The effects of tumbling and sodium tripolyphosphate on the proteins of döner

This study was designed to investigate the influence of tumbling and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) with marination on the protein structure of raw and cooked döner, a traditional Middle East product consumed widely in many areas of the world. Proximate composition (%moisture, %protein, %fat, %ash, and pH value), salt soluble protein (SSP) and total α-amino grup amount were determined. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to investigate alterations in the sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins. Utilization of STPP increased the moisture content and ash contents, and pH value of raw döner (p < 0.05). Only tumbling and STPP had a significant two-way interaction for moisture content, SSP and total α-amino group amounts of cooked döner (p < 0.05). None of the treatments significantly affected the fraction of sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins. In addition, cooking caused proteolysis of these proteins.     

Expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) in rat aortic smooth muscle cells

Creation of isopenicillin N from delta-(L-alpha-aminodipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine (ACV) in the penicillin and cephalosporin biosynthetic pathway is catalysed by isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS), a non-heme iron-containing dioxygenase. A tripeptide R-X-S motif which consists of arginine-281 and serine-283 (Cephalosporium acremonium IPNS numbering) was found to be conserved in IPNS and other related proteins. These two amino acids mentioned were proposed to have a role in ACV substrate binding by the recent Aspergillus nidulans IPNS crystal structure. Using site-directed mutagenesis arginine-281 in C. acremonium IPNS (cIPNS) was earlier found to be essential for catalysis by our group. Similarly, serine-283 in cIPNS was also altered by site-directed mutagenesis to determine its role in cIPNS. No measurable activity was detected from the resultant mutant using enzyme bioassays. It is most likely that the eliminatin of the mutant's substrate-binding capability similar to that of arginine-281 lead to the abolishment of the catalytic reaction. This highlights the importance of the R-X-S motif in the functionality of cIPNS.     

Risk Assessment of Optimal Sidetrack Time

Optimal time of sidetrack is evaluated considering the uncertainties of reservoir variables as it affects production performance and economics based on the uncertainty associated with the sidetrack operation. Analytical production performance schemes are applied to study scenarios of production under natural decline and water-flood recovery using Monte Carlo simulation. Caution should be exercised on assumptions made to simplify the objective function, as it may not truly represent subsurface flow. Full evaluation of sensitivity of time to reservoir variables is possible using a proxy-model based on experimental design due to the complex physical phenomenon of subsurface flow.     

A simple model for the reaction of normal octane on pt/al2o3 catalyst

Design parameters were obtained from a simple model developed for the catalytic reaction of normal octane on platinum—alumina catalyst. The relevant equations were solved analytically and graphically. The model did not involve intramolecular and intermolecular mass transfer phenomena because of the particle size (0.1–0.4 mm); it took into account kinetic phenomena and was applied in predicting conversion—temperature and conversion—reactor length profiles. Conversion—temperature profiles obtained from the model compared favourably with those obtained experimentally.     

Polyisobutylene-based urethane foams. II. Synthesis and properties of novel polyisobutylene-based flexible polyurethane foams

Novel polyisobutylene-based flexible polyurethane foams (PIB–PUF) have been prepared manually by the prepolymer method using three-arm star hydroxyl-terminated polyisobutylenes (PIB–triols) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Solvent extraction and IR spectroscopy of PIB–PUFs indicated essentially complete crosslinking. Conventional polyether-based polyrethane foams (PE–PUFs) and polybutadiene-based polyurethane foams (PBD–PUFs) have also been prepared by the same method and select physical-mechanical properties of all these urethane foams, such as tensile strength, elongation, resilience, water permeability, hot air stability, and hydrolytic stability, have been examined and compared. Although the density of PIB–PUF is lower than that of PE–PUF, its tensile strength is superior to the latter. Elongation of PIB–PUF is almost the same as those of the other foams. The PIB–PUF exhibits low resilience which indicates good damping properties. Due to the hydrophobicity of the soft segment, PIB–PUF exhibits very low water permeability. The hydrolytic and hot air stability of PIB–PUFs are outstanding. Attempts have been made to determine gas permeabilities; however, due to the open-cell nature of the foams, these studies could not be completed. The new PIB-based urethane foams combine excellent thermal, environmental, barrier, and mechanical properties, unmatched by conventional PUFs.     

Prediction of overbreak depth in Ghalaje road tunnel using strength factor

It is well known that the overbreak caused by the blasting damage during tunnel excavation increases costs associated with filling the collapsed area with shotcrete and results in filing of a claim by the contractor. This paper outlines a new approach for prediction the overbreak depth during tunnel construction. Hence, firstly excavation damage zone(EDZ) are determined by average specific charge in each zone. Numerical modelling is used to simulate the EDZ around tunnel boundary and the overbreak depth are calculated by the rock strength factor. The predicted overbreak depth compared with observed field data from a case study. The results show that there exists an approximately up to 40% difference between the prediction and the observed volume of overbreak depth. Therefore, the method can be well used to predict the overbreak depth to estimate more precision of shotcrete and concrete volumes in tunnelling cost during design phase.     

Formation of Acrolein in the Autoxidation of Triacylglycerols with Different Fatty Acid Compositions

Fish, echium, linseed, and soybean oil triacyglycerols (TAGs) were oxidized at 50 or 60 °C to determine the effect of the polyunsaturated fatty acid composition on the volatile product formation. The analysis of the oxygen consumption and total volatile formation demonstrated that the soybean oil TAG had the highest oxidative stability followed by linseed, echium, and fish oil TAGs. Our results were in agreement with the expected average number of bis‐allylic positions of each TAG. Higher quantities of acrolein (2‐propenal) and propanal were detected using the static headspace gas chromatography method at the early stages of oxidation of echium and fish oil TAGs; however, a considerable amount of propanal and only a small amount of acrolein were found in the oxidized linseed oil TAG. The peak area ratios of acrolein to propanal were 0.115, 0.569, and 2.554 after the 8‐h oxidation of linseed, echium, and fish oil TAG, respectively, suggesting the preferential formation of acrolein, especially during the fish oil TAG oxidation. The acrolein quickly increased during the first stage of oxidation, but thereafter it either did not change or slightly decreased during the fish oil oxidation. Because fish oil induces flavor deterioration from the very early stage of the oxidation, the acrolein formation observed in the present study may be important for fish oil deterioration.     

Application of guar gum as a flocculant aid in food processing and potable water treatment

Guar gum is a widely used ingredient in food processing industry. This work highlights the use of guar gum as a flocculant aid in potable water treatment. Current practice of using synthetic flocculants such as polyacryl-amide has raised controversies of acrylamide residues in water and thereby increasing health risk of the population. The flocculating effect of guar gum on the settling characteristics of flocs in a bench-scale potable water clarification process is presented in this work. Data from two experimental runs, namely, run A (guar gum and primary coagulant) and run B (primary coagulant only), were used to plot settling velocity distribution curves (SVDC). Observation of these curves revealed that guar gum increased the proportion of destabilised colloidal impurities settling above a stated minimum velocity. It was found that guar gum may be used along with alum to reduce raw water turbidity from 26.5 to 1.0. It may be concluded that guar gum can be used as a safer alternative to polyacrylamide in water treatment for drinking or food processing purposes.     

Some properties of bacterial cellulose produced by new native strain Gluconacetobacter sp. A06O2 obtained from Turkish vinegar

The aim of the study was to isolate and identify an acetic acid bacterial strain having high cellulose yield and to investigate some physicochemical properties of bacterial cellulose (BC). Acetic acid bacteria were isolated by using 62 samples (vinegar, fruit, vegetable, and soil) from different region of Turkey. The cellulose production ability of 153 isolates was determined. A strain (A06O2) having high and stable cellulose yield was identified by biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing and compared with type strain Gluconacetobacter xylinus NRRL B‐759. Based on the results, strain A06O2 was named at the genus level as Gluconacetobacter, however, species level identification could not be made. Celluloses from both strains were purified to investigate the physicochemical properties such as thermal properties, solubility in various solvents, elemental composition, tensile properties, and surface properties by FTIR and SEM. The results showed that the cellulose samples of two bacterial strains differed in the physicochemical properties. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011