP). In order to avoid reduction in the mechanical properties of acrylic film and to reach higher electrical conductivity values, the combination of graphite nanoplates (Gr) and BIL was used. The effects of incorporation of BIL and Gr into AP on UV-blocking properties and UV transmittance data of acrylic films were measured. After 120 days, AP containing 5 wt% BIL and 0.01 wt% Gr, and AP+15 wt% BIL exhibited antistatic property. While BIL incorporation into acrylic resin deteriorated the mechanical properties, 0.01 wt% Gr incorporation increased the tensile strength by 83%.