Phase transitions in biodegradable films based on blends of gelatin and poly (vinyl alcohol)

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the hydrolysis degree (HD) and the concentration (C PVA) of two types of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and the effect of the type and the concentration of plasticizers on the phase properties of biodegradable films based on blends of gelatin and PVA, using a response-surface methodology. The films were made by casting and the studied properties were their glass (Tg) and melting (Tm) transition temperatures, which were determined by diferential scanning calorimetry (DSC). For the data obtained on the first scan, the fitting of the linear model was statistically significant and predictive only for the second melting temperature. In this case, the most important effect on the second Tm of the first scan was due to the HD of the PVA. In relation to the second scan, the linear model could be fit to Tg data with only two statistically significant parameters. Both the PVA and plasticizer concentrations had an important effect on Tg. Concerning the second Tm of the second scan, the linear model was fit to data with two statistically significant parameters, namely the HD and the plasticizer concentration. But, the most important effect was provoked by the HD of the PVA.

Biochemical characteristics of composite flours: influence of fermentation

The purpose of this study was to introduce yam in the development of two new composite flours containing soy and cassava. Two composite flours were obtained after fermentation of yam, soybean, and cassava in respectively 60, 30, and 10% proportions. Two varieties of yam were used: Dioscorea alata (variety "Bete bete") and Dioscorea cayenensis (variety "Lokpa"). Proximate composition, mineral content, some anti-nutritional factors (oxalates, phenols), microbiological quality, and α-amylase digestibility were determined for the fermented and unfermented composite flours. The results indicated that for the composite flours made of D. alata and D. cayenensis, fermentation increased ash and titrable acidity. Carbohydrates, pH, and energy decreased. Crude fat content was not affected by the fermentation process. Anti-nutritional factors such as oxalates and phenols were found to decrease significantly after the fermentation of the composite flours. Fermentation increased the mineral content (Mg, K, Fe, and Ca) of the composite flours. A decrease in P and Na was observed after fermentation. The microbiological study showed that safety flours contain no potential pathogenic germs. The in vitro α-amylase digestibility of the composite flours was significantly improved after fermentation. The biochemical characteristics and good hygienic quality of the obtained flours suggest that these flours can be considered as a feeding alternative for children in poor areas where yam is produced.

Functionalisation of spruce O-acetyl-galactoglucomannans for barrier and composite applications

The increasing use of energy, food, and materials by the growing population in the world is leading to the situation where alternative solutions from renewable carbon resources are sought after. The growing use of plastics depends on the raw-oil production while oil refining are politically governed and required for the polymer manufacturing is not sustainable in terms of carbon footprint. The amount of packaging is also increasing. Packaging is not only utilising cardboard and paper, but also plastics. The synthetic petroleum-derived plastics and inner-coatings in food packaging can be substituted with polymeric material from the renewable resources. The trees in Finnish forests constitute a huge resource, which ought to be utilised more effectively than it is today. One underutilised component of the forests is the wood-derived hemicelluloses, although Spruce Oacetyl-galactoglucomannans (GGMs) have previously shown high potential for material applications and can be recovered in large scale. Hemicelluloses are hydrophilic in their native state, which restrains the use of them for food packaging as non-dry item. To cope with this challenge, we intended to make GGMs more hydrophobic or amphiphilic by chemical grafting and consequently with the focus of using them for barrier applications. Methods of esterification with anhydrides and cationic etherification with a trimethyl ammonium moiety were established. A method of controlled synthesis to obtain the desired properties by the means of altering temperature, reaction time, the quantity of the reagent, and even the solvent for purification of the products was developed. Numerous analytical tools, such as NMR, FTIR, SEC-MALLS/RI, MALDI-TOF-MS, RP-HPLC and polyelectrolyte titration were used to evaluate the products from different perspectives and to acquire parallel proofs of their chemical structure. Modified GGMs with different degree of substitution and the correlating level of hydrophobicity was applied as coatings on cartonboard and on nanofibrillated cellulose-GGM films to exhibit barrier functionality. The water dispersibility in processing was maintained with GGM esters with low DS. The use of chemically functionalised GGM was evaluated for the use as barriers against water, oxygen and grease for the food packaging purposes. The results show undoubtedly that GGM derivatives exhibit high potential to function as a barrier material in food packaging.

The effect of relative humidity on tensile strength and water vapor permeability in chitosan, fish gelatin and transglutaminase edible films

Abstract Composite films of chitosan, fish gelatin and microbial transglutaminase (MTgase) were developed. Films were produced by the casting method and dried at room temperature for 30 h, conditioned for 7 days at 30 °C at a relative humidity (RH) from 11 to 90%, and characterized. Chitosan:fish gelatin films in different proportions (100:0, 75:25, 50:50) with MTgase, were subjected to tensile properties and water vapor transmission (WVT) testing. The results showed that tensile strength decreased with an increase in RH and with an increase in gelatin content. Percent of elongation also increased with increasing RH and gelatin concentration. Water vapor transmission showed an increase proportional to an increase in RH with the presence of gelatin being unfavorable for reducing WVT. Results in this work allowed studying the effect of relative humidity on tensile and water vapor properties of chitosan and fish gelatin films.

Transmission oflight through individually formed fiber- reinforced composite post (Yksilöllisesti muotoillun kuitukomposiittinastan valonläpäisevyys)

Kuitukomposiitista valmistettuja juurikanavanastoja käytetään apuna, kun restauroidaan juurihoidettuja ja kruunuosastaan runsaasti kudosta menettäneitä hampaita. Kliinisen kestävyyden kannalta on tärkeää että nasta kiinnittyy hampaaseen hyvin. Tarvittavan valomäärän saattaminen valokovetuksella pimeään juurikanavaan on vaikeaa ja sen vuoksi nastojen kiinnittämiseen suositellaan kaksoiskovetteista yhdistelmämuovisementtiä, joka kovettuu vain osittain valolla. Jotta nasta ja sementti polymeroituisivat hyvin, nastan hyvä valonläpäisy- ja sirontakyky olisi eduksi. Tehdasvalmisteisten nastojen valonläpäisykyvyn on todettu heikkenevän niiden pituuden kasvaessa. Yksilöllisesti muotoilluilla kuitukomposiittinastoilla, joilla on osittaislomittaismuoviverkostorakenne (semi-IPN) polymeerimatriisi, on todettu tehdasvalmisteisia kuitunastoja parempi sidos nastan ja yhdistelmämuovisementin välillä. Yksilöllisesti muotoilluilla kuitunastoilla näyttäisi myös olevan hyvä valonjohtamiskyky, mutta lisätutkimuksia tarvitaan. Tässä tutkimuksessa selvitettiin yksilöllisesti muotoillun kuitukomposiittinastan (EverStick Post) ja kahden tehdasvalmisteisen (Relyx Fiber Post ja GC Fiber Post) kuitukomposiittina stan valonläpäisevyyttä sekä pituuden vaikutusta niiden valonläpäisykykyyn laboratorio- olosuhteissa. Tutkimushypoteesi oli, että nastojen valonläpäisykyky heikkenee niiden pidentyessä. Tutkimuksessa kaikista nastatyypeistä valmistettiin eripituisia nastoja (4, 8, 12 ja 16 mm). Nastoille tehtiin samanpituiset testikappaleet muoviputkesta ja polyvinyylisiloksaanista, ja nastat asetettiin niiden sisään. Tämän jälkeen nastoja kovetettiin valokovettimella 10 sekuntia, ja läpi päässyt valo mitattiin MARC Resin Calibrator -laitteella. Kontrollina käytettiin tyhjää testikappaletta ilman nastaa. Keskeiseksi tulokseksi saatiin, että yksilöllisesti muotoillulla kuitukomposiittinastalla oli kaikissa pituusryhmissä muita nastoja merkitsevästi parempi valonläpäisykyky. Tulokset osoittivat myös, että kaikkien nastojen valonläpäisevyys laski merkitsevästi nastan pituuden lisääntyessä aina 12 millimetriin asti. Tulosten perusteella yksilöllisesti muotoillulla kuitukomposiittinastalla on tehdasvalmisteista nastaa parempi valonläpäisykyky. Kuitukomposiittinastojen valonläpäisykyky heikkenee niiden pituuden kasvaessa aiempien tutkimusten mukaisesti. Jatkotutkimuksissa tulisi selvittää, miten valonläpäisevyys ja siroaminen vaikuttavat nastan ja sementin polymeroitumiseen ja siten kliiniseen lopputulokseen.

A software engineering approach to distributed systems for composite modeling

The goal of this thesis is to define and validate a software engineering approach for the development of a distributed system for the modeling of composite materials, based on the analysis of various existing software development methods. We reviewed the main features of: (1) software engineering methodologies; (2) distributed system characteristics and their effect on software development; (3) composite materials modeling activities and the requirements for the software development. Using the design science as a research methodology, the distributed system for creating models of composite materials is created and evaluated. Empirical experiments which we conducted showed good convergence of modeled and real processes. During the study, we paid attention to the matter of complexity and importance of distributed system and a deep understanding of modern software engineering methods and tools.

Optimal distance of the light-curing tip for light transmission through the resin composite

Hammaslääketieteessä käytetettävien komposiittien valonläpäisevyys vaihtelee. Samoin LED-valokovettimet eroavat toisistaan valotehonsa ja muotoilunsa perusteella. On yleisesti tiedossa, että valokovettimesta tulevan valon intensiteetti pinta-alayksikköä kohden heikkenee, kun kovettimen etäisyys kasvaa. Toisaalta ei ole tiedossa, miten valokovetettavan kohteen ja valokovettimen kärjen väliin sijoitettu materiaali tarkalleenottaen vaikuttaa valon intensiteettiin eri etäisyyksiä käytettäessä. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on selvittää, miten valokovetettavan kohteen ja valokovettimen kärjen väliin asetettava etukäteen polymerisoitu materiaali vaikuttaa valon intensiteettiin eri etäisyyksillä. Tutkimus suoritettiin käyttämällä kahta eri valokovetinta. Jotta etäisyyden vaikutusta valotustehoon voitiin demonstroida, vaihdettiin kovettimen etäisyyttä sensorista 0,2,4,6,8,10mm välillä. Valotehot rekisteröitiin MARC resin calibrator -laitteella. Sensorin ja valokovettimen kärjen väliin asetettavat erilaiset komposiittilevyt olivat valmiiksi kovetettuja,1mm paksuisia, filleripitoisuuksiltaan neljää erilaista muovia. Valotehot rekisteröitiin jokaiselta etäisyydeltä komposiitin ollessa sensorin päällä. Rinnakkaisesti verrattiin myös etäisyyden vaikutusta valotehoon ilman esikovetettua materiaalia kovettimen kärjen ja valoa mittaavan sensorin välissä. Vertailun suorittamiseksi laskettiin intensiteettisuhdeluku muovillisen ja muovittoman arvon välillä aina tietyllä etäisyydellä Valokovettimen kärjen etäisyyden kasvattaminen sensorista (eli valokovetettavasta kohteesta) odotusten mukaisesti pienensi valotehoa. Laittamalla sensorin ja kovettimen väliin komposiittilevy, valoteho pieneni odotetusti vielä enemmän. Tutkittaessa intensiteettisuhdetta (valoteho muovin kanssa : valoteho ilman muovia) kuitenkin huomattiin, että 4-6mm:n kohdalla suhdeluku oli suurempi kuin 0,2,8 ja 10mm kohdalla. Johtopäätöksenä oli, että suurin mahdollinen valokovetusteho saavutetan laittamalla kovetuskärki mahdollisimman lähelle kohdetta. Jos valokovetettavan kohteen ja valokovettimen kärjen välissä oli kiinteä komposiittipalanen, suurin mahdollinen valokovetusteho kohteeseen saavutetaan edelleen laittamalla kovetuskärki kiinni muoviin. Jos etäisyyttä muovin pinnasta sen sijaan kasvatettiin, valokovetusteho ei laskenutkaan niin nopeasti kuin oli odotettu. Tämä voi liittyä siihen, että tehokkaan valokeilan halkaisijan koko on suurempi verrattuna komposiitin sekä sensorin halkaisian kokoon. Toiseksi on arvioitu, että resiinikomposiitin täyteaineet voisivat fokusoida läpi kulkevaa valoa sensoriin. Se, pitääkö tämä ilmiö paikkansa, vaatii kuitenkin enemmän tutkimusta

Potential of energy and nutrient recovery from biodegradable waste by co-treatment in Lithuania

Biodegradable waste quantities in Lithuania and their potential for the co-treatment in renewable energy and organic fertilizer production are investigated. Two scenarios are formulated to study the differences of the amounts of obtainable energy and fertilizers between different ways of utilization. In the first scenario, only digestion is used, and in the second scenario, other materials than straw are digested, and straw and the solid fraction of sewage sludge digestate are combusted. As a result, the amounts of heat and electricity, as well as the fertilizer amounts in the counties are obtained for both scenarios. Based on this study, the share of renewable energy in Lithuania could be doubled by the co-treatment of different biodegradable materials.

[Recueil composite].

Contient : S. Ambrosius, De officiis ; Fragments d'un antiphonaire

[Recueil composite].

Contient : Boetius, De institutione musica ; De divinis officiis, libri I-III ; Homeliae [fragments] ; Robertus de Sancto Remigio, Historia Hierosolimitana ; Homeliae super evangelia

Composite Photographs - William Woodruff and his children

The composite includes photos of: Richard Woodruff (1822-1887) brother of Samuel Woodruff, son of William Woodruff. He married Cornelia McCrumb. His son-in- law was Samuel Zimmerman of the bank. Richard was a director of the Niagara Suspension Bridge. Joseph Woodruff (1820-1886) son of William Woodruff. He married Julia Claus. He was the Sherriff of Lincoln County and one of the incorporators of the Zimmerman Bank. Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff (1819-1904) who was the son of William Woodruff. He married Jane Caroline Sanderson (1827-1912) William Woodruff (1793-1860) who was the son of Ezekiel Woodruff who was born on July 29, 1763 and moved to the Niagara area from Litchfield Connecticut. He died in Niagara on Nov. 26, 1836. Henry Counter Woodruff (1833-1916) was the 7th child of William Woodruff. He married Emma Eloise Osgood (1835-1925) Dr. William Woodruff (1830-1908) of London, Ont. was the son of William Woodruff. Helena Woodruff (1828-1892) was the daughter of William Woodruff. She married Joseph Patterson Boomer. Julia Woodruff (1825-1870) was the sister of Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff and the daughter of William Woodruff.

Composite Photographs - Woodruff Family of St. Davids, Upper Canada

Composite of the Woodruff Family of St. Davids, Upper Canada. This composite contains 6 4 ½ cm x 4 cm black and white photographs which include: Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff (1819-1904) [the birth and death dates listed on this composite are 1827-1912, but these are actually his wife’s dates] son of William Woodruff. Joseph Woodruff (1820-1882) [1820-1886] son of William Woodruff. Helena Woodruff (1828-1892) daughter of William Woodruff. Julia Woodruff (1825-1870) daughter of William Woodruff. Dr. William Woodruff (1830-1908) son of William Woodruff. Margaret Clements [Clement] Woodruff (1794-1882) wife of William Woodruff

A composite discrete traction vector.

Tesis (Maestría en Ciencias con Orientación en Ingeniería Estructural) UANL, 2013.

Carbon fiber recovery using subcritical and supercritical fluids for chemical recycling of thermoset composite materials.

Tesis (Doctor en Ingeniería de Materiales) UANL, 2014.

Caractérisation d'une nouvelle cytokine composite formée de CLF et de la sous-unité p28 de l'IL-27

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal