Milk-based beverages obtained by Kombucha application

This paper investigates the manufacture of milk-based beverages by application of several Kombucha starters. Local Kombucha culture was grown up on three substrates: sweetened black and green tea, and topinambur. Their concentrates were obtained by vacuum-evaporation and amounts of 10% and 15% (v/v) were applied to milk (2.2% fat). The traditional yoghurt starter (B3) was applied for producing control samples. All fermentations were stopped when the pH reached 4.4. Fermentation curves were registered, linear for yoghurt and sigmoidal for Kombucha. Two times faster process was achieved with yoghurt starter. Influence of inoculum concentration on the rate of fermentation was insignificant. Viscosities were higher for Kombucha beverages at lower speeds of spindle, but lower at higher speeds of spindle. Very high sensory scores were achieved for all beverages, after production and after 5-days’ storage.     

Can APIs that are Poorly Water- and Oil-Soluble Benefit from Incorporation into SMEDDS? The Case of Dipyridamole

The aim of this study is to develop a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) for the model active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) dipyridamole using exclusively excipients suitable for oral administration and nonvolatile cosolvents. Dipyridamole is a poorly water-soluble and poorly oil-soluble compound, which made it an atypical candidate for development of a lipid-based drug delivery system (LBDDS). Four SMEDDS are successfully formulated, and dipyridamole has up to 1750-fold higher solubility in the SMEDDS compared to water. Incorporation of 0.6–1% of dipyridamole into the SMEDDS does not considerably affect the droplet size, uniformity of droplet size distribution, and self-emulsifying properties of the SMEDDS. The applicability of hard capsules for developing a final solid dosage form is tested by dissolution studies of dipyridamole from SMEDDS filled in gelatin and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) hard capsules. In addition, empty SMEDDS are filled into gelatin and HPMC hard capsules. They are stored for 16 weeks at ambient conditions and at 40 °C and 75% relative humidity. The dissolution properties and solubility of dipyridamole are considerably enhanced by incorporating dipyridamole into the SMEDDS; however, development of a final dosage form with hard capsules that are leak-free for an extended period and at higher temperatures/humidity is still pending. Practical Applications : This study suggests that substances with low water solubility and low oil solubility can also benefit from incorporation into SMEDDS. Excipient selection needs to be considered carefully for such cases to maximize API incorporation and to ensure the self-emulsifying properties of the formulation. In addition, only nonvolatile and orally acceptable excipients are used for preparation of SMEDDS, which is important when developing a formulation aimed for oral application. Hard capsules are a common approach for preparation of final dosage forms; however, obtaining leak-free capsules can be challenging when liquid SMEDDS are used as filling. Storage for prolonged period and at higher temperatures/humidity is necessary for evaluation of liquid SMEDDS-filled hard capsules.     

The analysis of the renewable energy production sector in Serbia

Producing energy from renewable sources in Serbia is in its initial phase, and therefore this paper points towards the basic assumptions, potentials and institutional framework for the development of this activity in Serbia. Until recently, production and consumption of energy in Serbia was a social category, but the shift towards market economy together with the fact that Serbia has adopted Kyoto protocol, production of energy from renewable sources became a competitive and obligatory activity. Research shows that the current potentials for producing energy from renewable sources in Serbia are favorable. Besides this, the paper provides an overview of the existing institutional structure in the energy sector in Serbia, but also the short overview of the adequate legal acts. Researches that were done so far have proven that energy potentials of Serbia are insufficiently known and therefore authors will give an overview of the foreign investments in this sector and reveal the possibilities for further investing. Considering the existing know-how base and potentials for the production of equipment, geothermal energy and energy coming from biomass have been identified as priority renewable sources of energy. Producing energy from other renewable sources is also possible, but would require substantial foreign investments. As a final conclusion, the paper states that completely unused potentials for production of energy from renewable sources, together with adequately set institutional framework, would create great possibilities for foreign investments.     

An overview of biomass energy utilization in Vojvodina

The Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province in Serbia. It is located in the northern part of the country, in the Pannonia plain. Vojvodina is an energy-deficient province. Energy plays a pivotal role in socio-economic development by raising the standard of living. Biomass has been used by mankind as an energy source for thousands of years. Traditional fuels like firewood, dung and crop residues currently contribute a major share in meeting the everyday energy requirements of rural and low-income urban households in Vojvodina. Contribution of the renewable energy sources in the total consumption of energy in Vojvidina is less than 1%, i.e. it amounts to 280 KWh/year. Production of biodiesel in the year 2008 was 0.07 million tons, what is for 133% higher with respect to the production in the year 2007 (0.03 million tons). In Vojvodina, as the raw materials for bioethanol production are seen primarily sugar beet, corn, wheat surpluses, potato surpluses and waste potato, as well as the raw materials intended for these purposes grown on the uncultivated soils, such as hybrid broomcorn, Jerusalem artichoke and triticale. With introduction of new technologies for cultivation and collecting of biomass production of the electrical energy could be raised to 6.4 GWh/m² year, what, with retention of the contemporary consumption, would represent the significant 9% of the total consumption in the province. According to programme of realisation of energy strategy of Vojvodina/Serbia in the field of the renewable energy sources for to period till the year 2010 and its completion, till the year 2015, in Vojvodina could be created conditions for the employment of about 24,000 workers, i.e. 4000 employed for maintenance of the newly constructed plants, 17,000 employed on designing and manufacturing of plants and 3000 employed in auxiliary activities.     

Synthesis and characterization of calcium phosphate coatings on Nitinol

In recent years, coating of metal orthopedic implants with bioactive layers to promote fixation with bones has become increasingly common. Calcium phosphate coatings on the Nitinol surface were formed using two low-temperature methods: sol–gel and electrochemically assisted deposition. The coatings formed were characterized using: X-ray diffraction analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry studies were carried out in the deposition solution to determine parameters for electrodeposition and to understand electrochemistry of deposition. The barrier properties and corrosion resistance of coatings were tested in the physiological Hanks’ solution using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The sol–gel deposited coating consisted of two phases, hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate (TCP). Apatite coatings containing TCP offered the opportunity to create a grafting material with high bioactivity and bioresorbility. The electrodeposited coating consisted of Ca-deficient HAp which resembles to biological HAp.     

Social tagging in recommender systems: a survey of the state-of-the-art and possible extensions

Social tagging systems have grown in popularity over the Web in the last years on account of their simplicity to categorize and retrieve content using open-ended tags. The increasing number of users providing information about themselves through social tagging activities caused the emergence of tag-based profiling approaches, which assume that users expose their preferences for certain contents through tag assignments. Thus, the tagging information can be used to make recommendations. This paper presents an overview of the field of social tagging systems which can be used for extending the capabilities of recommender systems. Various limitations of the current generation of social tagging systems and possible extensions that can provide better recommendation capabilities are also considered.     

Höchste Präzision in kurzer Taktzeit

Highest precision in short cycle time – highly sensitive thin fiim strain gauges produced in an industrial high‐rate‐sputtering system Commonly, sputtered strain gauges are already used for highly precise pressure sensors. By using special highly sensitive piezoresistive nanocomposites consisting of metal nanoparticles embedded in an insulating matrix made from diamond‐like carbon (DLC) the sensitivity to strain can be significantly increased. Essential parameters for the characterization of the thin films used as sensor layer are the strain sensitivity (described by the gauge factor) and the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR). Conventionally used NiCr alloys have a gauge factor of approximately 2. By using metal‐DLC nanocomposite films a factor 5 to 10 higher strain sensitivity in combination with a TCR close to zero was reached on laboratory scale. At first, the highly sensitive films were produced by static deposition using a box coater which led to quite long process times. By using a dynamic deposition process in the same machine the throughput of samples was slightly increased. But for using these highly sensitive films on industrial scale much higher cost and process efficiency is necessary. Hence, the process was transferred to a highrate sputtering system. A 20 times higher throughput of samples was reached in combination with a higher strain sensitivity compared to the dynamic process in the box coater. The used high‐rate sputtering system is also commercially available with enlarged process chambers which enables for a further up‐scaling for efficiently industrial production.     

Generalization of the Jensen inequality for pseudo-integral

Generalizations of the Jensen integral inequality for the pseudo-integral are proven. There are considered two cases of the real semiring with pseudo-operations: one, when pseudo-operations are defined by monotone and continuous function g (then the pseudo-integral reduces on g-integral), and the second semiring ([a,b],max,⊙), where the pseudo-multiplication ⊙ is generated.     

Application of decolorization on sugar beet pulp in bread production

The aim of this research is the examination of the decolorizing effect of hydrogen peroxide, on sugar beet fibers, which oxidizes the precursors of colored matter and the colored products from enzymatic reactions, by creating uncolored compounds. The advantage of hydrogen peroxide is that its surplus separates into water and hydrogen under the effects of temperature, light, and ions of alkaline and heavy metals and so, non-sucrose compounds do not get into the system. The color change of sugar beet dietary fibers is examined depending on the hydrogen peroxide concentration (in the range from 5 to 20 g H₂O₂/1,000 cm³), the pH value (in the range from 5 to 11), and the time of reaction (in the range from 1 to 12 h) at a temperature of 30 °C. To obtain the best effects of decolorized dietary fibers in white bread production the quality of the raw material is defined. The parameters for the preparation of the bread are chosen (the amount and particle size of the fibers, the amount of water and the mode of its addition) as are the additives, which results in good-quality white bread with sugar beet fibers.     

Comparison of Fenton's oxidation and ozonation for removal of estrogens

This study compares efficiency of Fenton's oxidation and ozonation of 17beta-estradiol (E2) and 17alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) as two possible processes for removal of estrogens from aqueous solutions. The effectiveness of Fenton's oxidative removal was studied at different ratios of reagents Fe2+:H2O2 (1:0.5; 1:10; 1:20; 1:33), where with some molar ratios up to 100% removal of E2 and EE2 was achieved in the first few minutes of reaction. The best molar ratio for E2 (17beta-estradiol) removal was 1:33, while in the case of EE2 the most efficient one was 1:20 ratio. Ozonation was much faster, because complete removal of estrogens was achieved in 30 seconds (pH approximately eaqual 6), but the time of ozonation was extended up to 60 minutes trying to decompose formed by-products, expressing estrogenic activity, detected by YES (Yeast Estrogen Screening) assay. The obtained results showed that the removal efficiency of estrogens from waters should be assessed by a combination of chemical analyses and bioassay.