Phenolic content and antioxidant potential of macerated white wines

Influence of maceration on phenolic content and antiradical activity was analyzed in fourteen white wines from Italian region Friuli–Venezia Giulia and Croatian region Istria. Total phenols were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, twelve individual polyphenols were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and antiradical activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH^·). The experiments showed that the maceration process increases significantly the amount of total phenols and inhibition of DPPH^·. Furthermore, a high synergistic activity of individual phenols was observed. The strongest inhibition of DPPH^· and the highest amount of total phenols were obtained for 800 Bianco, a blending macerated wine made from 3 white wine varieties. Our study shows that the antioxidant potential of white grape phenols can be preserved during wine processing. The maceration step allows the extraction of phenolic compounds from grape skins, seeds and stalks, resulting in phenol-rich white wine with strong antioxidant properties.     

Characteristics of Al/sub 2/O/sub 3//AllnN /GaN MOSHEMT

InAlN/GaN is a new heterostructure system for HEMTs with thin barrier layers and high channel current densities well above 1 A/mm. To improve the leakage characteristics of such thin-barrier devices, AlInN/GaN MOSHEMT devices with a 11 nm InAlN barrier and an additional 5 nm Al₂O₃ barrier (deposited by ALD) were fabricated and evaluated. Gate leakage in reverse direction could be reduced by one order of magnitude and the forward gate voltage swing increased to 4 V without gate breakdown. Compared to HEMT devices of similar geometry, no degradation of the current gain cutoff frequency was observed. The results showed that InAlN/GaN FETs with high channel current densities can be realised with low gate leakage characteristics and high structural aspect ratio by insertion of a thin Al₂O ₃ gate dielectric layer     

Virtual and three-dimensional bronchoscopy with spiral and electron beam computed tomography

PURPOSE: To compare spiral computed tomography (CT) and electron-beam CT (EBT) for 3D and virtual CT-bronchoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 17 patients with various disorders of the tracheobronchial system were examined using fiberoptic bronchoscopy, spiral CT and EBT. 3D images were reconstructed from CT data sets using automated segmentation based on volume-growing methods. Surface-rendered, volume-rendered, and hybrid reconstructions were visualized in real time using a data helmet. RESULTS: All data sets could be processed to high-quality three-dimensional (3D) and virtual reconstructions. The reduction of motion artifacts due to shorter scan times made EBT data sets better suited for automated segmentation and less susceptible to motion artifacts. 3D and virtual reconstructions did not increase the diagnostic sensitivity of CT compared to axial reconstructions alone. CONCLUSIONS: Shorter scan times of CT imaging yield higher-quality 3D and virtual reconstructions. Modern reconstruction techniques are valuable visualization tools for select indications and are the prerequisite for future developments in computer-aided medicine.     

The influence of water on the synthesis of n-butyl oleate by immobilizedMucor miehei lipase

The influence of initial water concentration on the synthesis of n-butyl oleate was investigated. The synthesis was done with immobilizedMucor miehei lipase—Lypozyme^™—at various reaction conditions. The activity of the enzyme is lower at higher amounts of water. Initial reaction rates, as well as equilibrium conversion, increase at low initial water concentration. Optimal water concentration for the activity of immobilized lipase is temperature dependent at the pressure of 1 bar. Low initial water concentration barely effects equilibrium esterification at 0.032 bar. At high initial water concentrations equilibrium conversion, as well as initial reaction rates, decrease at both pressures.     

Fire Performance of External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) Facades with Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Insulation and Thin Rendering

External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) facades with expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation and thin rendering are applied frequently in buildings. Considering high combustibility of EPS, with these facades concerns also arise regarding spread of a possible fire between neighbouring compartments of high-rise buildings. Fire tests of two large-scale facades were performed to study two parameters presumably influencing significantly the fires of such facades in real-life settings, i.e. incident heat flux upon the facade’s surface (IHFFS) and damage of the facade’s render (the latter being a consequence of poor or unfinished construction work, ageing or fire-induced thermal strain). The first facade was rendered fully and was exposed to moderately-fast increasing IHFFS. In the second (partially unrendered) facade case the IHFFS progressed faster. The facade flame body (temperatures and shape) was monitored by thermocouples, photo and video cameras. For detection of melting of EPS and internal burning, thermocameras were used within the facades areas outside the visible plume. In the plume zone, however, a group of thermocouples was embedded inside EPS and the shapes (plateaus and slopes) of the collected time-temperature graphs were observed for these purposes. The IHFFS imposed on the facades during fire testing were estimated by numerical calculations. In both cases the first pronounced render crack was evolved at the estimated average between-windows IHFFS of around 30 kW/m\(^2\) and was followed by internal burning of EPS. While the latter did not seem to spread across the facade for the fully-rendered facade, a fast fire spread was detected for the second specimen.     

Fatigue assessment of piston rod threaded end

The present paper deals with the research on the influence of different thread type on the piston rod fatigue life. Research was done on hydraulic cylinder piston rod, which becomes subjected to fatigue failures after change of its design. Previously used piston rods used M74 × 3 threads, but redesigned rods are compromising M76 × 2. Due to changes in thread type the supplier was convinced that changes will affect lowering stresses in thread core which is true, but they have overlooked the fact that lowering the pitch will also lead to lowering the thread root radius which leads to the significant rise of stress concentration and therefore lower the fatigue life.