Comfort properties of socks from seacell fibers

Since less air circulation occurs at feet in shoes than the other parts of the body, many people have foot-related problems as a result of faulty sock choice. Socks are generally expected to have better comfort properties than the other garments, and accordingly the industry continuously searches for various types of raw materials in order to accomplish the consumers’ comfort-related demands. In this study, our aim was to investigate the comfort properties of socks made from seacell fiber, which has a relatively wide range of application in medical textiles due to its skin and anti-inflammatory properties. For comparison reasons, the comfort properties of socks made from modal, bamboo, soybean cotton, and viscose fibers were also studied. Finally, the hybrid AHP-TOPSIS method was used to decide the best sock option in terms of the properties under discussion.     

Surface quality of thermally compressed Douglas fir veneer

The objective of this study is to evaluate surface quality of compressed Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) veneer sheets in the form of its roughness. Veneer samples were compressed using pressure levels of 1.0 N/mm², 2.0 N/mm², and 2.5 N/mm² at two temperatures of 180 °C and 210 °C for 3 min. A fine stylus profilometer was used to evaluate surface roughness of the veneer samples. Three roughness parameters, namely average roughness (R_a), mean peak-to-valley height (R_z), and maximum roughness (R_max) values were determined. The results obtained in this study showed that the surface roughness parameters of the thermally compressed veneers decreased with increasing press temperature and pressure level. It appears that initial data found in this work would provide some benefit to more efficient use of adhesive to manufacture plywood and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) panels with enhanced properties.     

Polymerization of acrylamide initiated with electrogenerated cerium (IV) in the presence of EDTA

Polymerization of acrylamide was carried out with cerium (IV)-EDTA redox initiator system with and without electrolysis. The effect of temperature, time, cerium (IV), and EDTA concentrations on the polymerization yield and molecular weight were studied and compared with electrolytic conditions. At low concentrations of cerium (IV) the electrolytic method continuously supplying Ce (IV) from Ce (III) has an advantage over the nonelectrolytic method for which polymerization did not occur under these conditions. A possible polymerization mechanism is suggested.     

Influence of growth medium composition on the lipolytic enzyme activity of Ophiostoma piliferum (CartapipTM)

Production of esterases (carboxyl esterase EC 3.1.1.1) and lipases (glycerol ester hydrolase EC 3.1.1.3) by Ophiostoma piliferum (Cartapip^TM), a fungus commercialized to decrease fatty acyl esters in wood, is described. The influence of various combinations of carbon and nitrogen sources, in the growth medium, was examined. Medium containing yeast extract as a nitrogen source and olive oil as a carbon source was found to be optimal for extracellular esterase (221 U dm⁻³) and lipase (152 U dm ⁻³) activities. Further increases in those enzyme activities were achieved by decreasing medium pH from 6.5 to 5.5 (esterase 508 U dm⁻³; lipase 415 U dm ⁻³) and increasing medium calcium content from 8 m mol dm⁻³ to 160 m mol dm⁻³ (esterase 4084 U dm⁻³; lipase 508 U dm ⁻³) © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Molecular surveillance of Toxoplasma gondii in raw milk and Artisan cheese of sheep,goat, cow and water buffalo origin

This study is aimed at investigating the molecular prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in raw milk and cheese of different animal species (sheep, goat, cow and water buffalo) in Kayseri Province, Türkiye, to provide a preliminary assessment for contamination risk. A total of 200 milk and cheese samples were analysed by real-time PCR. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in two (8%) ewes and one (4%) goat raw milk sample, while none of the cheese samples were positive. These results indicated that the presence of T. gondii DNA in raw milk samples sold in Kayseri Province might be a risk factor for public health.     

Combined elemental and biomolecular mass spectrometry imaging for probing the inventory of tissue at a micrometer scale

Several complementary mass spectrometric imaging techniques allow mapping of various analytes within biological tissue sections. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) quantitatively detects elements and isotopes with very high sensitivity and a particularly high dynamical range. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization ion mobility mass spectrometry (MALDI-IM-MS) allows a pixel-by-pixel classification and identification of biomolecules. In order to dispose of the healthy hemisphere as an internal calibrant in addition to routinely used external standards, adjacent brain sections of mice with a unilateral 6-OHDA lesion of the medial forebrain bundle were chosen as exemplary samples. We demonstrate a comprehensive way of data acquisition and analysis by coregistering mass spectrometric data on photomicrographs as common reference space and thus providing trimodal spatial information. Registering subsequent planar element maps yielded continuous 3-dimensional data sets. Furthermore, we introduce a correction of MSI data for variable slice thickness applicable to all MSI techniques. In the present case, we observed increased concentrations of iron, manganese, and copper in the lesioned substantia nigra while monounsaturated lipid levels were decreased in the identical region of interest. Our techniques provide new insights into the intricate spatial relationship of morphology and chemistry within tissue.     

Interactions between poly(acrylamide)–poly(itaconic acid) and cerium(IV)–nitrilotriacetic acid redox pair in the synthesis of acrylamide and itaconic acid homo‐ and copolymers

Homopolymers of itaconic acid (PIA) and its copolymers with acrylamide (P(IA‐AAm) were synthesized using ceric ammonium nitrate (NH₄)₂Ce(NO₃)₆ in combination with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) as redox initiator, and potassium persulphate at pH 1. The chain structures of the resulting products have been studied by FTIR spectroscopy. It is concluded from a comparison of spectroscopic results with gravimetric and viscometric data that the depressions in the yields and viscosity numbers in the case of Ce(IV)–NTA redox pair result from interactions between the constituents of the redox initiator and IA. Spectra of the insoluble and pale yellow precipitates, which are formed during the first 4 h of the reaction, after addition of Ce(IV) solution to the NTA and NTA–IA homogeneous solutions, also indicate the presence of various oxidation products. Furthermore, it is observed that H‐bonded homopolymer complex obtained from PAAm–PIA blends, prepared from aqueous solutions containing equal unit moles of each polymer, contain both ordered and defective structures. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Production of lipolytic enzymes in batch cultures of Ophiostoma piceae

After an extensive fungal screening, an Ophiostoma piceae strain was selected for its ability to produce high concentrations of lipase and esterase to remove pitch components of wood pulp. Optimal conditions for growth and enzyme production were established first in shaken flasks. A medium containing rapeseed oil and mycological peptone resulted in a lipase activity of 736 U dm^?3 and an esterase activity of 1569 U dm^?3. When fermentation runs were implemented using the same medium under controlled conditions in 2‐dm³ fermenters, the lipase and esterase activities were increased to 1005 and 4006 U dm^?3 respectively. Further scale‐up was carried out in two stages to 20 dm³ and 72 dm³ (pilot‐scale) stirred tank reactors. The results proved that the cultures could be scaled‐up successfully from shaken flasks to pilot‐scale with increases of 47% and 146% in lipase and esterase activities respectively. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry