The effect of probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001, Lactobacillus paracasei LPC-37, and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM) on the availability of minerals from Dutch-type cheese

The use of probiotic cultures in the production of Dutch-type cheeses did not lead to significant changes in their chemical composition but it lowered their acidity. The availability of calcium and magnesium analyzed by in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis was 19 and 35%, respectively; the availability of phosphorus was significantly higher, at >90%. The use of probiotic cultures significantly increased the availability of calcium (~2.5%), phosphorus (~6%), and magnesium (~18%). The in vitro method supports accurate determination of the effect of the Lactobacillus spp. cultures on the availability of mineral compounds ingested with Dutch-type cheese.     

Mercury content and bio-concentration potential of Slippery Jack, Suillus luteus, mushroom

This study aimed to assess the total Hg intake due to the meals made of fruit bodies of wild-grown Slippery Jack (Suillus luteus) fungus, which is popular and numerous species in young the common pine tree (Pinus sylvestris) forests of the northern chemosphere with temporal climate. Total mercury content has been determined separately in 120 composite samples of 383 caps and stipes of Slippery Jack and in surface soil layer (0–10 cm; <2 mm fraction) underneath to fruit bodies. The material originated from eight spatially distant background (unpolluted) areas across of Poland and was collected in 2002–2007. Determination of mercury was by cold-vapour atomic absorption (CV-AAS) after direct sample matrix pyrolysis and further released mercury amalgamation and desorption from gold wool. Slippery Jack effectively accumulated Hg in fruit bodies. Depending on the area of mushrooms collection, the median values of Hg bio-concentration factor varied between 2.5 and 14 for caps and between 1.0 and 8.8 for stipes. For well-developed fruit bodies of Slippery Jack a majority of Hg occurs in caps, when compared to much smaller in size stipes. The means of Hg content varied between 0.095 ± 0.082 and 0.28 ± 0.07 μg/g in caps and between 0.045 ± 0.018 and 0.13 ± 0.03 μg/g dry weight in stipes. A meal consisting of 300 g caps (fresh weight) of Slippery Jack mushroom collected from unpolluted sites could constitute up to 14–40% of daily reference dose (RfD) value of mercury.     

Lipids and Rheological Properties of Starch. Part II: The Effect of Granule Surface Material on Viscosity of Wheat Starch

The extraction of wheat starch with ethanol reduced the protein content from 0.4 to 0.3%. Wheat starch extracted with 1% SDS containing 1% 2-ME or with 1% SDS gave no staining with amido black, indicating that most of starch surface protein has been separated. TLC of lipids extracted from starch without gelatinization showed that ethanol extracted considerable amounts of starch lipids such as lysophosphatidyl choline, lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine and free fatty acids. After extraction with SDS and especially with SDS + 1% 2-ME only some starch granules were deformed. In this starch some changes have been observed also on the granules surface by REM. The extraction resulted also in considerable changes in rheological properties of extracted starches. The starch samples were characterized thermodynamically also.     

Application of four machine-learning methods to predict short-horizon wind energy

Renewable energy has garnered attention due to the need for sustainable energy sources. Wind power has emerged as an alternative that has contributed to the transition towards cleaner energy. As the importance of wind energy grows, it can be crucial to provide forecasts that optimize its performance potential. Artificial intelligence（AI） methods have risen in prominence due to how well they can handle complicated systems while enhancing the accuracy of prediction. This study explored the area of AI to predict wind-energy production at a wind farm in Yalova, Turkey, using four different AI approaches: support vector machines（SVMs）, decision trees, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems（ANFIS） and artificial neural networks（ANNs）. Wind speed and direction were considered as essential input parameters, with wind energy as the target parameter, and models are thoroughly evaluated using metrics such as the mean absolute percentage error（MAPE）,coefficient of determination（R~2）, and mean absolute error（MAE）. The findings accentuate the superior performance of the SVM, which delivered the lowest MAPE（2.42%）, the highest R~2（0.95）, and the lowest MAE（71.21%） compared with actual values, while ANFIS was less effective in this context. The main aim of this comparative analysis was to rank the models to move to the next step in improving the least efficient methods by combining them with optimization algorithms, such as metaheuristic algorithms.     

Evaluation of chemical and nutritional characteristics of the seed of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis)

Some chemical and nutritional characteristics of the rubber seed Hevea brasiliensis were studied. The protein content, its amino acid composition as well as the iron, calcium, phosphorus and cyanide (free and bound) concentrations, were determined in the dehulled seed. The effect of soaking, cooking, soaking-cooking and cooking-fat extraction procedure of the seed on the cyanide content and its in vivo protein utilization, was also evaluated. The protein quality was biologically assessed using the protein efficiency ratio (PER). The protein content of the seed was 18%, and the most limiting amino acid was threonine, with a chemical score of 71.6. The iron, calcium and phosphorus contents were 6.2, 109 and 429 mg/100 g, respectively. Its fat content was 48% with a total energy value of 702 kcal/100 g (2,948 Kj/100 g). The total cyanide content in the fresh seed was 130-230 mg/100 g; 6% was in the free form and 94% as bound cyanide. The most effective treatment for reducing the cyanide content was found to be 20 hours of soaking in water, combined with one hour of cooking. The raw seed had a low nutritive value and produced weight loss and death when fed to rats. The protein value, however, improved upon the seed treatment, reaching PER values close to those found in traditional cereals such as corn. It is therefore concluded that the seed of Hevea brasiliensis is a good source of energy, calcium, valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and tyrosine. In contrast, it is a poor source of threonine, leucine and lysine. Its cyanide content is high, but when removed by treatment, such as soaking in water, cooking or fat extraction, the protein utilization can be improved.     

Electrosynthèse des ions peroxodiphosphate sous potentiel constant ou pulsé

Electrosynthesis of peroxodiphosphate ions (P2O84–) was performed in 2m K3PO4, 1m K2HPO4 medium, using a platinum anode. The results showed that under conditions of potentiostatic polarization at constant potential, the reaction rate reaches a maximum value of 125mAcm–2 and a faradaic yield of 30%. From about 1.9V, the reaction kinetics are increasingly inhibited as the potential shifts positively. Rapid scanning potential voltammetry was used to characterize the oxidation state of the electrode surface. This method shows that the growth of (PtO) and (PtO2 or PtO3) oxides depend on the applied potential. It also establishes a correlation between the inhibition of P2O84– ion electrosynthesis and the oxide coating surface. When 2×10–3m KSCN is added to the solution, some oxygen evolution sites are selectively blocked and oxide occurs at more positive potential values. Consequently, the rate of peroxodiphosphate ion formation and the faradaic efficiency are increased to 380mAcm–2 and 75%, respectively. Under pulsed potential conditions it was possible to reach 1200mAcm–2 for P2O84– ion electrosynthesis with a faradaic yield of 82%.     

Solvent-free glycerolysis catalyzed by acetone powder of Nigella sativa seed lipase

The solvent-free glycerolysis of used sunflower oil catalyzed by acetone powder of Nigella sativa seeds was investigated. The highest partial acylglycerols yield was obtained at 60°C. The glycerolysis reactions, conducted at molar ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 of oil to glycerol keeping the acetone powder content at 30% based on oil weight and the temperature at 60°C, approached equilibrium after 2 h. The highest partial acylglycerol content of the products was 66% (1:1 molar ratio) and 60% (2:1 molar ratio).     

Trends in Libyan desalination and water reuse policy

The present and future libyan water demand is briefly exposed and some solutions presented to cope with the deterioration of wells water quality due to the increased utilization of the upper aquifer. The two most important solutions, water reuse and desalination, are studied.The actual stand and possible future of water reuse are discussed. Then the existing desalination facilities are reviēwed and present problems analyzed.The consequent trends in the libyan desalination policy are guessed taking into account the experience accumulated during the commissioning, the erection and the running of the actual installations.     

In vitro effects of urease inhibitors on rate of urea hydrolysis in soils

We studied the effect of urease inhibitors on the urea hydrolysis in some Sundanese soils belonging to the orders of Vertisol and Entisol. The hydrolysis showed a lag period of about 3 days and its rate (Y) per unit time (t) could be described by a two constants exponential equation of the general form Y = K₁t^K ₂. Statistical analysis showed that the intercept K₁ (rate of urea hydrolysis) was significantly affected by soil type rather than treatment. It seems that K₁ is associated with the soils' initial urease activity as it closely correlates with the Michaelis constant (km).The gradient, K₂, being significantly affected by soil type as well as treatment is probably associated with the induced urease activity with time and it, therefore, varied with variations in soils and treatments. Of the so-called urease inhibitors used in this study Ca(OH)₂, p-benzoquinone (PBQ) and orthophosphoric acid (OP) only PBQ reduced urea hydrolysis while the other chemicals have effects possibly related to modifying the soil pH. Inhibitor treated soils had substantial amounts of unacounted for N which was believed to be present, presumably, in the form of carbamate.Contribution from the Department of Biochemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shambat, Sudan.     

Synthesis and reactions of 2-(p-chloroanilino)-5- (D-galacto-1,2,3,4,5-pentahydroxypentyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole

Oxidative cyclization of D -galactose (p-chlorophenyl)thiosemicarbazone gave 2-(p-chloroanilino)-5-( D -galacto-1,2,3,4,5-pentahydroxypentyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole ( 1 ), whose acetylation afforded 2-[N-acetyl-N-(p-chlorophenyl)]-amino-5-( D -galacto-1,2,3,4,5-pentacetoxypentyl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazole ( 3 ). Its periodate oxidation of the glycol groups gave 2-(p-chloroanilino)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-carboxaldehyde ( 4 ), which can be transformed into 1,2-[2-(p-chloroanilino)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-5-yl]-1-hydroxy-2-oxoethane. A number of hydrazones of the formyl thiadiazole was prepared and its reduction with sodium borohydride gave 2-(p-chloroanilino)-5-hydroxymethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole ( 6 ), whose acetylation gave a mono-O-acetyl derivative ( 7 ). Oxidation of the formyl thiadiazole gave 2-(p-chloroanilino)-1,3,4-thiadiazole ( 9 ). The spectral data of the compounds were discussed.