Diversity and Stability of Yeast Species During the Fermentation of Tarhana

Tarhana is a traditional cereal-based fermented food produced with a mixture of yoghurt and flour. The main microbiota in the fermentation of tarhana is yeast, together with lactic acid bacteria. In this study, the yeast microbiota of home-made tarhana (HMT) and plant-type tarhana (PTT) dough samples was evaluated and compared during fermentation. Culture-dependent LSU and ITS-5.8S rDNA sequence analysis of yeast isolates collected during the tarhana dough fermentation clarified 45 selected isolates representing different clusters. These yeast isolates displayed high homologywith species Pichia kudriavzevii (11), Candida glabrata (11), Candida humilis (10), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (7), Kluyveromyces marxianus (4), Kazachstania servazzi (1), and Kazachstania unispora (1). Additionally, both culture-dependent and PCR-Denaturated Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analyses showed that S. cerevisiae, P. kudriavzevii and K. marxianus were abundant in the fermentation of HMT dough samples whereas P. kudriavzevii, C. humilis, and C. glabrata dominated the PTT dough samples. It was concluded that tarhana fermentation was accomplished with the presence of a wide variety of yeast species that mainly included P. kudriavzevii in both HMT and PTT dough samples.     

Removal of boron from aqueous solution by adsorption on Al2O3 based materials using full factorial design

This paper aims the adsorption of boron from aqueous solution onto Siral 30 and Pural using 2³ full factorial design. The effect of individual variables and their interactional effects for boron adsorption were also determined. From the statistical analysis, it is inferred that as pH and temperature increased boron adsorption from aqueous solution decreased. Siral 30 was found to be more efficient adsorbent than Pural. The unimportant factor affecting boron adsorption from aqueous solution was also verified by using Fisher adequacy test. At the 90% confidence level, the type of adsorbent, temperature and type of adsorbent–temperature interaction was effective on boron adsorption from aqueous solution. The experimental results were fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich (DR) equations to find out adsorption capacities. In most cases, the results indicate that Freundlich and DR equations are well described with the sorption data. The adsorption capacity values of Siral 30 calculated from Freundlich and DR equation was greater than that of Pural. The thermodynamic parameters were also estimated and the adsorption process was not spontaneous nature.     

Facial expression recognition for monitoring neurological disorders based on convolutional neural network

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Facial expressions are a significant part of non-verbal communication. Recognizing facial expressions of people with neurological disorders is essential because...     

Polycaprolactone‐hydroxy apatite composites for tissue engineering applications

In this study, scaffolds with polycaprolactone (PCL) and hydroxy apatite (HA) were produced. Their properties are not sufficient to be used alone. Oleic Acid (OA) and glycerol monooleate (GMO) as organic additives were selected for a homogeneous distribution of the ceramic material in the polymer matrix. Biocomposite materials were prepared with solvent casting‐salt leaching technique using dichloromethane as the solvent. Salt was used as the porosifier. Materials were kept in simulated body fluid (SBF) to determine the bioactivity in vitro conditions. FTIR and EDX analyses for chemical characterization, tensile and compressive tests for mechanical properties, SEM analyses for surface properties and BET analyses for pore sizes, total surface areas and total pore volumes of scaffolds were performed. FTIR, EDX, and SEM analyses were repeated after SBF treatment. Pore diameters were highly increased with 3 and 20 wt% HA addition. Small amount of GMO addition is more effective on pore size. Mechanical properties of scaffolds were suitable for soft tissue applications, as smooth muscle cells, skin and cancellous bone. The cytotoxicity and cell proliferation on scaffolds were studied with smooth muscle cells (SMC) and L929 fibroblastic cells in vitro. No cytotoxic effect was observed for the scaffolds in both cell types. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 24:248–261, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Comparison of hemispheric asymmetry measurements for emotional recordings from controls

Four asymmetry measurements (conventional coherence function (CCF), cross wavelet correlation (CWC), phase lag index (PLI), and mean phase coherence (MPC)) have been compared to each other for the first time in order to recognize emotional states (pleasant (P), neutral (N), unpleasant (UP)) from controls in EEG sub-bands (delta (0–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–16 Hz), beta (16–32 Hz), gamma (32–64 Hz)) mediated by affective pictures from the International Affective Picture Archiving System (IAPS). Eight emotional features, computed as hemispheric asymmetry between eight electrode pairs (Fp1 − Fp2, F7 − F8, F3 − F4, C3 − C4, T7 − T8, P7 − P8, P3 − P4, and O1 − O2), have been classified by using data mining methods. Results show that inter-hemispheric emotional functions are mostly mediated by gamma. The best classification is provided by a neural network classifier, while the best features are provided by CWC in time-scale domain due to non-stationary nature of electroencephalographic (EEG) series. The highest asymmetry levels are provided by pleasant pictures at mostly anterio-frontal (F3 − F4) and central (C3 − C4) electrode pairs in gamma. Inter-hemispheric asymmetry levels are changed by each emotional state at all lobes. In conclusion, we can state the followings: (1) Nonlinear and wavelet transform-based methods are more suitable for characterization of EEG; (2) The highest difference in hemispheric asymmetry was observed among emotional states in gamma; (3) Cortical emotional functions are not region-specific, since all lobes are effected by emotional stimuli at different levels; and (4) Pleasant stimuli can strongly mediate the brain in comparison to unpleasant and neutral stimuli.

     

Porous dye affinity beads for nickel adsorption from aqueous solutions: A kinetic study

We investigated a new adsorbent system, Reactive Red 120 attached poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate ethylene dimethacrylate) [poly(HEMA–EDMA)] beads, for the removal of Ni²⁺ ions from aqueous solutions. Poly(HEMA–EDMA) beads were prepared by the modified suspension copolymerization of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate and ethylene dimethacrylate. Reactive Red 120 molecules were covalently attached to the beads. The beads (150–250 μm), having a swelling ratio of 55% and carrying 25.5 μmol of Reactive Red 120/g of polymer, were used in the removal of Ni²⁺ ions. The adsorption rate and capacity of the Reactive Red 120 attached poly(HEMA–EDMA) beads for Ni²⁺ ions was investigated in aqueous media containing different amounts of Ni²⁺ ions (5–35 mg/L) and having different pH values (2.0–7.0). Very high adsorption rates were observed at the beginning, and adsorption equilibria were then gradually achieved in about 60 min. The maximum adsorption of Ni²⁺ ions onto the Reactive Red 120 attached poly(HEMA–EDMA) beads was 2.83 mg/g at pH 6.0. The nonspecific adsorption of Ni²⁺ ions onto poly(HEMA–EDMA) beads was negligible (0.1 mg/g). The desorption of Ni²⁺ ions was studied with 0.1M HNO₃. High desorption ratios (>90%) were achieved. The intraparticle diffusion rate constants at various temperatures were calculated as k_20°C = 0.565 mg/g min^0.5, k_30°C = 0.560 mg/g min^0.5, and k_40°C = 0.385 mg/g min^0.5. Adsorption–desorption cycles showed the feasibility of repeated use of this novel adsorbent system. The equilibrium data fitted very well both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models. The pseudo‐first‐order kinetic model was used to describe the kinetic data. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100:5056–5065, 2006     

An aesthetic approach to planting design in urban parks and greenspaces

This study attempts to contribute planting design theory by providing a visual analysis of, and in the aesthetic sense an alternative scenario for, planting design practices in urban parks and greenspaces. In the study, plants are regarded as effective elements and an expression of form and texture. A matrix is developed to assess their formal effects by experts. Development of the matrix incorporates visual properties of plants, basic design principles, and Gestalt theory. Visual analysis of existing planting design practices in six different silhouettes in two urban parks and an alternative planting design scenario is then suggested. This study, developing a method to analyse a landscape silhouette, provides clues to produce ideal silhouettes in terms of formal aesthetics using design principles. It is suggested that there is a potential for landscape researchers to further develop this method using other variables of formal aesthetics and Gestalt principles and in other settings.     

Changes in theanine and caffeine contents of black tea with different rolling methods and processing stages

Theanine is a specific amino acid in tea, which has positive effects on health. Theanine contents of different grade Turkish teas, variations in the theanine content during tea processing, and the effects of different rolling processes on theanine content were determined. Theanine content of Turkish tea varying between 0.32 and 0.43 % has been reported for the first time by this study. Theanine content decreased in all processing steps from 10.0–3.42 to 7.73–3.97 mg g^?1 dw in Orthodox and Cay-Kur methods, respectively. In both methods, the highest theanine loss (almost 50 %) was observed in the withering step, which was followed by drying step. Caffeine content of Turkish tea was determined varying between 1.8 and 2.2 %. While the caffeine content increased in the withering step, it decreased in other steps. The correlation between theanine and caffeine contents was evaluated. A high correlation (R ² = 0.87) between the caffeine and theanine contents was found in teas classified by Cay-Kur method, and caffeine/theanine ratio was found to be around 5.3 in general.     

Kinetic modeling of lipase‐mediated one‐pot chemo‐bio cascade synthesis of R‐1‐phenyl ethyl acetate starting from acetophenone

BACKGROUND: A systematic investigation of mutual interference between a hydrogenation catalyst, Pd/Al₂O₃, and an immobilized lipase in a one‐pot synthesis of R‐1‐phenyl ethyl acetate at 70 °C has been undertaken. This paper reports the kinetic modeling of lipase‐mediated chemo‐bio cascade synthesis of R‐1‐phenyl ethyl acetate starting from acetophenone. RESULTS: The kinetic results revealed that these catalysts were not acting independently but in concert. A mechanism which predicts the experimental observations for this reaction is proposed. CONCLUSION: The parameters of the kinetic model, which are in good agreement with the experimental data, were estimated through numerical data fitting. The reliability of the estimated parameters was analyzed using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

CO2 emissions vs. CO2 responsibility: An input–output approach for the Turkish economy

Recently, global warming (greenhouse effect) and its effects have become one of the hottest topics in the world agenda. There have been several international attempts to reduce the negative effects of global warming. The Kyoto Protocol can be cited as the most important agreement which tries to limit the countries’ emissions within a time horizon. For this reason, it becomes important to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of countries. The aim of this study is to estimate the amount of CO₂—the most important greenhouse gas—emissions, for the Turkish economy. An extended input–output model is estimated by using 1996 data in order to identify the sources of CO₂ emissions and to discuss the share of sectors in total emission. Besides, ‘CO₂ responsibility’, which takes into account the CO₂ content of imports, is estimated for the Turkish economy. The sectoral CO₂ emissions and CO₂ responsibilities are compared and these two notions are linked to foreign trade volume. One of the main conclusions is that the manufacturing industry has the first place in both of the rankings for CO₂ emissions and CO₂ responsibilities, while agriculture and husbandry has the last place.