Dyeing,fastness, and cytotoxic properties,and phenolic constituents of Anthemis tinctoria var. tinctoria (Asteraceae)

The present study focused on dyeing, fastness, cytotoxic properties, and phenolic constituents of various types of fabrics including viscose, cotton, wool, and polyester-viscose blended fabrics with different parts of Anthemis tinctoria var. tinctoria. Comparative study was carried out between ethanol and aqueous extracts of stem, flower, and root of the plant in terms of phenolic constituents, cytotoxic activity, and dyeing properties. It was found that the quantity of phenolic constituents of ethanol and aqueous extracts was quite different. All parts of the plant extract show 0% cytotoxicity except ethanol extract of the root. All the extracts exhibit better cytotoxic activity than the standard cancer drug 5-Florouracil. Ethanol and water extracts of A. tinctoria var. tinctoria plant were used to dye fabrics, but only the water extract displayed dyeing properties. Best color strength value (K/S = 9.19) was obtained with aqueous extract of the stem in the presence of alum mordant for cotton fabrics.     

Effects of blade tenderization,aging method and aging time on meat quality characteristics of Longissimus lumborum steaks from cull Holstein cows

The effects of blade tenderization (BT), two aging methods (dry (D) and wet (W)), and aging time (2 and 23 d) on tenderness, color, and sensory properties of Longissimus lumborum muscles from 12 cull Holstein cows were evaluated. Dry-aged loins had higher combined trim and aging losses than control (C) for both D- and W-aging, mostly because of excess trim losses. BT steaks had WBSF of 33.13 N while C steaks had WBSF of 41.46 N (P = 0.09). Aging decreased WBSF. Blade tenderized steaks had higher cook loss than C steaks. Aging, W-aging, and BT × W-aging improved myofibrillar (sensory) tenderness scores. Aging and/or BT improves sensory panel tenderness cull cow Longissimus lumborum steaks. Aging and blade tenderization combined can increase tenderness and value of Longissimus steaks from cull Holstein cows.     

Nisin as a Food Preservative: Part 1: Physicochemical Properties,Antimicrobial Activity,and Main Uses

Nisin is a natural preservative for many food products. This bacteriocin is mainly used in dairy and meat products. Nisin inhibits pathogenic food borne bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes and many other Gram-positive food spoilage microorganisms. Nisin can be used alone or in combination with other preservatives or also with several physical treatments. This paper reviews physicochemical and biological properties of nisin, the main factors affecting its antimicrobial effectiveness, and its food applications as an additive directly incorporated into food matrices.     

Consumer food safety perceptions and practices in a Turkish community

Research has shown that most reported foodborne outbreaks are caused by food prepared and consumed at home, thus emphasizing the importance of consumer food safety knowledge. In this study, 2,000 randomly selected residents from ?anakkale, Turkey, participated in face-to-face interviews to assess their food safety perceptions and practices. Questions covered the attention given to expiration dates, safety certificates, and food additives during shopping; consumption of high-risk foods; safe food handling; storage knowledge; and their source of food safety knowledge. Statistical analyses were done to clarify the differences according to three main aspects: gender, age, and educational level. Results showed that women and middle-aged respondents were significantly more careful during shopping and more interested in food safety issues than men and younger individuals. A significant relationship was found between gender and consumption of high-risk foods, with men consuming more of these foods than women. Furthermore, high-risk foods were more frequently consumed by young participants than by older participants, with more highly educated consumers shopping more consciously. Although most respondents appeared to know proper food handling and storage practices, almost all participants lacked some information on some issues. In order to remove these deficiencies, a brochure was prepared and distributed to people in various parts of the city. In addition, public seminars were organized. However, to ensure that this information results in positive attitude and behavioral changes, seminars should be repeated at specific intervals, and education procedures and processes should be controlled regularly.     

Optimization of microwave baking of model layer cakes

 Response surface methodology was used to optimize the formulation of microwave-baked cakes. The independent variables were water content, emulsifier content baking time, oven power, shortening content and starch type. The quality factors evaluated were specific gravity of batter and volume index, uniformity index and tenderness of the crumb. Constraints for quality factors were obtained by conventional baking of American Association of Cereal Chemists high-ratio cake formulation. Multiple contour plots showed the optimum region for various water and shortening combinations at different emulsifier, time and power levels. Cakes formulated with wheat starch, containing 0.3% polysorbate 60, 133.7% water and 45.2% shortening (flour substitute basis), baked for 6 min at 100% power yielded acceptable cakes that can compete with conventionally baked cakes. Rice and corn cakes had lower quality than conventionally baked high-ratio cakes. Power was found to be the most efficient independent variable affecting all the dependent variables. Received: 26 August 1999 / Revised version: 11 October 1999     

Intermittent Hypoxic Therapy Inhibits Allogenic Bone-Graft Resorption by Inhibition of Osteoclastogenesis in a Mouse Model

Systemic Intermittent Hypoxic Therapy (IHT) relies on the adaptive response to hypoxic stress. We investigated allogenic bone-graft resorption in the lumbar spine in 48 mice. The mice were exposed to IHT for 1 week before surgery or 1 week after surgery and compared with controls after 1 and 4 weeks. Complete graft resorption was observed in 33–36% of the animals in the control group, but none in the preoperative IHT group. Increased bone-graft volume was demonstrated by micro-computed tomography in the preoperative IHT group after 1 week (p = 0.03) while a non-significant difference was observed after 4 weeks (p = 0.12). There were no significant differences in the postoperative IHT group. Increased concentration of immune cells was localized in the graft area, and more positive tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was found in controls compared with IHT allogenic bone grafts. Systemic IHT resulted in a significant increase of the major osteoclast inhibitor osteoprotegerin as well as osteogenic and angiogenic regulators Tgfbr3, Fst3l, Wisp1, and Vegfd. Inflammatory cytokines and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) stimulators IL-6, IL-17a, IL-17f, and IL-23r increased after 1 and 4 weeks, and serum RANKL expression remained constant while Ccl3 and Ccl5 decreased. We conclude that the adaptive response to IHT activates numerous pathways leading to inhibition of osteoclastic activity and inhibition of allogenic bone-graft resorption.     

Mechanism of boron tribromide electroreduction

This study was carried out to investigate the electrochemical behavior of boron tribromide in dimethlyformamide. The reduction of the compound was found to follow a CE mechanism. The kinetic parameters and the diffusion coefficient were calculated by the use of ultramicrodisc electrodes and chronoamperometry. The number of electrons transferred was found to be 2 by rotating disc and ultramicro disc electrodes and 3 by coulometry. These results are in good accordance with those obtained from molten boron salts. This study is important in regard to electrochemical boronizing at low temperatures.     

Facile growth of novel morphology correlated Ag/Co-doped ZnO nanowire/flake-like composites for superior photoelectrochemical water splitting activity

In this paper, novel morphology correlation between silver nanowires (AgNWs) and cobalt (Co)-doped ZnO (Co-ZnO) flake-like thin films (nanowire/flake-like) has been proposed for enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting activity. Here in, high-quality AgNWs/Co-ZnO heterostructures enabled superior visible light water splitting activity compared to the pure ZnO and AgNWs/ZnO. To address the strategic effect of AgNWs coupling and transition metal (Co-2?at%) doping into the ZnO host lattice, we have carried out the X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–Vis transmittance, water contact angle and PEC analyses. In this way, PEC water splitting activity was mainly examined by linear sweep voltammetry (I-V), amperometric I-t and photoconversion efficiency (η) studies. The experimental results provide clear evidence of morphology correlation between AgNWs and Co-ZnO flake-like structures for strong visible light absorption. Specifically, AgNWs/Co-ZnO composites exhibited significant enhancement in the photocurrent density (7.0?×?10^?4 A/cm²) than AgNWs/ZnO (3.2?×?10^?4 A/cm²) and pure ZnO (1.5?×?10^?6 A/cm²). As a result, detailed AgNWs/Co-ZnO geometry has great potential for photoconversion efficiency (0.73%). In a word, the merits of controllable AgNWs/Co-ZnO heterostructure are proposed to improve the visible light harvesting and charge carrier generation for energy conversion devices.