Hydroxyalkylation of barbituric acid. III. Product analysis and reaction pathway

Polyetherols containing a thermally stable pyrimidine ring were obtained upon the reaction of hydroxymethyl derivatives of barbituric acid with an excess of ethylene or propylene oxide. The reaction was monitored by ¹H‐NMR and IR spectroscopy for the systems with variable starting molar ratios of reagents. We found that formaldehyde rearranged from N‐hydroxymethyl and oxymethylene bridges into the end of the polyetherol chain during the reaction. Simultaneously, the O‐hydroxymethyl groups underwent blocking by oxirane. The structures of the polyetherols was deduced on the basis of the course of the reaction and the analytical data. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Large area synthesis of conical carbon nanotube arrays on graphite and tungsten foil substrates

Conical carbon nanotube (CCNT) arrays were synthesized over a large area of approximately 1 cm² or more on graphite and tungsten foil substrates. Experimental observations reveal that nucleation is caused by catalyst metal cluster in the initial stages, but the tapered morphology occurs due to the difference in the rates of vertical growth by attachment carbon atoms at edges of growing graphene sheets and radial growth with epitaxial nucleation of new graphene layers near bottom at the substrate. The above mechanism is supported through re-growth experiments on straight multi-walled nanotubes and growth kinetics data, which suggest a linear relationship between the growth rate and ratio of diameter to length (d/l) of CCNT.     

A parallel algorithm evaluating the reliability of a system with known minimal cuts (paths)

A system with known minimal cuts is considered. In order to compute its reliability a binary tree is constructed with nodes being assigned numerical values. The value of each non-leaf node is a linear combination of its child nodes' values. The values of leaf nodes can be computed in a very simple way. The value of the root node is the system's reliability. The presented method is a memory saving one. Moreover, it is possible to apply parallel computation to the nodes located on the same level, which may significantly reduce the computing time.     

Effect of processing on the amino acid content of New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides Pall. Kuntze)

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of processing on the amino acid content and protein quality of New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides Pall. Kuntze). In this research, fresh and cooked New Zealand spinach as well as two frozen products prepared for consumption, one obtained using the traditional method (blanching–freezing–storage–cooking) and the other a convenience food product obtained using a modified process (cooking–freezing–storage–defrosting and heating in a microwave oven), were analysed. Glutamic acid was the dominant amino acid in fresh New Zealand spinach, and the limiting amino acids were cystine and methionine. Technological and culinary processing caused a significant increase in amino acid content in 100 g of edible portion, with the exception of methionine and cystine in frozen products prepared for eating. Changes in amino acid content expressed in g/16 g of N (which corresponded to 100 g tissue protein) were not significant, with the exception of the lower glutamic acid content in the frozen product obtained using traditional processing method.     

A New Analyzer Based on Pellistor Sensor with Neural Network Data Postprocessing for Measurement of Hydrocarbons in Lower Explosive Limit Range

We present the results of a first stage of development work on a new type of analyzer for hydrogen and C₁–C₃ hydrocarbons concentration measurements in the lower explosive limit range, based on single pellistor sensor with artificial neural network data postprocessing.     

Reliability of a two-way circular consecutively connected system with multistate components

A two-way circular consecutively connected system with multistate components (two-way circular CCSMC) consists of n cyclically ordered components e₁,…,e_n, i.e. e_i+1, succeeds e₁, iε«ng l, …, n − 1ång;, e, succeeds e_n- Each component is capable of sending a signal in left-hand and right-hand directions. All components operate independently. The whole system is functioning if both left-hand and right-hand signals are received by each component. A recursive procedure evaluating the reliability of a two-way circular CCSMC is presented.     

Effect of selected substances on the properties of frozen myofibril preparation obtained from mechanically recovered poultry meat

The experimental material was a myofibrillar preparation obtained from mechanically recovered poultry meat by the washing and separation of fat and connective tissues. Changes occurring during frozen storage were investigated in the preparation without and with the addition of the following substances: 2 g/kg carrageen, 2.5 g/kg sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) mixture and 80 g/kg polydextrose, and 3 g/kg enzymatic preparation (ACTIVA WM) containing microbial transglutaminase (MTG). Samples with the addition of MTG were pre-incubated at the temperature of 7 ± 1 °C for 1, 3, 5, 24 h. All samples were stored at the temperature of approx. −23 °C for 2, 30, 60, 90 days. The smallest change in protein solubility was observed in samples with added TPP and polydextrose. Along with the extension of pre-incubation time of samples containing the enzyme a gradual decrease was found in the amount of soluble protein. Also the results of the investigations obtained using the DSC technique showed the most advantageous protective effect, i.e., causing the smallest decrease in enthalpy values of samples during freezer storage, in case of the addition of TPP and polydextrose mixture. Analysis of thermal drip volume from gels showed that carrageen was the most advantageous addition to the myofibrillar preparation. Moreover, a gradual increase was observed in the volume of thermal drip along with the extension of pre-incubation time of the protein isolate with enzymatic preparation. Results of gel texture testing indicated that the most advantageous effect on gel quality was found for ACTIVA applied in 3 and 5 h pre-incubation with the myofibrils. Assuming that among the analyzed properties the most important were thermal drip and gel texture, 3 g/kg MTG at pre-incubation time of 3 h was considered the most advantageous additive.     

Corrosion in a distribution system: Steady water and its composition

Corrosion processes in drinking water distribution systems have been investigated for years. This paper proves the existence of a layer of steady water surrounding and partly filling corrosion scale in corroded water pipes. It is expected that steady water may substantially influence the corrosion. The idea of steady water explains why longer retention times would lead to more turbid waters containing more suspended Fe oxides (hydroxides). During stagnation period stagnant water mixes partially with steady water and the compensation of ions' concentration as well as particle diffusion is observed. Steady water is rich in ions and has reductive properties causing quick disappearance of nitrates and unwanted ammonia formation. Ammonia in turn may be responsible for fast oxygen and chlorine decay in the distribution system due to nitrification. Nitrates may also undergo denitrification in steady water, i.e. they would support bacterial existence in the distribution system. Such an environment makes favourable conditions for sulphate reducing bacteria and in fact in all of the steady water samples we have detected sulphides. Moreover, our results have shown that considerable amounts of assimilable organic carbon (AOC) can be formed in the corroded distribution system.     

Isoprostanes-biomarkers of lipid peroxidation: their utility in evaluating oxidative stress and analysis

Isoprostanes (IsoPs) are key biomarkers for investigating the role of free radical generation in the pathogenesis of human disorders. To solve IsoPs-related problems with regard to isoprostanes, analytical tools are required. This paper reviews the problems and trends in this field focusing on the methodology for assaying biomarkers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples. A large amount of work has been done in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of IsoPs, but a standardized method has yet to emerge. The methodologies described differ, either in the sample preparation steps or in the detection techniques, or both. Requiring a number of chromatographic steps, the relevant extraction and purification procedures are often critical and time-consuming, and they lead to a substantial loss of target compounds. Recent data show that EBC is a promising non-invasive tool for the evaluation of different diseases. Two main analytical approaches have been adopted for IsoPs measurement: immunological methods and mass spectrometry. The methodologies for the extraction, purification and analysis of IsoPs in EBC samples are presented.