Production of bioactive proteins and peptides from the diatom Nitzschia laevis and comparison of their in vitro antioxidant activities with those from Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris

This research focuses on green production of bioactive proteins and hydrolysates from Nitzschia. A comparison of antioxidant activities was established between protein extracts and hydrolysates from Nitzschia and two other well‐known microalgae, chlorella and spirulina. Protein hydrolysates from these microalgae were produced using Alcalase^®, Flavourzyme^® and Trypsin. The hydrolysis process enhanced the antioxidant activities in general, especially those obtained using Alcalase^®. Nitzschia showed the highest (P < 0.05) total phenolic content/reducing capacity (2.4 ± 0.02 mg GAE/100 g) after 90 min of hydrolysis with Alcalase^®. The ABTS [2,2′‐Azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid)] radical scavenging activity (66.77 ± 0.00%) was highest (P < 0.05) after 120 min of hydrolysis, but DPPH (2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical) was low (29.59 ± 0.02%). A correlation between ABTS activity and total phenolic contents was the highest (P < 0.05) for protein hydrolysates from all three organisms using Alcalase^®, but superoxide anion radical scavenging activity was intermediate for Nitzschia. Therefore, Nitzschia protein hydrolysates have the potential to be used as antioxidants.     

Physicochemical properties of bread dough and finished bread with added pectin fiber and phenolic antioxidants

Comparative studies were conducted in this paper to investigate the effects of added dietary fiber (DF) and/or phenolic antioxidants on the properties of bread dough and finished bread. Breads were developed in the absence (control bread), or presence of apple pectin and/or fruit phenolic extracts (treated breads), and subjected to quality evaluation (attributes including color, weight, and volume) and characterization of chemical and rheological properties. Chemical analyses revealed that breads with added phenolic extracts had greater antioxidant activity and higher extractable phenolic content, than control bread and the treated breads with added apple pectin(s). The measured antioxidant activity was mainly derived from the phenolics present in bread. Storage modulus G' (elasticity) and loss modulus G″ (viscocity) of the treated bread dough with added pectin(s) only were higher than those of control dough. The G' or G″ of the treated breads incorporated with a combination of a pectin and fruit phenolic extract depended on the type of phenolic extract (that is, apple and blackcurrant extracts behaved differently from kiwifruit extract). The G' and G″ at the final baking step were higher than those of other stages, indicating an increase in cross-linking among polymeric molecules and bread particles of high molecular weight. We conclude that the added pectin and/or phenolic extract had influenced bread dough cross-linking microstructure and bread properties through being involved in the interactions with bread components such as wheat proteins during dough development and bread baking. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Dietary fibers and phytochemicals (including phenolic antioxidants) have long been recognized as the active nutrients responsible for the health benefits of fruit and vegetables to humans. Interest in incorporating bioactive ingredients such as dietary fiber and phenolic antioxidants into popular foods like bread has grown rapidly, due to the increased consumer health awareness. The added bioactive ingredients may or may not promote the development of bread dough. This paper reports the findings associated with the properties of the functional breads enhanced with apple pectin and apple, blackcurrant, and kiwifruit phenolic extracts. Results of this paper indicate that the success of the development of such functional breads is ultimately determined by the interactions among added bioactive ingredients and other bread components.     

ON PREDICTION WITH FRACTIONALLY DIFFERENCED ARIMA MODELS

Abstract. This paper considers some extended results associated with the predictors of long-memory time series models. These direct methods of obtaining predictors of fractionally differenced autoregressive integrated moving-average (ARIMA) processes have advantages from the theoretical point of view.     

Ozonolysis of epoxidized natural rubber

The epoxidized natural rubber was fragmented by ozonolysis and the ozonolyzed mixture was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. The peak areas of the analyzed partial chromatograph were used to calculate the ratio of CC, CEC, and CEEC (dyad, triad, and tetrad) compared with the theoretical value calculated assuming random epoxidation of the latex. In this manner the epoxidation reaction was proved to be random.     

A combined stochastic dynamic programming-statistical disaggregation approach applied to multiple reservoir systems

The stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) method faces computational difficulties when used to determine the optimal operation of multiple storages. A new approach, a combined SDP-statistical disaggregation approach is introduced to determine releases for a special situation relating to multiple reservoir systems, that is, for a system of multiple storages where operational data are available. The approach consists of defining an equivalent single reservoir which represents the system of multiple reservoirs. The optimal releases from the equivalent single reservoir are derived by the use of SDP. Disaggregation of the optimal releases from the equivalent single reservoir, to produce the releases from the individual storages is based on historical operational data. The Melbourne (Australia) water supply system is considered as the example. The releases derived from the combined SDP-statistical disaggregation approach are tested by operating a simulation model, and the conclusion is made that the approach produces satisfactory releases for a system of multiple reservoirs where operational data are available. The method cannot be applied to existing systems where insufficient or no operational data are available, or to proposed systems where operational data are not available. The method uses a small amount of computer time.     

Spectral information coding by infrared photoreceptors

Spontaneous pulsing has been observed in circuits containing cryogenically cooled silicon p-i-n (p⁺-n-n⁺) diodes under dc forward bias. The intensity of infrared radiation incident on the diodes controls the pulse rate with no appreciable effect on the shape or size of the pulses. A strong similarity is noted between these properties and the nearly universal means of coding of visual information by animal photoreceptors and neural networks. It is proposed that exploitation of this remarkable analogy could lead to radically new approaches to acquisition and processing of infrared optical information. Infrared analogs of neural color coding and color vision are proposed based on analysis of p-i-n spectral response measurements.     

Series resistance of silicided ohmic contacts for nanoelectronics

The electrical behavior of shallow silicide-to-silicon ohmic contacts has been evaluated for lateral dimensions to 50 nm. Trench-isolated series resistance test structures were fabricated using TiSi₂ self-aligned contact technology. Resistance measurements have been performed as a function of contact size in the temperature range from 100 to 300 K and analyzed using multidimensional resistor ladder network models. Well-behaved small-volume ohmic contacts have been achieved. Large-area contact characteristics can be maintained to the smallest sizes. Multidimensional current flow has little effect on the measured resistances. Small lateral dimensional variations are responsible for the higher than predicted series resistance for the smallest sizes. The implications on nanoelectronic devices and circuits are quantified     

Numerical simulation of gas flow through porous sandstone and its experimental validation

Due to post-lithogenetic fracturing or weathering, sandstone can contain complex dual porosity structure, which makes it difficult to identify the fluid flow behaviour through it. The main objective of this study is to develop a three dimensional numerical model to simulate the flow of gas through porous sandstone under triaxial test condition. For the purpose of the modelling study, laboratory data which have been obtained from triaxial experiments conducted on porous sandstone samples [1] were used. In this study, a commercial reservoir simulator, COMET 3 was used to model the gas flow in the test samples. The COMET 3 model closely predicts the gas flow through the porous sandstone sample for the range of confining and gas injection pressures studied in the laboratory and for low gas flow rates (laminar flow). However the model fails at high flow rates (turbulent flows), due to the fact that the COMET 3 simulator uses Darcy’s law for flow simulations. Therefore, caution is required when interpreting the model results if the assumption of laminar flow does not apply to the flow conditions. An empirical relationship has been developed in this study which can be used to obtain an estimation of the flowrate when the flow has become non-Darcian. It is however important to be able to identify the transition point from Darcy to non-Darcy flow when the assumption of Darcian flow in COMET 3 no longer applies. Experiments conducted by Yi et al. [1] show very clearly the transition points, which are dependent on the injection and confining pressures. The model developed using COMET 3 appeared to give better prediction of the gas flow rate in sandstone sample, under triaxial test condition, than the COMSOL Multiphysics model given in the study in Yi et al. [1].     

Novolak resins with high thermal stability,high resolution,improved photospeed and etch characteristics for advanced photoresist applications

Novolak resins provide the best overall performance for “g” and “i”-line photoresists. There is a continuing need for advanced novolak designs that will provide improved lithographic, thermal, and etch characteristics that may be reproducibly synthesized. A novolak synthesis process was developed using the solution condensation technique. Cresol mixtures with m-cresol and 3,5-xylenol at specific ratios provide reproducible novolaks with controlled molecular weights. In order to achieve high thermal and etch performance, while retaining photospeed and resolution characteristics, three basic approaches were investigated: (1) increase in molecular weight, which produces novolaks with T_g ranging from 120 to 130°C with relatively slow dissolution rates; (2) incorporation of multi-hydroxyphenols such as resorcinol to tailor the dissolution rate, resolution, thermal, etch, and adhesion characteristics; (3) partial esterification of multi-hydroxy novolaks giving a T_g range of 140 to 150°C. Lithographic evaluation of the novolak resins was performed by formulating with a 2,1,4-diazonaphthoquinone (DNQ) sensitizer. Results on resin synthesis, molecular weights, lithographic, thermal, and etch characteristics are discussed.     

Mechanical and morphological properties of white rice husk ash filled polypropylene/ethylene‐propylene‐diene terpolymer thermoplastic elastomer composites

The performance of white rice husk ash (WRHA) as filler for polypropylene (PP)/ethylene‐propylene‐diene terpolymer (EPDM) thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) composites was investigated. The composites with different filler loadings were prepared in a Brabender plasticorder internal mixer. Both unvulcanized and dynamically vulcanized composites were prepared. Mixing and vulcanization processes of the composites were monitored through the typical Brabender torque‐time curves. The mechanical properties and morphology of the composites were also studied. The Brabender torque curves revealed that the dynamic vulcanization process employed was successful and incorporation of filler has no adverse effect on the processibility of the composites. Incorporation of WRHA improves the tensile modulus and flexural modulus and lowers tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength, and toughness of both types of composites. Dynamic vulcanization significantly enhances the mechanical and TPE properties of the composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) study revealed the existence of two phases in both types of composites. It further shows that neither dynamic vulcanization nor filler agglomeration has played a prominent role in the compatibility of the composites. Thermogravimetric investigation shows that dynamic vulcanization or WRHA loading has not adversely affected the thermal stability of the composites. The scanning electron micrographs provide evidence for the tendency to form filler agglomerates with increasing filler loading, better filler dispersion of dynamically vulcanized composites over unvulcanized composites, and effective vulcanization of elastomer phase of the composites in the presence of filler. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 438–453, 2002