Lipoxygenase and Tocopherol Profiling of Soybean Genotypes Exposed to Electron Beam Irradiation

Electron beam (EB)-irradiation is increasingly being preferred to radioactive-based gamma irradiation in overcoming the constraints that affect the quality of food material. Soybean seeds of 3 soybean genotypes were exposed to 4 doses viz. 4.8, 9.2, 15.3 and 21.2 kGy of EB-irradiation and assessed for the changes in the contents of lipoxygenase isozymes and tocopherol isomers. Densitometry of protein profile revealed decreasing intensity of lipoxygenase with increasing EB dose. All the 3 lipoxygenase isozymes viz. lipoxygenase-1, -2 and -3 registered significant (P < 0.05) increasing reduction with increasing dose; though genotypic variation was noted for the magnitude of reduction at the same dose. Concomitantly, all the 3 genotypes exhibited significant (P < 0.05) decline in α-, γ- and δ-isomers of tocopherol. δ-Tocopherol was the most sensitive to EB-irradiation. EB dose, which caused minimum and maximum decline in total tocopherol content, was genotype-dependent. Decline in vitamin E activity corresponding to the dose, which induced maximum reduction for total lipoxygenase also varied in 3 genotypes. The study showed the usefulness of EB for significant inactivation of off-flavor generating lipoxygenases in soybean, with a non-significant effect on oil content and varied retention of tocopherol isomers and vitamin E activity depending upon genotype.     

Microstructural analysis of fusion and heat affected zones in electron beam welded ALLVAC 718PLUS™ superalloy

The fusion zone and heat affected zone (HAZ) microstructures of electron beam welded superalloy 718PLUS™ (718 Plus) that has been newly developed by ATI ALLVAC were examined. The microsegregation pattern during solidification of the fusion zone indicated that while Fe, Co, W, and Cr segregated to the core of the gamma dendrites, Nb, Ti, and Al were extensively rejected into the interdendritic liquid. Electron diffraction and X-ray microanalysis using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the fusion zone showed that the major secondary phases that formed from the interdendritic liquid were gamma/MC type carbide eutectic and gamma/Laves eutectic constituents. HAZ microstructure showed partially melted zone immediately adjacent to the fusion zone and intergranular microfissuring associated with resolidified products which suggested that HAZ cracking in this alloy occurred by liquation cracking. Microstructural examination of the HAZ using analytical scanning electron microscope showed resolidified gamma/Laves eutectic on the cracked and backfilled grain boundaries. Fine resolidified MC type carbide particles were also observed in the HAZ. Causes of grain boundary liquation were identified and the solidification of intergranular liquid in the HAZ was discussed.     

Cost efficiency benchmarking of urban water supply utilities: The case of an Indian state

In most developing countries like India, benchmarking of water supply utilities is rarely carried out as these services are not run on professional lines to ensure profitability, even as social goals of making provision for all, including the poor, take priority over profitability. When performances of these services are not measured, efforts to improve these services remain directionless and arbitrary. Urban water supplies in India, therefore, suffer a self‐inflicted fate, wherein city municipalities remain mired in mundane issues, leading to large dissatisfaction and inefficiencies. This paper attempts to evolve a framework for evaluating cost efficiencies of water supply services and applies stochastic frontier analysis to 18 urban centres in India through six models. The results indicate large relative inefficiencies and a scope of savings of 24.5% of average current operating and maintenance costs even with existing levels of resource inputs. The results are discussed from a regulatory and policy‐making perspective.     

Barriers to access before initiation of hemodialysis: a single-center review

Guidelines recommend that > or =50% of patients starting dialysis have a fistula. We reviewed our experience in consecutive incident patients over a 1-year period. Only 30 of the 93 patients starting hemodialysis had a fistula that was accessed. Late referral (nephrology contact <90 days) was a significant issue in 48% (30/63) of the patients without a fistula. Most (n=21) of the late referrals were acute disease; only 9 were late referrals of chronic disease. Nephrology follow-up exceeded 200 days in the remaining (33/63) without this access. In the cohort with sufficient nephrology referral, we explored variables associated with a fistula (n=30) compared with those without one (n=33). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, peripheral vascular disease (odds ratio [OR] 0.026, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.002-0.286) and rapid loss of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (OR 0.745 per mL/min/1.73 m(2)/year, 95% CI 0.625-0.888) in the year preceding dialysis were significant negative predictors for a fistula. Patients without access experienced faster declines in GFR in the year preceding dialysis (12.1+/-9.9 vs. 4.7+/-3.5 mL/min 1.73 m(2) with access, p<0.001). Glomerular filtration rate loss in the 2 years before starting dialysis was the same between the 2 groups (-0.54+/-10.4 vs. 1.42+/-3.9 mL/min 1.73 m(2)). Age, sex, diabetes, other comorbidity, length of nephrology follow-up, eGFR at dialysis start, hemoglobin, and albumin were not significant. At our center, rapid loss of renal function in otherwise stable chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is more important than late referral of CKD for the lack of access. Improvements in rapid referral for access creation could help reduce this barrier.     

Adsorption behavior of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) toward fuller's earth suspensions

The adsorption of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) onto Fuller's earth surface was studied at fixed pH (4.2) and room temperature (27 ± 0.2°C). The kinetics of the adsorption process was monitored and various adsorption and kinetic parameters such as the adsorption coefficient, the rate constants for adsorption and desorption, the diffusion constant, and the penetration constant were evaluated. The effects of various experimental factors such as the pH and the presence of inorganic and organic anions or aliphatic alcohols were also studied on the adsorbed amounts of PVP. The role of temperature was also investigated and various thermodynamic parameters such as the standard Gibb's free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were also evaluated. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 2122–2133, 2000     

Investigation and mapping of toxic fumes produced by detonation of ANFO explosives in underground space

Post-blast fumes are hazardous and known to cause severe health related issues of workers. Further, these harmful gases have a significant impact on the surrounding environment. Thus, it is imperative to have an in-depth understanding of the real time detonation fume generation in underground space to avoid hazardous health risk of the worker. In this context, the mapping of toxic fume concentrations generated by the detonation of ANFO explosives in the actual field is a fascinating area of research that has a great environmental impact. This article examined the real-time analysis of toxic fumes generated by ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) explosives at various locations of a metalliferous underground mine. Furthermore, detonation parameters of various ANFO explosive compositions were also studied at the mining site. On-site blasting studies were performed with ANFO explosives, and post-detonation fume measurements enabled us to map the CO and NO_x concentrations in underground spaces. Toxic fumes like CO and NO_x were analyzed before and after each blasting operation at different intervals, and found within the allowed limit as per the Directorate General of Mines Safety guidelines. Additionally, an empirical correlation has been established to evaluate the maximum detonation velocity based on the alteration of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil composition.     

Impact of octenyl succinylated pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) starch addition as fat replacer on the rheological,textural and sensory characteristics of reduced‐fat yoghurt

The current study evaluated the impact of octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)‐esterified pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) starch as a fat replacer (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0%) on various characteristics of reduced‐fat yoghurt (1.5% fat). Firmness, flow point, storage and loss modulus increased with increasing levels of the OSA starch. The Herschel–Bulkley model was best fit for elucidating their pseudoplastic behaviour. Syneresis decreased considerably, whereas sensory acceptability improved with increasing OSA starch level. Owing to this reduced syneresis, improved structural strength and sensory acceptability, OSA‐esterified pearl millet starch functions as a fat replacer in reduced‐fat yoghurt.     

Development of recrystallization textures in 0.08%C steel

The present work investigates the effect of cold deformation on the evolution of microstructure and textures during recrystallization in 0.08%C steel. The cold rolling texture consists of partial α-fiber (RD//〈110〉) and complete γ-fiber (ND//〈111〉) along with Goss ({110}〈001〉) and cube ({100}〈100〉}) texture components. The sharpness of α-fiber, γ-fiber and cube component increases with the increase in rolling reduction from 70 to 85% while that of Goss component decreases. After recrystallization (750 and 800°C), the textures were composed of α and γ-fiber along with significant Goss components. The strength of γ-fiber decreases after annealing. The presence of Goss component in recrystallization textures is attributed to preferential nucleation in {111}〈112〉 type deformed grains.     

Nanoindentation of porous bulk and thin films of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ

In this paper we show how reliable measurements on porous ceramic films can be made by appropriate nanoindentation experiments and analysis. Room-temperature mechanical properties of the mixed-conducting perovskite material La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3?δ (LSCF6428) were investigated by nanoindentation of porous bulk samples and porous films sintered at temperatures from 900 to 1200 °C. A spherical indenter was used so that the contact area was much greater than the scale of the porous microstructure. The elastic modulus of the bulk samples was found to increase from 33.8 to 174.3 GPa and hardness from 0.64 to 5.32 GPa as the porosity decreased from 45% to 5% after sintering at 900–1200 °C. Densification under the indenter was found to have little influence on the measured elastic modulus. The residual porosity in the “dense” sample was found to account for the discrepancy between the elastic moduli measured by indentation and by impulse excitation. Crack-free LSCF6428 films of acceptable surface roughness for indentation were also prepared by sintering at 900–1200 °C. Reliable measurements of the true properties of the films were obtained by data extrapolation provided that the ratio of indentation depth to film thickness was in the range 0.1–0.2. The elastic moduli of the films and bulk materials were approximately equal for a given porosity. The 3-D microstructures of films before and after indentation were characterized using focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy tomography. Finite-element modelling of the elastic deformation of the actual microstructures showed excellent agreement with the nanoindentation results.