Burkholderia multivorans SB6 Lipase as a Detergent Ingredient: Characterization and Stabilization

In this study, 265 bacterial isolates were collected from kitchen wastewater samples using Rhodamine B agar medium. Of these, 115 isolates were found to respond positively to the addition of commercial detergents. Using 16S rRNA sequence analysis, the isolate demonstrating the high stability towards commercial detergents was identified as Burkholderia multivorans. An SB6 lipase with a molecular mass of 70 kDa was purified from B. multivorans. The purified enzyme showed optimal activity at pH 9.0 and 40 °C and remained stable in the presence of various metal ions, surfactants, and oxidizing agents. The addition of boron compounds improved the pH stability and thermostability of the enzyme, which displayed stability against some commercial detergents; moreover, this stability increased when boron compounds were added to the incubation medium as stabilizers. These properties make SB6 lipase an ideal choice as an additive in detergent formulations.     

Magnetic properties and remanence analysis in permanently magnetic BaFe12O19 foams

In the present study, magnetic properties of barium ferrite foams were investigated. We especially examine the effects of porosity on interparticle interactions and remanence properties of these materials. It was observed that magnets become harder with porosity. On the other hand, saturation magnetization decreases slightly. Existence of porosities increases the strength of demagnetising-like interactions of neighboring particles.     

Effects of cavity disinfectants on bond strength of an etch-and-rinse adhesive to water- or ethanol-saturated sound and caries-affected dentin

Objective: To evaluate the effect of cavity disinfectants on the immediate microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of an etch-and-rinse adhesive to water- and ethanol-saturated sound and caries-affected dentin (CAD). Material and Methods: Thirty-six human molars were sectioned to expose 1/3 of the mid-coronal dentin surface. Sound (n = 18) and CAD (n = 18) specimens were divided into six groups each (n = 3): one positive control (sound), one negative control (CAD), and five experimental groups each. In the control group, dentin surfaces were bonded using an etch-and-rinse adhesive with a traditional water-wet bonding technique. In the experimental groups, ozone was applied before etching and chlorhexidine after etching. In the ethanol-wet bonding groups, acid-etched dentin surfaces were treated with ethanol. Following adhesive application and composite buildups, bonded specimens were sectioned to form sticks. Failure modes were analyzed using a stereomicroscope. Results: The water-wet bonded sound control group yielded the highest μTBS among all groups (p < 0.001). The lowest μTBS values were observed in the ozone groups (p < 0.05). The ethanol-wet bonded CAD group exhibited a higher μTBS than the water-wet bonded negative controls. Although compared to the positive control, chlorhexidine decreased the μTBS (p < 0.05), an increase with no significant difference was observed in the negative control (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The μTBS values of CAD were lower than those of sound dentin. Ethanol-wet bonding improved the μTBS of CAD. Ozone application reduced the μTBS in both sound and CAD; chlorhexidine improved the immediate μTBS after etching in CAD.     

Investigation of maximum lifetime and minimum delay trade‐off in underwater sensor networks

Underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs) are subjected to harsh characteristics of underwater acoustic channel such as severe path losses, noise, and high propagation delays. Among these constraints, propagation delay (more generally, end‐to‐end delay) is the most dominating limitation especially for time‐critical UASN applications. Although the minimization of end‐to‐end delay can be achieved by using the minimum hop routing, this solution cannot lead prolonged lifetimes since nodes consume excessive energy for transmission over long links. On the other hand, the maximization of network lifetime is possible by using energy efficient paths, which consist of relatively short links but high number of hops. However, this solution results in long end‐to‐end delays. Hence, there is a trade‐off between maximizing the network lifetime and minimizing the end‐to‐end delay in UASNs. In this work, we develop a novel multi‐objective–optimization (MOO) model that jointly maximizes the network lifetime while minimizing the end‐to‐end delay. We systematically analyze the effects of limiting the end‐to‐end delay on UASN lifetime. Our results reveal that the minimum end‐to‐end delay routing solution results in at most 72.93% reduction in maximum network lifetimes obtained without any restrictions on the end‐to‐end delay. Nevertheless, relaxing the minimum end‐to‐end delay constraint at least by 30.91% yields negligible reductions in maximum network lifetimes.     

Tribological Properties of SiC-Reinforced Basalt-Based Coatings

In the current study, the wear behaviour of basalt-based glass and glass–ceramic coatings was investigated. SiC-reinforced basalt-based powders were coated by an atmospheric plasma spray process and evaluated using the ball-on-disk wear test. X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and optical microscopy were employed for characterisation. The friction coefficients of the basalt-based glass and glass–ceramic coatings ranged from 0.38 to 0.55 and from 0.12 to 0.70, respectively, depending on the wear condition and SiC content. The wear test results show that SiC addition has a positive effect on the wear resistance of the glass and glass–ceramic coatings.     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ORGANIC MATTER,SULPHUR AND PHOSPHATE CONTENTS IN UPPER CRETACEOUS MARINE CARBONATES (KARABOGAZ FORMATION,SE TURKEY): IMPLICATIONS FOR EARLY OIL GENERATION

In this paper, we discuss the relationship between the organic matter, sulphur and phosphate contents of Upper Cretaceous marine carbonates (Karabogaz Formation) in the Adiyaman Petroleum Province of SE Turkey. The results of organic geochemical analyses of core samples obtained from the Karabogaz Formation suggest that phosphate deposition occurred in settings where the water column was oxic to sub-oxic. However, the preservation of organic matter was favoured in anoxic environments. Moreover, the presence of sulphur (especially sulphur incorporated into kerogen) in organic matter-rich layers led to early oil generation. The results of stepwise py-gc analyses are consistent with a model in which, with increasing maturity, S-S and C-S bonds are the first to be eliminated from the macromolecular kerogen structure. Study of the maturity evolution of S-rich kerogen by laboratory pyrolysis implies that marginally mature and/or mature kerogen in the Karabogaz Formation, which may be classified as classic “Type II” kerogen, was most probably Type II/S at lower maturity stages. This enabled oil generation to occur at relatively shallow burial depths and relatively early stages of maturation. It is reasonable to conclude that Type II/S kerogen, overlooked in previous studies, was abundant in TOC-rich intervals in the Karabogaz Formation. Early generation (and expulsion) from Type II/S kerogen may have sourced the sulphur-rich oils in the Adiyaman area oilfields.     

A new 5th-order differential type class-AB log-domain elliptic lowpass filter for video frequency applications

This paper proposes a new current-mode 5th-order differential type class-AB log-domain elliptic lowpass filter for video frequency applications. The design is based on the state-space synthesis method. The proposed filter has 5.75 MHz cut-off frequency with maximum 0.177 dB passband ripple and attenuation greater than 40 dB at 7.88 MHz. Only BJTs and grounded capacitors were used, and operated with single power supply of 2.5 V. Since the parameters of proposed filter are tunable, it is easy to control of cut-off frequency. This adjustment is accomplished by changing external currents. SPICE simulations are given to confirm the theoretical analysis. For this purpose, the filter is simulated by using both idealized BJT models and AT&T CBIC-U2 type transistors.     

Improving the Sensitivity of Superconductor-Based DC Magnetometer

In this study we report on some critical factors affecting the sensitivity of a magnetic field sensor whose working principle is based on a linear DC field dependence of the second harmonic of the AC response in polycrystalline type-II superconductors. DC-fields down to 2?nT in magnitude could be detected by finding optimal conditions. The optimal sensor design was determined by studying superconductor cores having different geometries and coil configurations. The optimal AC-field frequency, which is required for excitation of the specimen, was found to be 50?kHz. The second harmonic signal changes quite linearly with the DC-field up to 0.1?Oe.