Search

Purpose: In this study, coconut oil (liquid lipid) and shea butter (solid lipid) were used to formulate ciprofloxacin-loaded nanoparticles (nanostructured lipid carriers, NLC, solid lipid nanoparticles, SLN, or nanoemulsions, NE) which were then evaluated for pharmaceutical and antibacterial properties. Methods: The nanoparticles were produced by hot homogenisation high-pressure technique with a combination of the solid and liquid lipids for the NLC, solid lipid alone for the SLN, and liquid lipid alone for the NE. The nanoparticles were characterised by size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, FTIR, drug entrapment efficiency, drug dissolution (in vitro) and release kinetics, antibacterial action, and stability. Results: The nanoparticle sizes ranged from 157.0 ± 83.8 to 205.4 ± 95.6 nm, with PDI of 0.229–0.255, and zeta potential of -25.2 ± 5.6 to -45.3 ± 6.1mV. FTIR revealed no interaction between the drug and lipids. Drug entrapment was > 95.0%; only NLC had a t80 of < 45 min. Drug release kinetics followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model showing a Super case II transport mechanism. The ranking of the antibacterial activity was SLN > NLC > NE against both Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi. Stability studies indicated that phase separation occurred, drug content was reduced (p > 0.05), while release kinetics and mechanism remained largely unchanged. Conclusion: Coconut oil and shea butter lipids were effective for the formulation of ciprofloxacin-loaded nanoparticles, with the solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers demonstrating suitable pharmaceutical properties and antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of synthetic polymers in various industries has raised worldwide concerns regarding their ecological impact and effects on human health. As a result, biopolymers have emerged as a promising alternative. Among them, exopolysaccharides (EPSs) produced by microbes from terrestrial niches have been extensively studied. However, recent reports have indicated that microbes from marine environments can also produce unique EPSs that could serve as sustainable substitutes to meet the escalating demand for biopolymers. The present study, for the first time, reports EPS production from novel marine bacterium Algoriphagus sp. K5R for sustainable application development. Interestingly, physicochemical analyses suggest that EPS K5R is a high molecular weight (1190.63 kDa) heteropolysaccharide composed of galacturonic acid, glucose and mannose. To evaluate EPS production, growth and fermentation kinetics were performed, which revealed that it was a primary metabolite having a maximum production of 4.79 ± 0.57 g L−1 with 2% (w/v) glucose. Moreover, EPS K5R exhibits exceptional functional properties, namely high water‐holding capacity (720% ± 80.29%) and oil‐holding capacity (493.33% ± 49.74% for coconut oil and 533.32% ± 17.47% for olive oil), and non‐Newtonian pseudo‐plastic behavior which render it a promising candidate for application in the cosmetics and food industries. In fact, its anti‐oxidant capabilities make it an ideal biological reducing agent for metal nanoparticle synthesis. Overall, this study highlights the potential of marine EPSs for a diverse array of industrial applications. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Pickering emulsion delivery technique is widely acknowledged for its efficacy in serving as a carrier that can encapsulate functional components effectively. Previous studies have shown significant differences in the stability of Pickering emulsions composed of different oil phases and in the bioaccessibility of the encapsulated functional ingredients. This study therefore investigated the effects of different carrier oils in the betulin self‐stabilized water‐in‐oil (W/O) Pickering emulsion on the stability of the emulsion and bioaccessibility of betulin. Results: The results showed that the oil type was one of the main factors affecting the stability of the emulsion. Palm oil and coconut oil provided better storage stability and centrifugal stability due to the high saturated fatty acid content. The bioavailability of betulin correlated significantly with the composition and characteristics of fatty acids in carrier oils. Carrier oils rich in low‐saturation long‐chain fatty acids tended to release more free fatty acids (FFAs), thus forming larger and more mixed micelles with stronger swelling and dissolution ability, resulting in a relatively high bioaccessibility of betulin. In contrast, the bioaccessibility of betulin in the emulsion prepared by coconut oil (with high saturated fatty acid content) was relatively low (1.17%). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that selecting an appropriate carrier oil is important for the design of self‐stabilized W/O Pickering emulsions to improve the bioaccessibility of betulin and other lipophilic bioactivities effectively. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coconut oil is eatable oil with many nutritional and cosmetic applications. In this investigation coconut oil was subjected to 0 to 5 L/min of ozone for 3 h and the chemical composition of both crude and ozonized oil was valued via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Some biological tests were done including antibacterial action versus Helicobacter pylori, anti-biofilm activity versus H. pylori, anti-hemolytic activity in the existence of H. pylori, anti-Alzheimer action, and cytotoxic effect towards A-413 cancer cell line to determine the activity of coconut oil and upon exposure to ozone. Fifteen compounds were detected in the coconut oil crude and ozonized oils where the fatty acid esters were the most common molecules in crude coconut oil, whereas alkenes were the most predominant compounds in ozonized coconut oil. A slight elevation of antibacterial action towards H. pylori from 23.0 ± 0.1 to 28.2 ± 0.5 mm was displayed upon exposure of the coconut oil to ozone. Both crude and ozonized coconut oil showed a bactericidal effect with MICs = 62.5 ± 0.1, 125.0 ± 0.2 µg/mL and MBCs = 15.62 ± 0.2, 31.25 0.2 µg/mL for crude and ozonized oil, respectively. A significant elevation in anti-biofilm activity was found upon using 25% of MBCs of ozonized oil relative to crude oil. A dramatic rise was observed in anti-hemolytic activity upon using 25 and 75% of MICs of ozonized oil relative to crude one. A notable elevation of anti-Alzheimer impact was evident upon exposing coconut oil to ozone. Besides, the cytotoxic impact towards A-431 cells was slightly increased after exposing the oil to ozone. The current results suggest a new technique to expose coconut oil to ozone to improve some of its in vitro pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of men and women suffer from alopecia, especially androgenic alopecia (AGA), which is considered the most common form of hair loss. The available treatments for hair loss include multiple approaches, with the most popular being synthetic drugs including minoxidil and finasteride, in addition to natural products. However, synthetic drugs have shown many undesirable side effects, on the contrary, the specifications of the commonly used natural drugs have not been reported in most of the previous studies, despite the high market preference for them. One of these natural drugs is soybean (Glycine max), an economically important bean that has been reported in several studies to effectively prevent hair loss in humans and is widely used in many products treating alopecia. However, no reports were traced on the specification and standardization of the used soybean extract, which may lead to unreproducible results. Thus, in this study, we investigated the effects of different concentrations; 1%, 3%, and 5% (v/v) of a specified soybean extract (SSE) in coconut oil, using a testosterone-induced model of alopecia in adult male Wistar rats in comparison with a 2% finasteride solution. Visual and microscopical evaluations of follicular diameter, length, and density were performed. The data showed that 5% of SSE exhibited the highest activity with results comparable to standard 2% finasteride for hair diameter, length, and density, which could be attributed to the extract's isoflavone content. Genistin and diadzin isoflavones were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the SSE. The total extract was standardized using high-performance liquid chromatography using genistin as a marker and showed a content of 6.2 µg/mL. Accordingly, the formulated 3% and 5% SSEs (containing 0.186 and 0.31 µg/mL of genistin, respectively) could be considered as a promising natural treatment for AGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triacylglycerols containing medium-chain fatty acids at the sn-1,3 positions and a long-chain fatty acid at the sn-2 position (MLM-TAG) are of nutritional interest. However, they are scarce in common food sources and are usually synthesized by chemical or enzymatic methods. In this work, the enzymatic synthesis of MLM-TAG was attempted using sn-2 monoacylglycerols (sn-2 MAG) from the ethanolysis of an arachidonic acid-rich fraction from ARASCO and fatty acid ethyl esters from the ethanolysis of coconut oil as substrates. The highest yield of sn-2 MAG (23.3 mol%) was obtained after 1 h of ethanolysis with Novozym 435 lipase at 25 °C, and the best profile of the ethanolysis products of coconut oil was obtained after 24 h of reaction catalyzed by the lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus. Regarding the enzymatic synthesis of structured TAG, the lipase from Rhizopus oryzae gave better results than those from Thermomyces lanuginosus and Rhizomucor miehei, with the sn-2 position mainly esterified with arachidonic acid (34.8%) and the sn-1,3 positions mainly esterified with capric and lauric acids (35.1%). This work focuses on a simple process for the enzymatic production of structured TAG without prior purification of the sn-2 MAG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed analyzing the chemical and thermal aspects of Polylactic Acid (PLA) composites with Coconut Fiber (CF) and irradiated Coconut Fiber (CFI), upon castor oil (CO) addition. Influence of treated and untreated CF, at 10 and 20 wt.%, on the crystallization kinetics of PLA/CO composites is also investigated. At first, CF is chemically treated through mercerization under NaOH solution with subsequent gamma irradiation. Chemical changes include absence of bands ≈3300 cm−1 and the presence of vibrations at 3000–2851 cm−1 in composites with treated fibers, as evidenced by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Thermal behavior, as well as crystallization kinetics, are investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at different heating rates (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min−1), using Pseudo‐Avrami (PA), Kissinger‐Akahira‐Sunose (KAS), and Ozawa‐Flynn‐Wall (OFW) models. Activation energy (Ea) is calculated using OFW, KAS, Friedman (FR), and Vyazovkin (VZ) methods. Results showed changes in the FTIR spectra for PLA/5%CO/10%CF and PLA/5%CO/20%CFI, indicating absence of the carbonyl group (1594 cm−1) present in the ester group of PLA. Insertion of CFs increased the crystallization temperature. Presence of CFI provided an inversion in Ea, when compared to PLA/CO, suggesting that irradiation induces PLA stronger interactions. Gathered results highlight the potential of modified coconut fibers for the development of sustainable composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSIONS Currently, protein–polyphenol complexes have garnered increasing attention as surface‐active substances in high internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs). However, the effects of the oil type and flavonoid structure on the HIPPE‐stabilizing ability of protein–polyphenol complexes remain unclear. Notably, very few studies have investigated the impacts and mechanisms of different oils (olive, flaxseed, and coconut oils) and the effects of the addition of flavonoids (catechin and quercetin) on the interfacial behavior of walnut protein hydrolysates (WPHs) and the co‐oxidation of protein‐lipid in the resulting emulsion during storage.Incorporating flavonoids was found to reduce the particle size and enhance WPH emulsification efficiency. Compared with catechin, quercetin demonstrated a greater affinity for adsorption at the oil–water interface, thereby improving the interfacial adsorption properties of WPHs across all the oil phases, although the oil type influenced the concentration of flavonoids at the interface. Excessive WPH–quercetin complex nanoparticles can form a dense multilayer at the interface and compactly pack oil droplets, endowing HIPPEs with higher viscoelasticity, greater storage stability, and stronger protection against lipid and protein oxidation than other WPH‐based HIPPEs do, especially in cases of olive oil–HIPPEs.Our results demonstrated that the interfacial structure of WPH–flavonoid complexes play a major role in the emulsion stabilization efficiency, followed by the type of oil. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effect of different fat sources on growth performance and intestinal health in weaned piglets. A total of 72 21-day-old weaned piglets were divided into 3 groups the CON group with 2.5% soybean oil, TRE1 with 2.5% emulsified balanced oil powder and TRE2 with 2.5% emulsified coconut oil powder. These two experimental oil powders were emulsified with the emulsifier (lysophospholipid). The average daily feed intake in TRE1 was significantly higher than that in CON (P < 0.05). The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of ash in TRE1 was significantly higher than that in CON (P < 0.05). Compared with CON, TRE1 tended to improve ATTD of dry matter (P = 0.075), serum triglyceride (P = 0.062) and serum-free fatty acids (P = 0.090). The jejunal villus width of piglets in TRE1 and TRE2 was significantly increased (P < 0.05) and the duodenal crypt depth was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with CON, TRE1 significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of jejunal Occludin, Claudin-1 and ZO-1 (P < 0.05). From the results of the present study, we concluded that dietary supplementation of 2.5% emulsified balanced oil powder has more obvious effects on enhancing the growth performance of weaned piglets by improving lipid metabolism, intestinal tissue development and barrier function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous combination flooding systems are composed of surfactant and viscoelastic preformed gel particles (PGP) that can migrate in the pores. The interactions between PGP and surfactants have an important impact on the system. In our research described here heterogeneous aqueous suspensions of PGP and an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, SDBS) or a nonionic surfactant coconut oil alkanolamide, (CDEA) were prepared. The effects of SDBS and CDEA on the swelling and rheological properties of the PGP was investigated. In addition, the influence of SDBS and CDEA on the thermal effects of PGP was studied. The results showed that the swelling ratio, apparent viscosity and storage modulus of the PGP decreased with the increase of SDBS concentration. On the contrary, the CDEA increased the swelling ratio and the rheological properties of PGP. The specific heat capacity ( C p ) of PGP increased with the SDBS concentration and decreased with the CDEA concentration. Similar to the rheological behavior, the influence of interactions on the PGP molecular thermal motion was related to the concentration of the surfactants. Therefore, studying the variation of C p with concentration can provide reference for the reasonable dosage of surfactants in heterogeneous oil displacement systems and a new perspective for investigating the interaction between surfactant and PGP or other polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) is rich in medium-chain fatty acids and bioactive constituents such as vitamin E and polyphenols, rendering it an appealing natural ingredient for medicinal and cosmeceutical skin applications. Its use on the skin warrants cytotoxicity assessment to ensure safety and efficacy. This study evaluated VCO's antioxidant properties and its cytotoxicity in human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Methods: Fatty acid composition was analyzed using gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The antioxidant potential of serial doses of VCO (45%, 22.5%, 11.3%, 5.6% and 2.8%) was assessed by 2,2-Diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Cytotoxicity was determined using the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on human keratinocytes. Results: GC-FID analysis revealed lauric acid as the predominant fatty acid, accounting for 46.4% of the total composition. VCO exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay, with statistically significant differences across concentrations (F (4, 320) = 143.2, P <.0001) and compared to positive control Trolox (F(1, 320) = 13,201, P <.0001). The FRAP assay showed a statistically significant difference in ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant capacity (AEAC) among various concentrations (F(4, 35) = 17.65, P =.02). A dose-dependent decrease in HaCaT cell viability was observed with IC50 identified at 17.8% v/v. VCO was mildly cytotoxic to HaCaT at 11.3% v/v (74.36 + 5.41% cell viability). One-way ANOVA showed significant differences across concentration groups (F(5, 150) = 69.68, P <.0001). Tukey's post-hoc indicated significant differences from the negative control (P <.0001) and between the pairwise groups of 11.3% and 22.5% v/v (P =.0001). Conclusion: VCO possesses antioxidant properties, but future formulation and application for skin may consider using an optimal concentration below 11.3% v/v. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike lipid stability and oxidation studies in commonly used edible oils and margarines, margarines formulated with unconventional oils are not well characterized. This study investigated the effect of heat treatment (HT) on the stability and content of phytosterol in njangsa seed oil (NSO), bush mango oil (BMO), soybean oil (SBO), coconut oil (CCO), and margarines formulated from their blends: BN (BMO and NSO), BS (BMO and SBO), CN (CCO and NSO), CS (CCO and SBO), and commercial margarines (CM1 and CM2). Both oils and margarines were heat‐treated at 130, 170, and 210°C for 10, 15, 20, and 120 min (only oils). Changes in free fatty acid (FFA), peroxide value (PV), para‐anisidine value (AnV), and fatty acid (FA) composition and phytosterol content were determined after 20 min (margarines) and 120 min (oils) of HT and compared to their control/pre‐HT/unheated (UH) counterparts. The FA composition did not change significantly with HT. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)‐rich oils such as NSO and SBO showed significantly higher increase in FFA content with HT compared with oils with higher saturated fatty acid content (BMO and CCO). Oils with higher proportions of linoleic acid, such as SBO (68.3%) and NSO (60.35%), had higher AnV at the end of the HT compared with oils with lower content, such as BMO (0.51%). Phytosterol content fluctuated with HT, and changes in content were generally more pronounced in β‐sitosterol than in stigmasterol and campesterol. Both principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least‐squares discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) were carried out to observe possible clusters. The results suggest that changes in quality and content of oils and margarines during heating are dependent on more than their fatty acid composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Port site infection causes significant morbidity in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The umbilicus, the most common location for creating pneumoperitoneum, frequently harbours resident microflora, which can render a patient susceptible to subsequent port site infections. Umbilical hygiene and its role in preventing surgical site infections have not yet been studied. Our study aimed to bridge this gap by proposing a method for umbilical hygiene. Five hundred two patients planned for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomised. In the intervention arm, the umbilicus was cleaned with 2–3 drops of coconut oil and patients were instructed to take a bath, with an emphasis on umbilicus cleaning. Patients in the control group were asked to bathe before surgery, without applying coconut oil. In both arms, the abdomen was painted using chlorhexidine, and a standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done with the gall bladder being extracted through the epigastric port. Eight (or 1.5%) of the 480 patients had port site infections. Five of them had infections at the umbilical port site, of which four (p = 0.200) belonged to the control group. Our study showed no statistically significant association between preoperative umbilical hygiene and port site infection. This might be due to the fact that patients in both arms bathed prior to the surgery and had their abdomen painted and deep cleaned with chlorhexidine. Hence, we would like to emphasise the significance of deep cleaning of the umbilicus with chlorhexidine during the painting of the abdomen. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin is a lipophilic polyphenol with good anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer physiological activities, but lower loading capacity and bioaccessibility limit its wide application in the functional food industry. The high loading (3 wt%) curcumin oleogel was prepared using hydroxylated lecithin (H-Lec) and mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (MDFA) as oleogelators, with coconut oil (CO) as the dispersing medium, and a heat treatment process to induce decrystallization. The effects of the addition of H-Lec and MDFA and heat treatment on the crystal structure, rheological properties and texture of the samples, and the decrystallization and bioaccessibility of curcumin were investigated. Incorporating MDFA led to a pronounced needle-like crystal morphology within the oleogel. All samples demonstrated shear-thinning properties, with viscosity decreasing as shear rate increased. The oleogel with 30 wt% H-Lec and 15 wt% MDFA exhibited the greatest hardness. While heat treatment alone could diminish the presence of curcumin crystals, it could not prevent recrystallization. However, the combined application of H-Lec, MDFA, and heat treatment enabled the complete amorphization of high content curcumin within the oleogel, significantly enhancing its bioaccessibility. The high loading curcumin oleogel prepared in this study can lay a theoretical foundation for the wide application of curcumin in the functional food and nutritional food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the effects of two different types of fat (krill oil [KO] and coconut oil [CO]) on obesity, behavioral tests, and some inflammatory markers when consumed with a high-fat or control diet in rats with depression. The study was conducted mainly in two phases: the induction of depression (37 days) and the dietary intervention (60 days). After the induction of depression by chronic unpredictable mild stress, dietary intervention started. Sixty male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups with 10 rats in each group: (1) standard diet (SD), (2) SD + 5% KO, (3) SD + 5% medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)* (*CO to contain 5% MCT), (4) high-fat diet (HFD), (5) HFD + 5% KO, and (6) HFD + 5% MCT*. The open field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), and sucrose preference test were performed at baseline, end of the depression induction, and dietary intervention to observe behavioral changes in rats. After the final behavioral test, animals were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses C-reactive protein (milligram per liter), cortisol (microgram per deciliter), and insulin (micro-international units per milliliter) to assess inflammatory changes in the blood. All data were analyzed under two headings: baseline, end of depression induction, end of dietary intervention, and dietary intervention groups. Body weight gain was highest in the SD+KO and lowest in the SD+MCT group (P <.05). When behavioral tests were evaluated according to dietary intervention, it was found that the SD+MCT group spent the most time in the center, the least time in the periphery, and the lowest immobilization time (P <.05). In FST, the SD+KO with the highest weight gain was the most immobile group (P <.05). The study indicates that the weight-reducing effects of MCTs resulted in positive behavioral responses, particularly in OFT and FST. Through these properties, MCTs can be used medicinally in the prevention and treatment of behavioral changes due to depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative disease (ND) is a clinical condition in which neurons degenerate with a consequent loss of functions in the affected brain region. Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most progressive ND after Alzheimer's disease (AD), which affects the motor system and is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons from the nigrostriatal pathway in the midbrain, leading to bradykinesia, rigidity, resting tremor, postural instability and non-motor symptoms such as cognitive declines, psychiatric disturbances, autonomic failures, sleep difficulties, and pain syndrome. Coconut oil (CO) is an edible oil obtained from the meat of Cocos nucifera fruit that belongs to the palm family and contains 92% saturated fatty acids. CO has been shown to mediate oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis and excitotoxicity-induced effects in PD in various in vitro and in vivo models as a multi-target bioagent. CO intake through diet has also been linked to a decreased incidence of PD in people. During digestion, CO is broken down into smaller molecules, like ketone bodies (KBs). The KBs then penetrate the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and are used as a source of energy its ability to cross BBB made this an important class of natural remedies for the treatment of ND. The current review describes the probable neuroprotective potential pathways of CO in PD, either prophylactic or therapeutic. In addition, we briefly addressed the important pathogenic pathways that might be considered to investigate the possible use of CO in neurodegeneration such as AD and PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional fluids for cutting are utilized to disperse heating produced in the cutting region while machining. Nevertheless, this method harms the tool machine operator's health and the environment. To address these concerns, vegetable oil mixed with nanoparticles used in minimum quantity lubricant (MQL) in hard machining has provided many intriguing benefits in eliminating mineral-based cutting fluids, contributing to improved cutting performance, machining quality, and environmental protection. In this study, an attempt was made to execute hard turning with heat-treated 40Cr alloy steel under coconut oil-based nano-CuO fluid MQL. First, the L27 orthogonal array design of the experimental technique was applied, which comprises four input parameters, including cutting velocity, feed rate, depth of cut, and nano-CuO concentration. Response surface modeling (RSM) delineates the correlation between input variables and the output results after accumulating experimental data. Next, an evaluation of the effect of control factors, specifically the role of CuO nanoparticles mixed in coconut oil, has assisted in increasing machined surface quality and establishing a green machining environment. Finally, optimization using RSM and Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA)-II demonstrated notable improvements in surface roughness. Specifically, Ra improved by 17.68% and Rz by 17.78%, highlighting the effectiveness of these techniques in achieving a balance between machining productivity and surface quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid, is an organic compound that is highly required by human since it acts as antioxidant, help increase metabolism, and improves the immune system. Vitamin C is easily oxidized and damaged during storage due to several external factors such as light, metal, shear, etc. The encapsulation technique is able to improve the stability as well as the activity of Vitamin C in order to protect the bioactive compound from deleterious external factors. Coconut oil which is composed of about 50% lauric acid, has an antiviral property. This research aimed to obtain the stable water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) double emulsion using coconut oil upon the incorporation of Vitamin C. Hydrogenated (HCNO) and Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCT) coconut oil was used as the oil phase, and various emulsifiers such as Tween-20 0.5%, Tween-20 1%, and Tween-20 0.5%/PgPr 0.5% were applied to strengthen the outer interfacial layer. The double emulsion stability was monitored macroscopically, and the destabilization kinetics was studied using the zero and first-order kinetic models. It turned out that the HCNO-based double emulsion demonstrated higher stability compared to the MCT-based double emulsion. The lowest destabilization rate constants of 4.5 x 10-3 h-1 and 6.8 x 10-3 h-1 were obtained for HCNO and MCTbased double emulsions both stabilized with Tween-20 0.5%, respectively. The coconut oil-based double emulsion enriched with Vitamin C would be potentially developed for various functional food applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Decarbonizing the Maritime Industry: A Collaborative Path Forward" discusses the maritime industry's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through international policies, practical innovations, and collaborative frameworks. Key initiatives such as the IMO 2023 targets, Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) are driving the industry's decarbonization journey. Practical measures like biofuels and technological innovations such as wind wings and digital tools are central to reducing emissions and improving operational efficiency. The industry's commitment to sustainability is not only environmentally driven but also economically beneficial, with initiatives like Chevron's eco-steaming program showcasing immediate financial benefits. The article emphasizes the importance of collaboration, data-driven strategies, and innovation in achieving a cleaner, more efficient maritime sector aligned with global sustainable development goals. [Extracted from the article]

Machining is an important aspect of manufacturing. The application of cutting fluid in the field of engineering manufacturing has a history of hundreds of years, and it plays a vital role in the processing efficiency and surface quality of parts. The use of vegetable oil in machining operations is receiving attention currently for sustainable alternatives to mineral-based cutting oil. If the vegetable oil is applied through the minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) technique, it becomes more cost effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable. This study aims to investigate the effects (cutting force and temperature) of coconut oil, a coconut–rice bran oil blend, and a coconut–olive oil blend, and compare them with VG 68 oil using MQL. A magnetic stirrer was employed for mixing oils (coconut–rice bran oil and coconut–olive oil), performed at 40 °C and 250 rpm. The response parameter values were evaluated at different combinations of speed (78, 113.5, and 149 mm/min), feed (0.1, 0.13, and 0.16 mm/rev), and depth of cut (0.5, 0.75, and 0.1 mm). The design of the experiment (DOE) was created using the value of input parameters using response surface methodology (RSM). Percentage (%) reduction was calculated to compare the reduction in cutting force and temperature by using coconut oil, a coconut–rice bran oil blend, and a coconut–olive oil blend concerning mineral oil. Empirical models were developed for cutting force and temperature by RSM for the four cutting environments. The ANOVA result shows that the model performed satisfactorily for both temperature and force analysis. RSM-based optimization was carried out and the optimal solution was found at the cutting speed of 80.15 m/min, feed rate of 0.10 mm/min, and 0.5 mm depth of cut for the coconut–olive oil blend. Also, the model performed better in the reduction in force than temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is an edible vegetable oil that is eco-friendly, biodegradable, and sustainable, with high thermal and chemical stability as a phase change material (PCM). In this work, VCO filled with fumed silica A200 nanoparticles was tested as a cutting fluid in drilling processes. Silica concentrations ranging from 1 to 4 vol% were analyzed. Thermal properties were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal conductivity measurements at different temperatures and concentrations. Thermal conductivity showed an enhancement with the addition of silica powder and reduced with increasing temperature. Based on thermal and flow properties, VCO-3A200 was found to be the optimal concentration. The thermal images of this nanofluid taken after 60 s of drilling exhibited a reduction of 12 °C with respect to the dry process. The friction coefficient versus shear rate was also measured. With 8% VCO, a reduction in the friction coefficient of 8% compared to the dry test was achieved. The addition of 3 vol% of silica to the base oil reduced the friction coefficient by 16% compared to the dry test. The use of fumed silica dispersed in VCO has proven to be a sustainable, recyclable, and environmentally friendly refrigerant and lubricant cutting fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promotion of natural beauty has empowered women with textured hair to embrace their natural hair texture and opt for bleaching as a means of style variation. However, bleaching exacerbates the inherent fragility of this hair type, necessitating treatments to partially restore its mechanical properties. Vegetable oils, renowned for their strengthening properties, were evaluated regarding (I) their ability to penetrate both virgin and bleached textured hair using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) analysis, and (II) their effects by way of tensile and fatigue tests. The MALDI–TOF results revealed groups of oil molecules in the cortical region of the bleached textured hair. The tensile test results, in turn, showed that the oil treatments were unable to alter the mechanical properties of the hair. Conversely, the fatigue test showed an increase in resistance in the virgin hair, most likely attributed to a lubrication effect in the outermost portions of the cortex and cuticles. In the bleached hair, a reduction in resistance was noted following the treatment with the oils. Comparative analysis with a previous study on straight hair by our group suggests that external molecules diffuse more homogeneously in straight hair than in textured hair. The unique cortical structure of textured hair creates two areas with distinct diffusion zones, resulting in the irregular distribution of external materials and different effects compared to straight hair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a noticeable rise in the importance of snack items in diets, particularly among children and adolescents who enjoy them socially with friends. Chips, commonly produced through frying, have garnered significant popularity. This study aimed to assess the quality of fried coconut chips of thickness 0.5 mm and 1.4 mm, made using both sunflower oil and coconut oil. Deep frying was conducted at 160 °C for both types of oil. The findings indicated that coconut oil-fried chips, regardless of thickness, exhibited superior sensory attributes (i.e. appearance, colour, crispiness and flavour). All sensory attributes (except appearance) were rated the highest for coconut oil fried chips. The biochemical properties of chips fried in both oils were largely similar, yet coconut oil-fried chips displayed slightly better characteristics compared to their counterparts. For instance, the 0.5 mm thick coconut oil-fried chips were noted for their improved protein content and fat content, leading to a higher overall acceptability of the 0.5 mm thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cannabidiol is effective in ameliorating the body’s inflammatory response, but no clear mechanistic studies have been conducted to ameliorate skeletal muscle inflammation induced by exhaustive exercise. OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism by which cannabidiol improves skeletal muscle inflammation during exhaustive exercise by using transcriptome sequencing technology. METHODS: Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: blank control group, exercise coconut oil group, exercise control group, 50 mg/kg cannabidiol group, 60 mg/kg cannabidiol group, and 70 mg/kg cannabidiol group, with six rats in each group. Except for rats in the blank control group, rats in each group were subjected to swimming exercise for 9 days to produce the exhaustive exercise model. At the end of each swimming exercise, rats in the cannabidiol groups were given 2 mL of fat-soluble cannabidiol at different concentrations (50, 60, and 70 mg/kg) by gavage; rats in the exercise coconut oil group were given the same volume of coconut oil by gavage until the end of the exercise on the 9th day; and rats in the blank control group and the exercise control group were not given any special treatment. The levels of inflammatory factors and differentially expressed genes in the skeletal muscle of rats in each group were determined using ELISA and transcriptome sequencing techniques. Differentially expressed genes obtained were subjected to KEGG analysis, and the accuracy of the sequencing data was verified by fluorescence quantitative PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results of ELISA showed that the contents of interleukin-6 (P < 0.05), tumor necrosis factor-α (P < 0.01), interleukin-10 and other inflammatory factors in the exercise group increased significantly compared with the blank control group and the coconut oil group. After cannabidiol intervention, the mass concentrations of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α showed a sequential decrease with increasing cannabidiol concentration. By comparing GO and KEGG databases, the functional properties of differentially expressed genes were analyzed, and the results showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in the tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway and the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. RT-qPCR results showed that the trends of five randomly selected differentially expressed genes were in agreement with the transcriptome sequencing results. To conclude, cannabidiol can improve skeletal muscle inflammation caused by exhaustive exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Citrus-flavored vegetable oils (CFVO) demand has grown rapidly in the food industry due to increasing consumer demand for salads as a healthy food choice. Salad dressing has a distinctive taste from sour-tasting citrus that when added to salads to increase acceptance. This study primarily aimed to characterize antioxidant activity, total flavonoid content, and sensory quality by hedonic and organoleptic test between all unflavored oil and CFVO from three different vegetable oils (coconut oil (Cocos nucifera L.), palm oil (Elaeis guineensis L.), sesame oil (Sesamum indicum L.)) and three citruses (key lime (Citrus aurantifolia), kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix), and nasnaran (Citrus ambylcarpa)). One-Way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey were conducted to assess antioxidant and flavonoid differences. ANOVA with Tukey HSD and HSD, PCA and HCA, and a Spearman correlation analysis were conducted to assess the sensory qualities of citrus-flavored vegetable oils. There were different hedonic responses towards citruses in addition to the vegetable oils for each hedonic attribute. There is also a different response to the antioxidant and total flavonoids content of each treatment. The best formula according the multi-attribute decision using a compensatory model and additive weighting technique (MADCAW) score describes key lime (140%) flavored coconut oil as the best formula as having 56.58% antioxidant, 37.00 mg QE/100 g flavonoid and color liking 1.84, aroma liking 3.56, and taste liking 1.88. In conclusion, citrus-flavored vegetable oil has the potential to be a high-antioxidant vegetable oil with good acceptance by consumers.

Abstract Background Tropical oils such as palm and coconut oils are renowned for their high saturated fat content and culinary versatility. However, their consumption has sparked debate regarding their health benefits and production concerns. The purpose of this review was to map existing evidence on the health benefits and challenges associated with the consumption of tropical oils. Method The recommendations for conducting a scoping review by Arksey and O’Malley were followed. PubMed, Dimensions AI, Central, JSTOR Google, Google Scholar, and ProQuest databases were searched for relevant papers. The predetermined keywords used were Consumption” AND “Tropical oil,” as well as “Health benefits” OR “Health challenges” AND “Tropical Countries.” Peer-reviewed and grey literature published in English were eligible for this review. Result Tropical oils, such as palm and coconut oils, provide health benefits including essential vitamins (A and E) that enhance ocular health, boost immunity, and support growth. They are also recognised for their role in managing high blood sugar, obesity, and cholesterol levels, while offering antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These oils have wound-healing abilities and are commonly used in infant nutrition and traditional cooking. Nevertheless, prolonged and repeated use of tropical oils to high temperature can degrade vitamin E, whereas excessive intake may result in overdose. Health concerns include oxidative risks, diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and acrylamide formation due to production challenges excessive consumption. Additional issues include obesity, suboptimal oil production, misconceptions, regulatory obstacles, and preferences for alternative fats. Conclusion This review suggest that tropical oils provide essential health benefits, including vitamins and antioxidant properties, but pose significant health risks and production challenges, particularly when exposed to high temperatures and through excessive intake. Guidelines on the consumption of tropical oils in the tropical regions are necessary to regulate their consumption.

The growing interest in sustaining the ecological system to drive out pollutants caused by product development is also a modern agenda in the manufacturing sector. This research focused on developing sustainable vegetable-based oil enriched with nano additives and experimented with its performance over the key machining objectives. Two different nanomaterials, such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and copper (Cu), are infused in coconut oil in three different proportions. The zeta potential and FTIR results confirm the uniform dispersion and existence of the aforementioned particles in the coconut oil. The machining trails are executed to examine the functional effectiveness of the nano-cutting fluid against machining temperature, machining forces, surface roughness, and wear loss of the tool. The statistical and machine learning hybrid approach is employed to predict the set of optimal parameters along with the ideal cutting fluid and the significance of each parameter on the selected machining objectives. The experimental results annunciate that the nano-cutting fluid with a higher level of additives inclusion registers a better performance in enhancing the machining attributes than the lower level of additives inclusion, leaving severe disturbances to the machining attributes by the neat coconut oil. The results acknowledge the substantial depletion of machining tool tip temperature, machining force, surface roughness, and wear loss of the tool to the scale of 1.83, 2.03, 2.2, and 22.01 times that of results by neat coconut oil. The algorithm-based modelling subsequently manifests the cutting fluid as the key significant parameter followed by the cutting speed to decide the performance characteristics of responses. There is a good agreement between the hybrid analytical and soft computing modelling in predicting the ideal levels of machining parameters and cutting fluid. Experiment No. 16 executed with 80 m/min of machining speed, 10 m/min of feed rate, 1 mm of depth of cut, and in the presence of the coconut oil infused with Cu and MoS2 particles (both 0.375 vol.%) is found to be an ideal experiment in deciding the best performance of machining objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of medium-phase microemulsion in enhancing oil recovery technology represents a significant area of research, particularly for improving production in low-permeability reservoirs. The oil recovery can be increased to 80%~90%. In order to further improve the recovery rate of low-permeability reservoirs in the late stage of water flooding, a medium-phase microemulsion flooding system was constructed in this paper. The micro-displacement mechanism of the medium-phase microemulsion flooding system was clarified by experimental methods such as phase change and micro-remaining oil distribution. The ability of enhancing oil recovery and the mechanism of increasing oil production were discussed, which provided a basis for establishing a new method of enhancing oil recovery. This study utilizes a mixed surfactant system composed of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate and coconut oil fatty acid lipopolyoxyethylene betaine at a mass ratio of 1:3, with n-butanol serving as the cosurfactant. The fish phase diagram was instrumental in determining the critical concentration range for alcohol (1.3%–3.7%) necessary for the formation of middle-phase microemulsions, along with a corresponding surfactant mass concentration of 0.3%–0.7%. Key salinity thresholds for middle-phase formation and disappearance were identified at 1.5% and 6.0%, respectively. Optimal solubilization effects were observed at approximately 4.8% NaCl mass concentration, which effectively reduced interfacial tension to 10–3 mN/m. Under specific kinetic conditions, in-situ formation of middle-phase microemulsions occurs as surfactants interact with crude oil within reservoir pores. In comparison to traditional water flooding, middle-phase microemulsions enhance viscosity and create an oil wall at the forefront of displacement. This mechanism facilitates the aggregation and movement of residual oil, which is crucial for enhancing crude oil recovery. Moreover, middle-phase microemulsions exhibit strong solubilization capabilities, making them particularly effective for mobilizing oil in blind-end and unswept areas. The ultra-low interfacial tension achieved between the microemulsion and crude oil promotes the elongation and fragmentation of pore-trapped oil into smaller droplets, ultimately aiding in their displacement and recovery via micro-pore outlets. This unique interaction underscores the potential of middle-phase microemulsion flooding to optimize oil recovery processes, especially in challenging reservoir environments such as those encountered in the Changqing Oilfield formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracanal medicaments are an important adjunct to the effective disinfection of the root canal system. However, conventional intracanal medicaments do not provide adequate protection against Enterococcus faecalis, which is the organism of interest in many cases of root canal failures. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of biosynthesized calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO NPs) on the antibacterial activity, pH, microleakage and cytotoxicity of intracanal medicaments. CaO NPs were biosynthesized by the direct thermal decomposition of eggshells (EGS) and the reduction of calcium nitrate with papaya leaf extract (PLE). These nanoparticles were mixed with a proprietary calcium hydroxide powder in 10% and 25% (w/w) concentrations and blended in analytical-grade coconut oil to formulate the experimental medicaments. These were then evaluated for antibacterial activity, pH, microleakage and cytotoxicity at 1 day, 7 days and 15 days. A proprietary calcium hydroxide paste formulation (MX) was used as the control. Means and standard deviations were calculated and analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA for pH and three-way ANOVA for the antibacterial effect, microleakage and cytotoxicity, followed by LSD post hoc analysis. Significant antibacterial activity was noted against Enterococcus faecalis at all times, with zones of inhibition (ZOI) up to 19.60 ± 2.30 mm. pH levels up to 13.13 ± 0.35 were observed for the experimental groups. Microleakage remained comparable to the control, while cytotoxicity was not observed in any of the groups at any time. Intracanal medicaments formulated with 10% and 25% (w/w) of biosynthesized CaO NPs could be promising candidates for the disinfection of the root canal system compared to conventional counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]