Influence of irregular canyon shape on location of truncation surface

Fluid–structure interaction phenomenon, by its nature, is three-dimensional and consequently dependant on the shape of a dam and canyon that in-fact defines the spatial domain where the generated acoustic waves are spread. The complex topography of the terrain in general requires sufficiently large extent of reservoir to be included in the model, which is undoubtedly feasible if BEM technique is used. This paper shows that the irregular canyon shape dictates “the most adequate” location of the truncation surface that gives the smallest negative impact on calculation accuracy. The derived conclusions are based on various 3D analyses of a rigid dam–reservoir system with different shapes and lengths of the fluid domain, where the fluid is treated as incompressible and inviscid. The presented work contributes towards disclosure of the topographic site effects and towards promotion of simple and effective procedure for generation of BE mesh, which is quite accurate in following the topology of the terrain.     

Anthocyanins profile,total phenolics and antioxidant activity of black currant ethanolic extracts as influenced by genotype and ethanol concentration

Ethanolic extracts prepared from the fruits of three cultivars of black currant (‘Record’, ‘Blackdown’ and ‘Ronix’) macerated in three concentrations (40%, 60% and 96%) of aqueous ethanol were investigated for their anthocyanins profile, total phenolics and antioxidant activity.     

Authentication of meats from quail (Coturnix coturnix), pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), partridge (Alectoris spp.), and guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) using polymerase chain reaction targeting specific sequences from the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on oligonucleotide primers targeting the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene has been applied to the specific identification of meats from quail (Coturnix coturnix), pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), partridge (Alectoris spp.), and guinea fowl (Numida meleagris). The use of specific primers pairs for quail, pheasant, partridge and guinea fowl allowed the selective amplification of the desired avian sequences. The specificity of each primer pair was verified by PCR analysis of DNA from meats of various game and domestic bird and mammalian species. The assay can be useful for the accurate identification of meats from game bird species, avoiding mislabelling or fraudulent species substitution in meat products.     

The use of mathematical modelling in the composition of a composite material

The paper treats the use of modelling of the mixture proportioning of a new composite material (CM) on the basis of combined utilization of secondary industrial by-products [V. Petkova, Composition of Heavy Strength Concrete, Patent Ser. B No. 60100, 03.10.19094, Bulgaria]. A three-parameter polynomial model is used for the determination of the amount of the composite components cement, active additive and granulated blast-furnace slag. It is shown that using this approach, the component's influence on the changes of compressive strength in the course of up to one-year hardening of the composite can be evaluated.     

Synthesis and properties of new polyurethanes with triazene moieties in the main chain

A new diol with bistriazene groups, 1,1′[4,4′‐diphenylether]‐3,3′‐di(β‐hydroxyethyl methyl)‐bistriazene (BTD), was synthesized and characterized. BTD, along with N‐methyldiethanolamine as a chain extender, was used to prepare a segmented polyurethane based on poly(tetramethylene oxide) diol (weight‐average molecular weight = 2000) and 2,4‐tolylene diisocyanate (80:20 v/v 2,4‐/2,6‐isomer mixture). Subsequent quaternization of the amine with benzyl chloride formed the cationomer. The structure–property relationships, including the photochemical behavior of the triazene linkage in these polymers, were investigated with respect to another polyurethane prepared from 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate and a bistriazene compound. Photolysis experiments were carried out in polymer solutions and in the film state, and the reduction of the π–π* absorption band, characteristic of the triazene chromophore in ultraviolet spectra, was followed. A kinetic evaluation revealed a first‐order photoprocess. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 385–391, 2005     

Effect of drought on polyamine metabolism,yield, protein content and in vitro protein digestibility in tepary (Phaseolus acutifolius) and common (Phaseolus vulgaris) bean seeds

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of drought on the metabolism of proline, ornithine and polyamines, and the enzymes involved in their synthesis and degradation, in tepary and common bean seeds. Furthermore, the effect on seed yield, protein content and in vitro protein digestibility was also studied. Genotypes of tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) used were: PI‐301‐801 from Nicaragua; G‐400‐35 from Oaxaca, Mexico; L‐242‐24 and L‐242‐36 from Sonora, Mexico; L‐172 from Arizona, USA; and the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) variety Flor de Mayo Bajío (FMB) from Mexico. The cultivars were grown in a greenhouse under controlled temperature, light and humidity. Water content in plants (WCP) decreased when irrigation was stopped (1 and 2 weeks after blooming). Common bean had the lowest WCP value (73.75%), while the best genotypes were PI‐301‐801 (91.62%), G‐400‐35 (88.70%) and L‐242‐24 (85.73%). Tepary bean plants had superior water absorption capacity, which helped to increase yield. De novo synthesis of drought proteins may explain the increased protein content present under drought conditions. The results suggest that water stress induced ornithine amino transferase activity and ornithine concentration. Proline also increased under drought conditions (p < 0.05). Genotypes L‐242‐24 and G‐400‐35, which had the highest yield, also had a major concentration of polyamines under water stress. The results also suggest that arginase activity participated in amino acid synthesis such as ornithine and, consequently, in the protein concentration under water stress. Genotypes G‐400‐35 and L‐242‐24 are good alternatives for cultivation in arid zones. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Application of a polymerase chain reaction to detect adulteration of ovine cheeses with caprine milk

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure has been applied for the detection of caprine milk in ovine cheeses by using primers targeting the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene. The use of a primer pair specific for goat in PCR analysis of cheese samples, enabled the amplification of a goat 122 bp fragment with a sensitivity threshold of approximately 1%, whereas no amplification signal was achieved with sheep's, cow's and water buffalo's milk DNA. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the proposed PCR assay for the qualitative detection of goats’ milk in ewes’ cheeses, and may therefore provide a simple and accurate approach applicable to the authentication of cheese or other dairy products in routine monitoring programs.     

A pilot study of the association of tumor necrosis factor alpha polymorphisms with psoriatic arthritis in the romanian population

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is an important pro-inflammatory cytokine implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis. We have performed a case-control association study of three TNF-alpha gene polymorphisms in a group of Romanian psoriatic arthritis patients versus ethnically matched controls. A second group of patients with undifferentiated spondyloarthritis was used in order to look for similarities in the genetic background of the two rheumatic disorders. The -857C/T polymorphism was associated with susceptibility to psoriatic arthritis in our population at the individual level (p = 0.03, OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.05-2.57) and in combined haplotypes with the -238G/A and -308G/A SNPs. Regarding the investigated polymorphisms and derived haplotypes, no potential association was found with the susceptibility to undifferentiated spondyloarthritis in Romanian patients.     

Synthesis and properties of photocross‐linked polymers of epoxidized linseed oil with different reactive diluents

Cross‐linked polymers were obtained by photopolymerization of epoxidized linseed oil with different reactive diluents (3,4‐epoxycyclohexylmethyl‐3,4‐epoxycyclohexane carboxylate, 1,4‐cyclohexane dimethanol diglycidyl ether, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether, and bis[4‐(glycidyloxy)phenyl]methane) using the mixture of triarylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonates as photoinitiator. The kinetic of photocross‐linking reactions of compositions with different concentrations of reactive diluents was investigated. The 69%–91% conversion of epoxy groups of the compositions containing reactive diluents was reached. The mechanical properties, thermal stability, and swelling in polar and nonpolar solvents of the photocross‐linked polymers were studied. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013