Differentiation of Mechanically and Chemically Extracted Hazelnut Oils Based on their Sterol and Wax Profiles

The sterol and wax content of solvent extracted (SEHO) and cold pressed hazelnut oils (CPHO) were compared. A total of 48 samples from 19 hazelnut varieties were collected for two successive crop years from four different geographical districts in Turkey. Hazelnuts were processed to oil with a laboratory scale press, than the remaining oil in cake was extracted with n‐hexane. CPHO and SEHO were evaluated for their wax, sterol and squalene contents. Results showed that sterol, squalene and wax contents of all individual cultivars were higher in SEHO than those of CPHO, indicating the higher solubility of these compounds in solvent. Total sterol contents ranged between 1088.56 (Kargalak)—1609.39 mg/kg (Mincane) for CPHO and 1590.86 (Çak?ldak)—2897.26 mg/kg (Mincane) for SEHO. Hazelnut oils were found to be richer of C36‐38 esters than C40‐46 group. Total wax content was between 24.19 (Kargalak)—94.58 mg/kg (Ku?) for CPHO and 81.46 (Kargalak)—160.92 mg/kg (Akçakoca) for SEHO. The squalene amounts of the samples obtained by hexane extraction were between 499.75 (Allahverdi)—885.36 mg/kg (Cavcava), while it varied between 288.55 (Kargalak)—647.68 mg/kg (Mincane) in cold pressed oils. Significant and obvious variations between SEHO and CPHO were verified by principal component and hierarchical cluster analysis. Geographical discrimination was also achieved by discriminant analysis.     

Effect of Ozonated Water Treatment on Fatty Acid Composition and Some Quality Parameters of Olive Oil

The organic olives from Çine-Ayd?n (Turkey) were washed with tap or ozonated water for 2 and 5 min, respectively, and pressed to olive oil. The effects of wash treatments on fatty acid composition and several quality parameters of the oils were determined. The maximum values after 2-min ozonated water washes were 9.58 meqO₂/kg, 0.73%, 2.44 and 0.16 for peroxide, free acid, K₂₃₂ and K₂₇₀ values, respectively, which were under the standard limits for extra-virgin olive oil. Five min of ozonated water washes also yielded acceptable results, except for a slight excess on K₂₃₂ value. Ozonated water washes had almost no effect on fatty acid composition.     

Separation of squalene from olive oil deodorizer distillate using supercritical fluids

In this study, an integrated strategy using supercritical fluids for extraction of squalene from olive oil deodorizer distillate (OODD), one of the most important by‐products of the olive oil refining process is presented. First, OODD was esterified in supercritical methanol, and then squalene was extracted from the sample consisting of 66% methyl ester using supercritical CO₂. The extraction conditions, i.e., pressure (88.2–121.8 bar), temperature (41.6–58.4°C) and extraction time (129.6–230.4 min), were optimized via RSM to achieve the highest squalene content. The optimal results were obtained at a temperature of 52.05°C, pressure of 104.8 bar and extraction time of 180 min. Consequently, two kinds of value‐added products such as biodiesel (up to 96% FAME, in extract) and olive squalene (up to 75%, in raffinate) were produced in shorter processing times when compared with distillation results of 70 h. Practical applications: Traditionally, squalene is extracted from liver oil of rare deep‐sea sharks. Here we present the recovery of vegetal squalene in high purity from OODD. Our approach also presents a simple, reliable, and mobile solution. Squalene is widely used in cosmetics as a protective agent and natural moisturizer and as an adjuvant in influenza vaccines.     

Inhibition effects of green tea and grape seed extracts on lipid oxidation in bonito fillets during frozen storage

The aim of this study was to investigate inhibition effects of green tea and grape seed extracts on lipid oxidation in bonito (Sarda sarda) fillets during frozen storage. Dried and powdered green tea and grape seed were extracted using ethanol. Extract solutions of 1 g 100 g^?1 were prepared using concentrated extracts and distilled water. Bonito fillets were divided into two groups. The first group was dipped into extract solutions and then frozen. The second group of fillets was glazed by extract solutions. Oxidation increased progressively through the storage period. 2‐Thiobarbituric acid and para‐anisidine values of samples treated with green tea and grape seed extracts remained at low levels. Both plant extracts displayed successful effects in delaying lipid oxidation compared to the control groups. The best results were obtained by extract treatment of fillets before freezing.     

Separation and purification of hyaluronic acid by glucuronic acid imprinted microbeads

The purification of hyaluronic acid (HA) is relatively significant to use in biomedical applications. The structure of HA is formed by the repetitive units of glucuronic acid and N-acetyl glucosamine. In this study, glucuronic acid-imprinted microbeads have been supplied for the purification of HA from cell culture (Streptococcus equi). Histidine-functional monomer, methacryloylamidohistidine (MAH) was chosen as the metal-complexing monomer. The glucuronic acid-imprinted poly(ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate-MAH-Copper(II)) [p(EDMA-MAH-Cu²⁺)] microbeads have been synthesized by typical suspension polymerization procedure. The template glucuronic acid has been removed by employing 5 M methanolic KOH solution. p(EDMA-MAH-Cu²⁺) microbeads have been characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and swelling studies. Moreover, HA adsorption experiments have been performed in a batch experimental set-up. Purification of HA from cell culture supernatant has been also investigated by determining the hyaluronidase activity using purified HA as substrate. The glucuronic acid imprinted p(EDMA-MAH-Cu²⁺) particles can be used many times with no significant loss in adsorption capacities. Also, the selectivity of prepared molecular imprinted polymers (MIP) has been examined. Results have showed that MIP particles are 19 times more selective for glucuronic acid than N-acetylglucose amine.     

Utilization of waste marble dust as an additive in cement production

In this experimental study, the usability of waste marble dust (WMD) as an additive material in blended cement has been investigated. For this purpose, waste marble dust added cements (WMDCs) have been obtained by intergrinding WMD with Portland cement clinker at different blend ratios: 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10% by weight. 40 × 40 × 160 mm mortar prisms have been produced with the obtained cements. Strength tests have been carried out on mortar specimen at 7, 28, and 90 days. WMDCs have been compared to each other as well as to control cements of CEM I and CEM II with respect to their physical, chemical and mechanical properties. Obtained results showed that WMDCs conform to EN 197-1 standard and thus 10% WMD can be used as an additive material in cement manufacturing.     

Robust optimal decisions with imprecise forecasts

A robust minimax approach for optimal investment decisions with imprecise return forecasts and risk estimations in financial portfolio management is considered. Single-period and multi-period mean-variance optimization models are extended to worst-case design with multiple rival risk estimations and return forecasts. In multi-period stochastic formulation of classical mean-variance portfolio optimization problem, an investor makes an investment decision based on expectations and/or scenarios up to some intermediate times prior to the horizon and, consequently, rebalances or restructures the portfolio. Multi-period portfolio optimization entails the construction of a scenario tree representing a discretized estimate of uncertainties and associated probabilities in future stages. It is well known that return forecasts and risk estimations are inherently inaccurate and there are different rival estimates, or scenario trees. Robust optimization models are presented and imprecise nature of moment forecasts to reduce the risk of making a decision based on the wrong scenario is addressed. The worst-case performance is guaranteed in view of all rival risk and return scenarios and will only improve when any scenario other than the worst-case is realized. The ex-ante performance of minimax models is tested using historical data and backtesting results are presented.     

A universal low-noise analog receiver baseband in 65-nm CMOS

In this paper, a novel universal receiver baseband approach is introduced. The chain includes a post-mixer noise shaping blocker pre-filter, a programmable-gain post mixer amplifier (PMA) with blocker suppression, a differential ramp-based novel linear-in-dB variable gain amplifier and a Sallen–Key output buffer. The 1.2-V chain is implemented in a 65-nm CMOS process, occupying a die area of 0.45 mm². The total power consumption of the baseband chain is 11.5 mW. The device can be tuned across a bandwidth of 700-KHz to 5.2-MHz with 20 kHz resolution and is tested for two distinct mobile-TV applications; integrated services digital broadcasting-terrestrial ISDB-T (3-segment f _c = 700 kHz) and digital video broadcasting-terrestrial/handheld (DVB-T/H f _c = 3.8 MHz). The measured IIP3 of the whole chain for the adjacent blocker channel is 24.2 and 24 dBm for the ISDB-T and DVB-T/H modes, respectively. The measured input-referred noise density is 10.5 nV/sqrtHz in DVB-T/H mode and 14.5 nV/sqrtHz in ISDB-T mode.