Effect of a Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain as a starter culture isolated from the kimchi

To investigate the effect of starter isolated from kimchi, we selected the most effective strain among the 121 strains examined and identified the strain as Leuconostoc mesenteroides LK93 through 16S rDNA sequencing. This strain exhibited resistance to acid and bile salts with good survival capacity and showed antimicrobial and antifungal activity. We investigated the effects of starter on kimchi fermentation. The kimchi was fermented at 25°C for 25 d. Furthermore, the LK93 strain was examined for its ability to inhibit the growth of film-forming yeast. It was determined that the LK93 strain could be a potential starter in kimchi.     

Tip loss corrections for wind turbine computations

As an essential ingredient in the blade element momentum theory, the tip loss effect of rotors plays an important role in the prediction of wind turbine performance. Various tip loss corrections based on the Prandtl tip loss function are analysed in the article. Comparisons with measurements and theoretical analyses show that existing tip loss correction models are inconsistent and fail to predict correctly the physical behaviour in the proximity of the tip. A new tip loss correction model is proposed that remedies the inconsistency. Comparisons between numerical and experimental data show that the new model results in much better predictions of the loading in the tip region. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Charge transport in CaTiO3: III. Jonker analysis

The present work considers semiconducting properties of undoped CaTiO₃ in terms of electrical conductivity and thermopower as a function of oxygen partial pressure. Comparison of the two plots indicates that there is a substantial discrepancy between the p(O₂) corresponding to minimum of electrical conductivity and the p(O₂) corresponding to zero value of the thermopower. According to the applied Jonker formalism, the mobility of electrons is substantially larger than that of electron holes, however, the discrepancy between the two is beyond the range which may be explained assuming different mechanisms.     

Isolation and reconstitution of cytochrome P450ox and in vitro reconstitution of the entire biosynthetic pathway of the cyanogenic glucoside dhurrin from sorghum

A cytochrome P450, designated P450ox, that catalyzes the conversion of (Z)-p-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime (oxime) to p-hydroxymandelonitrile in the biosynthesis of the cyanogenic glucoside beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-(S)-p-hydroxymandelonitrile (dhurrin), has been isolated from microsomes prepared from etiolated seedlings of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). P450ox was solubilized using nonionic detergents, and isolated by ion-exchange chromatography, Triton X-114 phase partitioning, and dye-column chromatography. P450ox has an apparent molecular mass of 55 kD, its N-terminal amino acid sequence is -ATTATPQLLGGSVP, and it contains the internal sequence MDRLVADLDRAAA. Reconstitution of P450ox with NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase in micelles of L-alpha-dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine identified P450ox as a multifunctional P450 catalyzing dehydration of (Z)-oxime to p-hydroxyphenylaceto-nitrile (nitrile) and C-hydroxylation of p-hydroxyphenylacetonitrile to nitrile. P450ox is extremely labile compared with the P450s previously isolated from sorghum. When P450ox is reconstituted in the presence of a soluble uridine diphosphate glucose glucosyltransferase, oxime is converted to dhurrin. In vitro reconstitution of the entire dhurrin biosynthetic pathway from tyrosine was accomplished by the insertion of CYP79 (tyrosine N-hydroxylase), P450ox, and NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase in lipid micelles in the presence of uridine diphosphate glucose glucosyltransferase. The catalysis of the conversion of Tyr into nitrile by two multifunctional P450s explains why all intermediates in this pathway except (Z)-oxime are channeled.     

Epiphysiodesis for bilateral irregular closure of the distal radial physis in a gymnast

Validity of naked eye single tube red cell osmotic fragility test ('Nestroft') was evaluated on 253 individuals divided into two groups. The HbA2 values estimated in each child was taken as gold standard. Group I comprised of 93 individuals belonging to families in which at least one of the children was suffering from beta-thalassemia major and group II consisted of 160 normal children. The sensitivity of 'Nestroft' was 95.59 per cent (grp I) & 85.71 per cent (grp II), specificity was 84.2 per cent (grp I) and 81.7 per cent (grp II) with a negative predictive value as high as 99.21 per cent in general population. The results of the test were assessed by two independent observers and P values of 0.75 and 0.69 were found in grp I and grp II, respectively. The values clearly showed that the interobserver variation was statistically insignificant thus proving it to be an objective test. Comparative analysis of 'nestroft' with red cell indices, i.e. MCV (< 70 fi) and RBC count (> 4.5 x 10(12)/l) revealed it to be the most sensitive and specific test. 'Nestroft' has emerged as the single most effective, inexpensive and easily reproducible test of population screening for beta-thalassemia trait.     

The Micro Pirani™: A solid-state vacuum gauge with wide range

For measuring pressures in the range 1 × 10^?2 to 100 mbar, thermal conductivity gauges are commonly used. The widespread Pirani gauge with a thin wire suffers from problems with temperature drift, low accuracy, requirement for adjustment, large measuring volume, filament contamination, and sensitivity to mounting position. Recently, Wenzel Electronics has introduced the Micro Pirani?, which is based on a newly developed solid-state sensor element and which eliminates or significantly reduces the problems. A temperature compensation improves the stability and extends the useful range of operation to the high vacuum range at 1 × 10^?5 mbar. The geometry of the basic sensor element, close to “infinite slab geometry”, facilitates the introduction of a fairly accurate mathematical model of the sensor. The sensor is insensitive to mounting position since no convection can take place in the sensor due to its small dimensions. Furthermore, the internal volume (“dead volume”) has been significantly reduced as compared to traditional Pirani sensors. The conversion from transmitter output voltage to pressure is achieved by a simple and fast algorithm. The selection of a particular gas species is simple, since the algorithm contains only 3 gas-dependent constants. An excellent reproducibility in production eliminates the need for an individual calibration of individual sensors in most applications.     

Assumed strain stabilization procedure for the 9-node Lagrange shell element

An assumed strain (strain interpolation) method is used to construct a stabilization matrix for the 9-node shell element. The stabilization procedure can be justified based on the Hellinger–Reissner variational method. It involves a projection vector which is orthogonal to both linear and quadratic fields in the local co-ordinate system of each quadrature point. All terms in the development involve 2 × 2 quadrature in the 9-node element. Example problems show good accuracy and an almost optimal rate of convergence.     

Low-frequency dielectric dispersion in some aromatic hydrocarbons

The dielectric properties of polycrystalline structures of p-terphenyl and tetrabenzofulvalene and amorphous tetrabenzofulvalene layers have been measured. Two kinds of low-frequency dispersion in the samples have been found. It is suggested that the low-frequency dispersion is due to the releasing of charge carriers from deep traps. In addition the kinetics of retrapping are suggested to have an influence on the arising and scale of low-frequency dispersion in these materials.