Green composites. I. physical properties of ramie fibers for environment-friendly green composites

The surface topography, tensile properties, and thermal properties of ramie fibers were investigated as reinforcement for fully biodegradable and environmental-friendly ‘green’ composites. SEM micrographs of a longitudinal and cross-sectional view of a single ramie fiber showed a fibrillar structure and rough surface with irregular cross-section, which is considered to provide good interfacial adhesion with polymer resin in composites. An average tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and fracture strain of ramie fibers were measured to be 627 MPa, 31.8 GPa, and 2.7 %, respectively. The specific tensile properties of the ramie fiber calculated per unit density were found to be comparable to those of E-glass fibers. Ramie fibers exhibited good thermal stability after aging up to 160°C with no decrease in tensile strength or Young’s modulus. However, at temperatures higher than 160°C the tensile strength decreased significantly and its fracture behavior was also affected. The moisture content of the ramie fiber was 9.9%. These properties make ramie fibers suitable as reinforcement for ‘green’ composites. Also, the green composites can be fabricated at temperatures up to 160°C without reducing the fiber properties.     

Mechanical properties and crystal structure transition of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate-co-terephthalate) (PBST) fibers

Mechanical properties of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate-co-terephthalate) (PBST) fibers with 70 mol% butylene terephthalate (BT) were intensively investigated. Chemical structure composed of hard BT units and soft butylene succinate (BS) units made contributions to the higher elongation at break and lower initial modulus of PBST fibers than poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) fibers. Moreover, PBST fibers had better elastic properties than PBT fibers by exploring their elastic recovery. The stretch elastic recovery mechanism of PBST fibers was clarified from the point of crystal structure transition. According to the preliminary studies by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) measurements, two polymorphs (α form and β form) were confirmed when PBST fibers were applied to different deformations. With the help of intensive study by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements, the crystal structure transition of PBST fibers was further verified.     

Studies on green gram (Phaseolus aureus) protein concentrate and flour

Protein isolate from green gram (Phaseolus aureus) was prepared and the chemical composition was determined. It contained 64.04% protein, 1.8% total lipids, 27.64% total carbohydrates, 1.68% crude fibre and 4.84% ash. Iron, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, potassium and sodium were determined. The limiting amino acid in the protein isolate was lysine. In vitro digestibility pepsin followed the pancretion was the highest and the lowest was the digestion by pepsin alone. Water absorption, oil absorption, emulsion capacity and nitrogen solubility index (NSI) of the protein isolate were 2.26g/g, 1.24g/g, 31.4g/g and 6.8g/g, respectively. For comparison the same functional properties were determined for the flour of green gram. Replacing 5 and 10% of the wheat flour with green gram flour improved the mixing properties of dough and produced good acceptable bread. However, the addition of 15% green gram flour weakened the dough and lowered the quality of bread. Replacing 2.5, 5 and 7.5% of wheat flour with protein concentrate also weakened the mixing properties of the wheat dough and decreased the bread quality.     

Long-term consumption of beef extended with soy protein by men,women and children: II. Effects on iron status

The iron status of men, women and children consuming beef extended with soy protein was evaluated by measuring serum ferritin and clinical parameters of iron status during a six-month study. Fifty-two families (245 participants) were randomly assigned to consume, for 180 days, 1 of 7 beef products: all beef, beef extended with either soy isolate, soy concentrate or soy flour (20% reconstituted soy product, 80% beef), or beef extended with each of the three soy products fortified with 60 mg Fe and 25 mg Zn/100 g protein. The beef product was consumed by the subjects as their principal source of protein for 1 meal a day (children 1–18 yr) or 1–2 meals a day (11 per week; adult men and women). A control group consumed their usual self-selected diets. No evidence was found that consumption of beef extended with soy protein deleteriously affected the iron status of men, women or children. Consumption of beef extended with soy protein, at the levels used in this study, by military men and women and by school lunch participants would not appear to impose a risk in these population groups.     

Stability of fatty acids and leaf protein concentrate of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum)

Freeze-dried leaf protein concentrate (LPC) contained 18% lipids in which linolenic acid (61.5%) was the major component. Linolenic acid in LPC was almost stable when stored at ambient temperature (30 to 35°C) and exposed to air for 24 weeks. Heating of LPC (50 to 200°C) in presence of moisture (6 to 12%) progressively increased the rate of destruction of linolenic acid. Below 100°C the presence of lipids did not affect the protein quality but at higher temperatures due to the lipid oxidation protein quality as estimated by dye-binding capacity was considerably affected.     

Atriplex hortensis L. as a leafy vegetable,and as a leaf protein concentrate plant

The quality ofAtriplex hortensis L. (Mountain Spinach) as a leafy vegetable, forage crop, and plant for production of leaf protein/nutrient concentrate was investigated. The plant can substitute or supplementSpinacia oleracea L. as a leafy vegetable, due to similar chemical composition and a higher leaf yield. The whole plant, as a meal, is similar toMedicago sativa L. in chemical composition. It could be suitable for cultivation in dry areas. By wet-fractionation of the plant a leaf protein concentrate can be obtained. The concentrate is well composed, and should lack anti-nutritive substances present in the whole plant.     

Synthesis and characterization of water-soluble phthalocyanine Copper(II) complex and its coloration on acrylic fibers

Herein, we report the synthesis and dyeing property of cationic copper phthalocyanine (cationic CuPc). The synthesized cationic CuPc was characterized using UV-Vis spectra and it showed good solubility in aqueous solution over a wide pH range. The dyeing of cationic CuPc was successfully employed onto acrylic fiber. The dyeing of acrylic fiber using cationic CuPc was achieved using conventional method. The effects of five important variables such as liquor ratio, dye concentration, dyeing time, temperature and pH were examined on the color strength (K/S) of dyed acrylic fiber. The maximum color strength was obtained at lower liquor ratio (100:1), higher dye concentration (6 %), longer dyeing time (60 min), 120 °C and alkaline condition (pH 11).     

红麻粉蚧的发生、危害及其综合防治

通过系统观察,摸清了红麻粉蚧的发生分布、危害方式以及对红麻生长发育的影响,并针对其发生危害特点制定出以杜绝虫源、农业防治、生物防治及化学防治等有效的综合防治措施.     

Heritability of height,width, resin,rubber, and latex in guayule (Parthenium argentatum)

Plant breeding in guayule, a rubber and latex producing plant, has not been as effective as predicted or desired. A surprisingly large amount of variability has been reported in this apomictic crop for traits such as plant height, width, resin, rubber, and latex contents. This study was designed to calculate the proportion of the total measured variability due to the environment and the proportion due to genetic influences within and between three-released germplasm lines. Plant heights were measured at 1, 2 and 3-years-of-age; plant width, and latex contents at 2 and 3-years-of-age; and resin and rubber content at 2-years-of-age. Broad-sense-heritabilities were estimated for each trait and year by dividing the genotypic by the total variance. To estimate the genetic component of the measured variance for each trait, the environment effects (variance from clonally propagated plants) were subtracted from the total variance (variance from open-pollinated (OP) seed propagated plants). In general, the variances of the means for the measured traits were lower in the clonally propagated plants compared with the apomictic OP seed propagated plants. The heritability estimates calculated for each trait differed from year to year. For instance, heritability for plant height was estimated in line AZ-2 to be 0.84 at 1 year of age; 0.47 at 2 years of age; and 0.0 at 3 years of age. These values imply that a large portion of the observed variation in this line is attributed to genetic effects in the first 2 years of growth. As the plant grows over several seasons, the environment effects compound, masking the genetic effects, making effective selection choices more difficult. Heritability for latex content for the same line was estimated to be 0.97 for the second year and 0.55 for the third year. Selections for the measured traits in this study appear to be most effective during the first and second years of growth, with effectiveness diminishing during the third year. Most selections previous to this study were performed between 3 and 5 years of growth, thus suggesting one reason for the lack of significant progress in most breeding programs.     

Removal of benzidine-based azo dye from aqueous solution using amide and amine-functionalized poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers

In this study, amide and amine groups bound to poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers are used to remove the colored toxic Congo red dye from aqueous solution. The effects of process variables like pH, contact time, graft yield, and initial dye concentration on the adsorption were investigated. The maximum adsorption of Congo red to amide and amine groups was observed at pH 3 and 5 respectively. Equilibrium was attained at approximately 60 min for the amine group. The adsorption capacity of amine group on the poly(ethylene terephthalate) fiber was 46.5 mg g⁻¹ at 25 °C, which was higher than that of the amide group on the poly(ethylene terephthalate) fiber. Desorption was done using 0.1 M NH₃, and recovery was measured at 58.2 %. The used adsorbent was regenerated and recycled six times. The results showed that the amine-functionalized fiber could be considered as potential adsorbents for removal of Congo red from aqueous solution.     

Temperature effects on leaf properties,resin content,and composition in Grindelia chiloensis (Asteraceae)

Grindelia chiloensis (Asteraceae) is a shrub native to the Patagonia and Monte regions of Argentina, presently under investigation as a resin crop. The rate of production of diterpene resin–acids is, in part, determined by environmental conditions and can be manipulated changing water, nitrogen, and radiation availability. Although the theory predicts that resin content should increase with low temperature, this response has not been tested, yet. The objective of this work was to test whether the response of resin production to temperature predicted by the Growth-Differentiation-Balance Hypothesis (GDBH) is found in G. chiloensis. Cloned plants of G. chiloensis were grown in greenhouses under different temperature regimes. Structural and functional characters were measured. Leaf resin and stem total non-structural carbohydrate content (TNC) were higher in plants grown at sub-optimal temperature (low temperature) for growth, whereas assimilation rate was not affected, in accordance with predictions. Under low temperature, specific leaf weight (SLW) and leaf–stem ratio were higher due to reductions in leaf expansion and stem growth, whereas individual leaf mass was not affected. Resin composition was slightly affected by temperature, suggesting that it is under strong genetic control. The stimulant effect of restrictive environmental conditions (low temperature in our study) required to compensate for the short growing season found in cooler environments such as Patagonia, appears insufficient to compensate for the reductions in aboveground biomass, thus resulting in lower resin production per plant.     

Poly(methyl methacrylate-glycidiyl methacrylate) film with immobilized iminodiacetic acid and Cu(II) Ion: For protein adsorption

Poly(methyl methacrylate-glycidiyl methacrylate) p(MMA-GMA) film was fabricated by UV initiated photo-polymerization. Iminodiacetic acid ligand (IDA) was covalently immobilized to the p(MMA-GMA) film via ring opening reaction of epoxy groups. Cu(II) ion was chelated with the immobilized ligand. The morphology and properties of the films were characterized with SEM, FTIR, AFM, water content, the specific surface area, and contact angle. HSA (human serum albumin) was used as a model protein to describe the adsorption propency of the support. The information obtained in this research will serve for scaling up the process in industrial applications. The HSA adsorption capacity of the metal chelated film was found to be 2.7 mg/cm² film. The p(MMA-GMA)-IDA-Cu(II) films exhibited a high adsorption capacity and fast adsorption rate compared to Cu(II) ion free counterpart.     

Long-term consumption of beef extended with soy protein by men,women and children: I. Study design,nutrient intakes,and serum zinc levels

The effect of long-term consumption, under practical conditions, of beef extended with soy protein on serum zinc levels of men, women and children was studied. Fifty-two families were randomly assigned to consume for 180 days 1 of 7 beef products: all beef, beef extended with either soy isolate, soy concentrate or soy flour (20% reconstituted soy product, 80% beef), or beef extended with each of the 3 soy products fortified with 60 mg Fe and 25 mg Zn/100g protein. The beef product was consumed by the subjects as their principal source of protein for 1 meal a day (children 1–8 yrs) or 1–2 meals a day (11 per week) for adult men and women. A control group consumed their usual self-selected diet. Diet records (4-day) of all foods and beverages consumed by the subjects were obtained pre-study and 63±7 and 126±7 days for calculation of nutrient intakes. No deleterious effects were found on the serum zinc levels when subjects consumed beef extended with soy protein for 180 days.Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.     

Long-term consumption of beef extended with soy protein by children,women and men: III. Iron absorption by adult men

Forty-nine ostensibly healthy men consumed either patties of all-beef or beef extended with soy-isolate, -concentrate or -flour as the principal protein source in 1 to 2 meals daily for 180 days. Iron status was monitored by absorption of radioiron from a reference dose of ferrous ascorbate and by serum ferritin concentration. In addition, nonheme iron absorption from a test meal of the respective beef pattie consumed for the 180 days was estimated by the extrinsic tag procedure. There was no detrimental effect on iron stores as indexed by reference ferrous ascorbate absorption or serum ferritin concentration. Absorption of nonheme iron from the test meals was low except for individuals having indices of low iron stores. When adjusted for the effect of level of iron stores the relative absorption of nonheme iron from soy-isolate and -flour containing meals was greater than from the all-beef meal, indicating marked differences in the effect on iron absorption by different soy products. Consumption of soy-extended beef should have no detrimental effect on iron status of adult men if consumed in mixed diets at the level used in this study.     

Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (20/80) blend. II. Crystalline structure and morphology

We investigated the effect of ethylene and vinyl acetate (20/80 mole ratio) copolymer (EVAc80) content in poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF/EVAc80) blends and also varying isothermal crystallization temperatures on the crystalline structure and morphology, and surface topography using different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. As crystallization temperature increases for the same blend composition, the lamellar splay type spherulite is changed to the concentric ring-banded spherulite, and then to the spiral-ringed spherulite with further increasing temperature. With increasing EVAc80 content in the PVDF/EVAc80 blends, the temperature range, where spiral-ringed spherulites and lamellar splay typeγ-spherulites are present predominantly, becomes much broader. Furthermore, the non-textured spherulite was observed more at highest crystallization temperature with increasing EVAc80 content. The band spacing between bright and dark zone and periodicity between ridge and valley increase with increasing amorphous EVAc80 content.     

Green and Efficient Synthesis of an Adsorbent Fiber by Plasma-induced Grafting of Glycidyl Methacrylate and Its Cd(II) Adsorption Performance

A new chelating adsorbent for the removal of Cd(II) from aqueous solution, PP-g-GMA-DETA fibers, is prepared by plasma induced grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto the surface of polypropylene (PP) fibers, followed by modification with diethylenetriamine (DETA). The effects of grafting parameters on the grafting degree are investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy prove the successful grafting of GMA onto the surfaces of PP fibers and the subsequent conversion of epoxy groups of grafted GMA to amine groups, on reaction with DETA. The adsorption performances of Cd(II) by the chelating fibers are evaluated in detail. Kinetic and isothermal parameters are also evaluated. The data fit well with the pseudo-second order and Langmuir isotherm model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of Cd(II) is 46.47 mg g^-1 and the prepared fibers show selective adsorbability towards target Cd(II) in presence of competing Mg(II) ions.     

Removal of Pb(II) and Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions using chitosan/cobalt ferrite nanofibrous adsorbent

In the present study, the chitosan/cobalt ferrite nanofibrous adsorbent was produced via electrospinning process and its application for the removal of Pb(II) and Cr(VI) ions from aqueous systems was investigated. The cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized via convectional hydrothermal method and were characterized using XRD, SEM and TEM analysis. The influence of sorption parameters in a batch mode including cobalt ferrite content, pH, contact time, metal ions initial concentration and temperature on the sorption efficiency of Pb(II) and Cr(VI) ions was evaluated. The kinetic data were fitted using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models and the isotherm models including Freundlich, Langmuir and Redlich-Peterson were used to describe the equilibrium data of Pb(II) and Cr(VI) sorption using synthesized nanofibrous adsorbent. Thermodynamic parameters investigation showed the spontaneous and endothermic sorption of Pb(II) and Cr(VI) ions. The Pb(II) and Cr(VI) sorption efficiency was also examined during five sorption-desorption cycles by regeneration of nanofibers via 1 M HNO₃. The simultaneous influence of metal ions initial concentration on the Pb(II) and Cr(VI) sorption in a binary system was also investigated.     

转基因大麦的gfp基因表达及染色体定位

为了深入探讨转基因的整合位置对基因表达的影响，对转绿色荧光蛋白基因（gfp）大麦的荧光表达和gfp基因的染色体位置进行了研究。结果表明，绿色荧光蛋白（gfp）在大麦的根尖和花粉中均有表达，四倍体的荧光表达强度大于二倍体，表现出基因的剂量效应。gfp基因插入到第6染色体（6H）短臂和另一染色体的短臂近末端。     

Changes in starch,oil, protein and amino acids in developing seeds of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

The okra seeds of variety Pusa sawani were analysed for protein, non-protein nitrogen, total free amino acids, lysine, and tryptophan from the 7th day to the 42nd day after flowering. Starch, total sugars and oil percent were also estimated in these seeds. During the early stages of maturation, the soluble components (non-protein nitrogen, free amino acids and total sugars) were found in higher quantities than in the later stages. Protein, oil and starch contents increased gradually from day 7 to day 42. The rate of accumulation of oil was found to be at the highest level between 21–28 days after flowering, while the rate of protein deposition was greatest between days 35–42. Inditiation of seed maturation seems to start 21 days after flowering in okra seeds.     

Quick-cooking beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): II. Phytates,oligosaccharides, and antienzymes

Effects of the quick-cooking processes on phytate and oligosaccharide levels, and on trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors, were investigated in three bean varieties (Phaseolus vulgaris L.: Great Northern, red kidney, and pinto). Beans soaked in distilled water had lower levels of phytate-P than those soaked in a mixed salt solution. Leaching losses of oligosaccharides were nearly the same in different soaking treatments for all the beans except kidney beans. Residual trypsin inhibitor activities (TIA) in cooked quick-cooking beans were about 10% compared with about 20% for chymotrypsin inhibitor activities (CTIA) in the same bean products. -Irradiation was more effective in reducing TIA than CTIA and paralleled destruction by moist heat.Utah Agricultural Experiment Station Journal article no. 2480.