Antioxidant activity and polyphenol content of Turkish thyme (Thymus vulgaris) monitored by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

Like tea, the leaves of Turkish thyme (Thymus vulgaris) can be boiled in water to produce an extract. This is widely used as syrup for the treatment of coughs and bronchitis at alternative medicine clinics in many parts of the world. In the current study, we assessed the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of thyme. The antioxidant activities of both ethanol and aqueous extracts of thyme were determined using various in vitro methods. The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were determined to be a gallic acid equivalent and a quercetin equivalent, respectively. Finally, the quantities of the phenolic compounds were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The total phenolic compounds in the aqueous extract and ethanol extracts of Turkish thyme were 256.0 μg gallic acid equivalent/mg dried extract and 158.0 μg gallic acid equivalent/mg dried extract, respectively. Conversely, the total flavonoid compounds in both extracts were 44.2 μg and 36.6 μg quercetin equivalent/mg dried extract, respectively. For the first time, we determined phenolic contents and investigated the antioxidant potential of thyme. The results indicate that Turkish thyme is a good dietary source with phenolic properties.     

Production and quality of fish fingers from different fish species

Abstract Production of fish fingers was achieved by using fish species such as sardine (Sardina pilchardus, Walbaum, 1792), whiting (Merlangius merlangus, Linnaeus, 1758) and pike perch (Sander lucioperca, Linnaeus, 1758). Quality changes of battered fish patties during a period of 8 months at –18 °C were investigated. According to the results of microbiological and chemical analysis, fish fingers were found to be within acceptable limits during frozen storage for 8 months. However, sensory analysis showed that, at the end of the frozen storage, fish fingers made from sardine could not be consumed because of rancidity.     

Pressureless sintering of β-SiAlON ceramic compositions using fluorine and oxide additive system

SiAlONs are silicon aluminium oxynitride ceramic materials with a range of technically important applications, from cutting tools to specialised refractories and the properties of SiAlONs can be tailored for specific purposes. In this study, different β-SiAlON compositions were prepared using fluoride (MgF₂ as fluorine source plus Y₂O₃) and oxide (MgO plus Y₂O₃). These compositions were pressureless sintered under nitrogen atmosphere in the range of 1450–1750 °C for 0.5–2.5 h for comparison of densification behaviour and mechanical properties. Densities of samples were measured and analyses of result products were carried out using SEM and XRD. The F-doped sintered β-SiAlON ceramics showed better densities and less pore micrographs especially at lower temperatures compared with the fluorine free samples. Full densifications were achieved for β-SiAlON ceramics with fluoride addition at 1700 °C for 60 min. Consequently, fluorine addition to additive system has a good effect on mechanical properties and densification behaviour.     

Influence of pH on recombinant human growth hormone production by Pichia pastoris

BACKGROUND: Effect of pH on recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) production by Pichia pastoris hGH‐Mut⁺ was investigated at pH = 4.2, 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0. RESULTS: The highest cell concentration was obtained at pH = 6.0 with 53 g L^?1, while the highest rhGH concentration was attained at pH = 5.0 as 0.27 g L^?1. Total protease secretion increased with increase in pH and with the cultivation time. Oxygen uptake rate increased with increasing pH up to pH = 6.0, having the maximum value, 37 mmol m^?3 s^?1, at pH = 5.5. K_La values were similar at all the conditions, having a maximum value of 0.14 s^?1 at pH = 5.0. Taking the final rhGH concentration into account, the most favourable pH was 5.0; where AOX1 expression level showed a similar trend to AOX activity profiles, having the highest value of 9.4 × 10¹⁰ copy mg^?1 CDW at t = 15 h; in parallel to AOX1 expression profile, hGH expression level increased until t = 15 h, with the highest value of 4.0 × 10¹⁰ copy mg^?1 CDW, where a sharp increase in rhGH concentration was obtained. The expression levels of pep4, prb1 and prc1 genes, responsible from the production of proteinase A, proteinase B and, carboxypeptidase Y, were parallel to each other. CONCLUSION: Since it was shown that pH is a crucial operating parameter in fermentation processes using P. pastoris, keeping pH constant at its determined optimum value, pH = 5.0, during the bioprocess is vital in terms of recombinant protein production. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

A new implementation of common matrix approach using third-order tensors for face recognition

In the classical common matrix approach (CMA), the common matrix for each individual face class is obtained using basis matrices calculated by Gram–Schmidt orthogonalization of the class covariance matrix. This common matrix represents the common or invariant properties of a given face class. The CMA idea relies on the concept of basis matrices of a face class which span the, so called, difference subspace of that class. In this paper, an alternative method to obtain the basis matrices for CMA is proposed. The basis matrices are obtained using the higher order singular value decomposition (HOSVD) of a third-order tensor constructed with face images and these basis matrices are utilized in the construction of CMA. In order to exemplify the improvements in the recognition rates, face recognition experiments are carried out via the AR face database. The original face matrices, as well as 2DPCA-, 2DSVD-, and 2DFDA-based feature matrices are applied as the input matrices for the two different implementations of CMA in the experimental studies. The results indicate that the recognition rates obtained by the proposed method are slightly higher than those obtained using the basis matrices calculated by Gram–Schmidt orthogonalization.     

Active only integrator and differentiator with tunable time constants

In this paper new active only current-mode integrator and differentiator with electronically tunable time constants are described. They are composed of one operational amplifier (OA) and two operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs), and are suitable for monolithic implementation either with CMOS or bipolar technologies. No realizability conditions are imposed for the proposed circuits and all of the active sensitivities are low. The performances of the circuits are demonstrated on the PSPICE platform.     

Electron microscopic data on the neurons of nuclei subpretectalis and posterior-ventralis thalami. A combined immunohistochemical study

The nucleus rotundus receives GABA-like immunoreactive fibres from the nuclei subpretectalis and postero-ventralis thalami. This result was confirmed by Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PhA-L) anterograde tracer and with electron microscopic (EM) gamma-aminobutiric acid (GABA)-immunogold staining. The detailed electron microscopic analysis of the structure of the neurons in these nuclei revealed that the neurons in the nucleus subpretectalis displayed GABA-like immunoreactivity. In the postero-ventral thalamic nucleus a group of neurons was GABA-positive. The surface of the neurons was covered both with numerous GABA-negative and GABA-like immunoreactive terminals that established asymmetrical and symmetrical synapses, respectively, with the GABA-positive neurons. The GABA-like immunonegative terminals are supposed to be the axon terminals of the collaterals of tecto-rotundal fibres in the subpretectal nucleus and the collateral terminal branches of contralateral tecto-rotundal fibres in the postero-ventralis thalami. In both nuclei, the GABA-like immunoreactive terminals may be developed by the collaterals of local neurons that establish symmetrical synapses. In the Phaseolus lectin-stained preparations these terminals may be labelled. The morphological characteristics of the neurons in the subpretectal and partly, in the posteroventral nuclei are similar to those of interneurons (local circuit neurons) and the numerous asymmetrical and symmetrical axo-somatic synapses, respectively. But these neurons locate outside of their target nucleus, and exert their modulatory effect on rotundo-ectostriatal transmission. Also, a contralateral influence is present in the nucleus rotundus that may interact in the cooperation of the eyes. The neurons of the subpretectal and posteroventral nuclei, similarly to the neurons of isthmic nuclei, are a special group of modulatory neurons with effects at a distance.     

Comparison of performance and emissions of diesel fuel,rapeseed and soybean oil methyl esters injected at different pressures

Fuel properties of rapeseed oil and soybean oil methyl esters (e.g. density, cetane number and viscosity etc.) are similar to those of the diesel fuel. These methyl esters can be used as diesel engine fuel by mixing withy diesel fuel. In this study a comparison of diesel fuel, the rapeseed oil methyl ester and the soybean oil methyl ester was made from the engine performance and emissions point of view. The tests were carried out with a four-cylinder diesel engine for tree different injection pressures such as 250, 300 and 350 bar with each of these fuels. For the purpose of comparison, tests were also conducted at full load conditions with diesel fuel. As the result, the performance and emission values of rapeseed oil (R) and soybean oil (S) methyl esters were found to be nearly the same with those of diesel fuels (D) when injection pressure was increased to 300 bar.     

Failure Analysis of a Location Axle in Tracked Tractor

In this study, a failure analysis was performed on the location axle (brace axle) of a blade on a tracked tractor used in agricultural areas. The analysis included evaluation of the macrostructure of the damage and the microstructure of the material, as well as a chemical analysis of the material. A commercial finite element method software package was used to determine the behavior of the location axle under the defined boundary conditions. After all the examination steps were completed, the main reason for the damage was determined to be manufacture and material error despite the presence of fatigue tracks in the damaged area. In addition, a heat treatment was carried out with the specimens taken from the damaged area and microstructure was re-examined. The experimental and simulation evaluation results provide a technical basis for suggestions to prevent future damage to the location axle.