Hydrolysis of pumpkin oil cake protein isolate and free radical scavenging activity of hydrolysates: Influence of temperature,enzyme/substrate ratio and time

The effect of hydrolysis parameters (temperature, initial enzyme/substrate ratio and time) on the hydrolysis of pumpkin oil cake protein isolate (PuOC PI) with acid protease from Aspergillus niger and the antioxidant potency of the obtained hydrolysates were studied by response surface methodology (RSM). The hydrolysis progress, measured by the degree of hydrolysis (DH), was described by a second-order polynomial model (R² = 0.77) and the conditions for optimum DH (42.94%) were found at temperature of 40 °C, enzyme/substrate ratio (E/S) 4.38 HUT/mg of substrate proteins and 85 min. The antiradical activity (AA) of the PuOC PI hydrolysates was examined by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay; all hydrolysates showed a concentration dependent scavenging activity against DPPH radicals. The AA of hydrolysates was influenced by process parameters and was presented also by a second-order polynomial model (R² = 0.7). The conditions to achieve the highest DH did not result hydrolysates with the optimum AA; the highest AA ranged from 34% to 40% and were found in hydrolysates obtained at 50 °C.     

Synthesis,characterization and application of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-itaconic acid) hydrogels as supports for lipase immobilization

Temperature- and pH-sensitive hydrogels based on N-isopropylacrylamide (NiPAAm) and itaconic acid (IA) were applied for immobilization of lipase from Candida rugosa (CRL). The hydrogels were synthesized by free radical crosslinking copolymerization in the presence of lipase. Characterization of samples by swelling studies, at pH 2.20 and 6.80 at a temperature of 37 °C, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared analysis (FT-IR) confirmed that the degree of crosslinking, the non-ionic/ionic (NiPAAm/IA) ratio and the enzyme content had impacts on the hydrogel structure, mechanical properties, morphology and swelling kinetics. All hydrogels demonstrated protein loading efficiencies as high as 95 wt.%. A specific activity of the immobilized lipase of around 38 IU/g was attained for an enzyme loading of 20.0 wt.%. As a result, improved pH and temperature optima values were obtained for the immobilized systems in relation to those for the free lipase.     

Monte Carlo simulation of 2D TASER

A possibility to develop the so called TASER (Terahertz-Amplification-by-the-Stimulated-Emission-of- Radiation) by using two-dimensional (2D) electron transport in quantum well (QW) structures is investigated by Monte Carlo simulation of the optical-phonon-emission assisted transit-time resonance (OPTTR) of 2D electrons in momentum space under the low lattice temperature. A considerable extension of the frequency region for THz radiation generation (upto 5 times) when going from 3D- to 2D-case is predicted.     

Electrochemical gold deposition from sulfite solution: application for subsequent polyaniline layer formation

Electrochemical gold deposition from sulfite solutions was studied by means of voltammetry, EIS and EQCM. A gold film electrode was used for polyaniline layer formation by electrochemical oxidation of aniline. The standard electrochemical reduction potential of the reaction [Au(SO₃)₂]³⁻ + e⁻ = Au + 2 SO₃²⁻ was determined, and is equal to 0.116 V (vs. NHE). Both solution stirring and temperature increase accelerate the electrochemical reduction of gold, when the electrode potential is below −0.55 V. When the potential is above −0.55 V the electrochemical reduction proceeds via passive layer formation. Our study suggests that the passive layer consists of chemically adsorbed sulfite ions and sulfur. The gold film deposited from sulfite solution is a high quality substrate suitable for conducting polymer layer formation. This technique, where a polymer layer electrode is prepared by thin gold film deposition onto a metal surface and by subsequent polymer layer formation, can be applied in sensor research and technology.     

Dense fine-grained biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) bioceramics designed by two-step sintering

In this study, dense, fine-grained biphasic calcium phosphate bioceramics were designed via the two-step sintering method. The starting powder was nanosized calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite, whose phase composition, average particle size and morphology were characterized by XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, laser diffraction and FE-SEM. The phase transformations of the initial powder during heating up to 1200 °C were examined using TG/DSC. At first, conventional sintering was performed and the recorded shrinkage/densification data were used to find out the appropriate experimental conditions for two-step sintering. The obtained results show that two-step sintering yields BCP ceramics, consisting of hydroxyapatite and β-TCP, with full dense, homogeneous structure with average grain size of 375 nm. Furthermore, BCP ceramics obtained by the two-step sintering method exhibit improved mechanical properties, compared to conventionally sintered BCP.     

Time–optimal current control with constant switching frequency for STATCOM

In this paper a time–optimal current control algorithm with constant switching frequency for a STATCOM is presented. The method enables a fast transient response of the device limited only by its output voltage rating. The main idea behind the time–optimal current control is to find such control voltage that enables us to reach current reference values in a pre-determined minimal length of time. This control approach utilizes the mathematical model of the STATCOM and computes the exact required output to move the system state to the reference waveform. The algorithm is tested by means of simulations using the STATCOM mathematical model and a detailed model. The performance of the control algorithm is validated for reference current tracking and balanced and unbalanced network voltage sags. Simulations were carried out in PSCAD.