THE EFFECT OF FREQUENCY AND WAVE FORM ON THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY-TEMPERATURE PROFILES OF TURNIP TISSUE1

Electrical conductivity (σ) – temperature (T) curves were determined as a function of frequency and wave form of alternating current. Turnip cylinders were sandwiched between titanium electrodes and heated ohmically to 100C using four frequencies (4, 10, 25 and 60 Hz) and three wave forms (square, sine and sawtooth). The σ-T curve shifted upward at 4 Hz for all wave forms. Curses were not significantly different at 10, 25 and 60 Hz for sawtooth and sine wave forms, while those for square waves were not significantly different at any of the frequencies tested. A comparison of wave forms showed that σ-T curves for square waves were shifted downward significantly with respect to sine and sawtooth waves. Heating rate increased with decreasing frequency. Changes in vegetable tissue cellular structure are believed to be responsible for these results. Further research is necessary to characterize these mechanisms.     

Neutrophil and monocyte activation in chronic kidney disease patients under hemodialysis and its relationship with resistance to recombinant human erythropoietin and to the hemodialysis procedure

The aim of the present work was to further clarify leukocyte activation due to hemodialysis (HD) procedures and to investigate its relationship with recombinant human erythropoietin resistance. Therefore, we studied the expression of CXCR1 and CD11b on neutrophils, as well as the monocyte expression of CD11b, HLA‐DR, and CD14. We studied 34 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients under HD and recombinant human erythropoietin treatment (26 responders and 8 nonresponders to recombinant human erythropoietin therapy). All CKD patients' blood samples were collected before and immediately after the HD procedure. Eighteen healthy individuals (blood donors) were also studied as a control group. Hematological data, neutrophil (CD11b and CXCR1), and monocyte (CD11b, HLA‐DR, and CD14) cell surface markers were measured in all patients (before and after the HD procedure) and controls. When compared with the controls, CKD patients presented a significant decrease in CXCR1 neutrophil expression, and in CD14 monocyte expression, accompanied by a significant increase in HLA‐DR monocyte expression. When comparing the 2 groups of patients, we found that nonresponders showed an additional decrease in CXCR1 neutrophil expression. After the HD procedure, a statistically significant increase in CD14 and CD11b monocyte surface markers and a decrease in CXCR1 neutrophil expression and in HLA‐DR monocyte expression was found. These data further strengthen our previous studies, showing that neutrophils and monocytes are activated in CKD patients, particularly in nonresponder patients. Moreover, this activation is due, at least in part, to the HD procedure, although we should not exclude that it can also be due to the enhanced inflammatory process observed in nonresponder patients.     

Water-Soluble Components in Coffee Beans: Photoacoustic Assessment

Photoacoustic spectroscopy offers a possible nondestructive altenative for in situ assessment of water-soluble compounds in green or roasted coffee beans. Its relevance to fast, routine evaluation of coffee beans is discussed.     

LIQUID-TO-PARTICLE HEAT TRANSFER DURING CONTINUOUS TUBE FLOW: INFLUENCE of FLOW RATE and PARTICLE to TUBE DIAMETER RATIO1

Liquid-to-particle convective heat transfer coefficients were measured during continuous flow through tubes, using an experimental technique in which a thermocouple was moved at the same speed as the particle. Water was used as the carrier fluid and transducer particles were made hollow to approximate densities of real food particles. Results from over 250 experimental runs over a fluid Reynolds number range from 7300 to 43600, showed that the convective coefficient was increased significantly with increasing fluid flow rate and particle to tube diameter ratio. Convective coefficient values ranged from 688 to 3005 w/m²⁰C depending on the experimental conditions. Dimensionless correlations obtained between the Nusselt number, particle Reynolds number, particle to tube diameter ratio, and the particle Froude number yielded R² values ranging from 0.82 to 0.92 depending on the complexity of the relation.     

APPLICATION OF A NEW CONTINUOUS FLOW SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD FOR THE CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYPHENOL OXIDASE NATURALLY IMMOBILIZED ON COCONUT FIBER

The association of continuous flow injection and spectrophotometry affords a simple, novel and rapid way of monitoring continuously the activity of naturally immobilized enzymes in their natural environment, thus eliminating cumbersome purification. The method was applied to determine the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes naturally immobilized on coconut (Cocus nucifera, L.) fiber tissues. Maximum enzyme activity occurred at a temperature of 25C and at pH 6.0 using catechol as substrate. Thermal stability was assayed in a temperature range of 20 to 75C. The PPO exhibited excellent thermal stability, with only 50% loss in its activity at 75C after 4.3 min exposure. For catechol apparent Michaelis‐Menten constant (apparent Km), apparent Vmax and the apparent activation energy were 9.1 × 10^?3 mol L^?1, 0.20 abs min^?1 and 10.5 kcal mol^?1, respectively. The immobilized PPO showed high activity for o‐diphenols. The reactivity order was caffeic acid > pyrogallol > catechol. Complete inhibition of the enzyme was observed with 1 × 10^?3 mol L^?1 concentration of cyanide, thiourea, L‐cysteine, ascorbic acid, sodium sulfite, nitrates of cadmium, zinc and mercury, individually. Benzoic acid, 3‐hydroxy‐benzoic acid, 4‐acetamidephenol, sodium azide, resorcinol, L‐cystine and EDTA at equal concentrations inhibited PPO partially.