Influence of antioxidant rich fresh vegetable juices on starch induced postprandial hyperglycemia in rats

This research analyzed the major chemical components and multiple antioxidant activities present in the fresh juice of eight vegetables, and studied their influence on starch induced postprandial glycemia in rats. A SDS-PAGE based protein fingerprint of each vegetable juice was also prepared. The yields of juice, chemical components like total proteins, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins and free radicals like the ABTS˙(+) cation, DPPH, H(2)O(2), scavenging activities and reducing properties for NBT and FeCl(3) showed wide variations. Vegetable juice from brinjal ranked first in displaying total antioxidant capacity. Pretreatment of rats with vegetable juices moderated starch induced postprandial glycemia. The fresh juice from the vegetables ridge gourd, bottle gourd, ash gourd and chayote significantly mitigated postprandial hyperglycemic excursion. Total polyphenol concentrations present in vegetable juices positively influenced ABTS˙(+) scavenging activity and total antioxidant capacity. However, NBT reducing activity of juices was positively affected by total protein concentration. Contrarily, however, high polyphenol content in vegetable juice was observed to adversely affect the postprandial antihyperglycemic activity of vegetable juices. This is the first report exploring antihyperglycemic activity in these vegetable juices and highlights the possible adverse influence of high polyphenol content on the antihyperglycemic activity of the vegetable juices.     

Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution reactions on phthalocyanine modified electrodes: Electrochemical, in situ spectroelectrochemical, and in situ electrocolorimetric monitoring

This study describes electrochemical, in situ spectroelectrochemical, and in situ electrocolorimetric monitoring of the electrocatalytic reduction of molecular oxygen and hydronium ion on the phthalocyanine-modified electrodes. For this purpose, electrochemical and in situ spectroelectrochemical characterizations of the metallophthalocyanines (MPc) bearing tetrakis-[4-((4′-trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)phenoxy] groups were performed. While CoPc gives both metal-based and ring-based redox processes, H₂Pc, ZnPc and CuPc show only ring-based electron transfer processes. In situ electrocolorimetric method was applied to investigate the color of the electrogenerated anionic and cationic forms of the complexes. The presence of O₂ in the electrolyte system influences both oxygen reduction reaction and the electrochemical and spectral behaviors of the complexes, which indicate electrocatalytic activity of the complexes for the oxygen reduction reaction. Perchloric acid titrations monitored by voltammetry represent possible electrocatalytic activities of the complexes for hydrogen evolution reaction. CoPc and CuPc coated on a glassy carbon electrode decrease the overpotential of the working electrode for H⁺ reduction. The nature of the metal center changes the electrocatalytic activities for hydrogen evolution reaction in aqueous solution. Although CuPc has an inactive metal center, its electrocatalytic activity is recorded more than CoPc for H⁺ reduction in aqueous solution.     

Efficiency of Structural Materials in Sustainable Design

The main aim of this paper is to investigate energy consumptions, CO2 emissions and costs during the production and life cycle of structural materials. The virgin and recycled metals as well as waste minerals such as fly ash, slag in concrete save energy consumption, CO2 emissions and costs. The importance and effectiveness of recycled materials will be statistically evaluated via energy consumption, carbon footprint, ultimate strength and their ratios. Embodied energy to ultimate strength or embodied carbon to ultimate strength ratios may emphasize the effectiveness of a sustainable material. The analyses in this study indicate the utilization of the recycled steel and C50 concrete with 50% fly ash or slag is the most efficient way of using sustainable materials.     

Preparation and characterization of poly(acrylic acid)/pillared clay superabsorbent composite

Pillared clay-based superabsorbents (PILC-SA) were synthesized by using Al pillared-montmorillonite K10 and KSF via graft copolymerization reaction of acrylic acid (AA). Swelling behavior of pillared clay-based superabsorbent films in distilled water and at different pH values were investigated at room temperature. It was also obtained that Al-KSF and Al-K10 based superabsorbents were pH dependent and showed a reversible swelling behavior. Water absorbency of Al-KSF based superabsorbent was higher than that of Al-K10 based one. SEM, FTIR, and XRD analysis were conducted for further characterization of the PILC-SA. FTIR analyses lead to ester formation between PILC and SA. XRD revealed the basal spacing of the pillared clays before and after in situ incorporation indicating that the morphology of the superabsorbent was exfoliated and the layers of clay dispersed on the composite.     

Emissions estimation for lignite-fired power plants in Turkey

The major gaseous emissions (e.g. sulfur dioxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide), some various organic emissions (e.g. benzene, toluene and xylenes) and some trace metals (e.g. arsenic, cobalt, chromium, manganese and nickel) generated from lignite-fired power plants in Turkey are estimated. The estimations are made separately for each one of the thirteen plants that produced electricity in 2007, because the lignite-fired thermal plants in Turkey are installed near the regions where the lignite is mined, and characteristics and composition of lignite used in each power plant are quite different from a region to another. Emission factors methodology is used for the estimations. The emission factors obtained from well-known literature are then modified depending on local moisture content of lignite. Emission rates and specific emissions (per MWh) of the pollutants from the plants having no electrostatic precipitators and flue -gas desulfurization systems are found to be higher than emissions from the plants having electrostatic precipitators and flue -gas desulfurization systems. Finally a projection for the future emissions due to lignite-based power plants is given. Predicted demand for the increasing generation capacity based on the lignite-fired thermal power plant, from 2008 to 2017 is around 30%.     

Effects of age on flashbulb memories.

The authors investigated the effect of aging on flashbulb (FB) memories. In 1996, elderly Turks recalled how they had heard about 2 remote events--the death of the first president of Turkey (in 1938) and another event involving a change in the national borders of the country (in 1939)--and both elderly and younger adults recalled how they heard about the recent death of the 8th president of Turkey (in 1993). Seventy percent of the elderly had FB memories for the 1938 death; critical variables for the formation of FB memories were personal importance attached to the event and rehearsal. Ninety percent of younger Turks and 72% of elderly Turks had FB memories for the 1993 death; the only variable that differed between the 2 groups was rehearsal. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Thermal Properties,Microstructure and Microhardness of Cu–Al–Co Shape Memory Alloy System

In this study, the effects of Co content on the crystal structure, transformation temperatures and microstructure of Cu–Al–Co shape memory alloy system were investigated. It was found that Cu–Al–Co alloy system has also 18R type martensitic structure, which is commonly observed in copper-based systems. The transformation temperatures were found to be higher than 250 °C and they do not show a linear increase or decrease with Co content. The microstructural examination revealed the presence of martensite phase and precipitates. It was realized that the size of precipitate increases with increasing Co content. It can be stated that the hardness increased with increasing Co content. All these results point out that increasing Co content increases the strength of Cu–Al–Co shape memory alloy system.     

Volatile organic compounds in the aril juices and seeds from selected five pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars

A study was conducted to investigate the distribution of volatile organic compounds in the juice and seed of the most popular five pomegranate cultivars (“Ek?i,” “Devedi?i,” “Hicaz,” “Kat?rba??,” and “Keben”) in Turkey. The volatile organic compounds were analyzed using solid phase micro-extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. A total of 60 volatile organic compounds, belonging to six chemical groups including aldehydes, alcohols, esters, terpenes, ketones, acids, and phenol were identified. There were 11 volatile organic compounds (1-hexanol, [Z]-3-hexen-1-ol, 1-octanol, α-terpineol, β-myrcene, limonene, [E]-α-bergamotene, β-caryophyllene, hexanal, [E]-2-hexenal, and guaiacol) common to all five pomegranate juices and seeds. Hexalin, phenylacetaldehyde, 3-methyl butanal, and methyl-(1-methylethenyl) benzene were found in seeds only. According to discriminant analysis based on Eigenvalues, volatile organic compounds recovered in the juices could be used to discriminate and classify the pomegranate cultivars. “Devedi?i” and “Hicaz” were the most promising cultivars with respect to the largest volatile organic compounds, high total soluble solid and deep red color.     

Synthesis,characterization, biological activity,and thermal stability of new styrenic polymer having pendant ketone and its some derivatives

A new type of styrene monomer, 1‐{4‐[(4‐vinylbenzyl)oxy]phenyl}ethanone (VBOPE), was synthesized. The oxime, phenylhydrazone, toluol‐4‐sulfonic acid hydrazone, and thiosemicarbazone (TSC) derivatives of VBOPE were prepared with hydroxylamine hydrochloride, phenylhydrazine, toluol‐4‐sulfonic acid hydrazine, and TSC hydrochloride, respectively. Radical homopolymerization of the monomers were prepared at 65°C in 1,4‐dioxane solution with benzoylperoxide as an initiator. The compounds was characterized with Fourier transform infrared and NMR techniques. The thermal properties of polymers were investigated with thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The activation energies of the thermal degradation of the polymers were calculated with the Ozawa and Kissinger method. The antibacterial and antifungal effects of the monomer and the polymer and its derivatives were also investigated on various bacteria and fungi. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers