Physical, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of chitosan films incorporated with thyme oil for potential wound healing applications

Chitosan films incorporated with thyme oil for potential applications of wound dressing were successfully prepared by solvent casting method. The water vapor permeability, oxygen transmission rate, and mechanical properties of the films were determined. Surface and cross-section morphologies and the film thicknesses were determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was conducted to determine functional group interactions between the chitosan and thyme oil. Thermal behaviors of the films were analyzed by Thermal Gravimetry (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). In addition, the antimicrobial and the antioxidant activities of the films were investigated. The antimicrobial test was carried by agar diffusion method and the growth inhibition effects of the films including different amount of thyme oil were tested on the gram negative microorganisms of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a gram positive microorganism of Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum thyme oil concentration in chitosan films showing the antimicrobial activity on all microorganisms used in the study was found as 1.2 % (v/v). In addition, this concentration showed the highest antioxidant activity due to mainly the carvacrol in thyme oil. Water vapor permeability and oxygen transmission rate of the films slightly increased, however, mechanical properties decreased with thyme oil incorporation. The results revealed that the thyme oil has a good potential to be incorporated into chitosan to make antibacterial and permeable films for wound healing applications.     

Ethylene conversion to ethylidyne on Pd(1 1 1) and Pt(1 1 1): A first-principles-based kinetic Monte Carlo study

We present kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of ethylene conversion to ethylidyne on Pd(1 1 1) and Pt(1 1 1) surfaces, on the basis of reaction enthalpies and barriers obtained from periodic density functional calculations. We considered three possible mechanisms encompassing four different intermediates, ethyl, vinyl, ethylidene, and vinylidene. Our simulations predict that the most plausible pathway on both surfaces is ethylene → vinyl → vinylidene → ethylidyne. In contrast to earlier suggestions that the dehydrogenation to vinyl is rate-limiting on Pt(1 1 1), we found the hydrogenation of vinylidene to ethylidyne to be crucial on this surface. On Pd(1 1 1), the initial dehydrogenation of ethylene is rate-limiting. Hence, vinylidene species accumulate on Pt(1 1 1), while all intermediates on Pd(1 1 1) convert rapidly to ethylidyne without accumulation. The simulated apparent activation energies for the formation of ethylidyne on Pd(1 1 1), 94 kJ mol^?1, and on Pt(1 1 1), 65 kJ mol^?1, agree well with experimental results.     

Determination of flavan-3-ols and trans-resveratrol in grapes and wine using HPLC with fluorescence detection

Concentrations of trans-resveratrol, catechin and epicatechin were analyzed in musts and wines produced from seven red and four white grape cultivars from various wine growing regions of Turkey. Phenolics were quantified using an HPLC method optimized for the separation of wine phenolics. Wine samples contained higher phenolics levels than the corresponding musts. With the exception of Semillion, white wines and musts contained lower concentrations of phenolics than red wines and musts. However, the white cultivar Semillion had the highest concentrations of catechin and epicatechin among all wine and must samples. Semillion wine catechin and epicatechin were 13.7 and 11.8 mg/L, respectively. The highest level of trans-resveratrol among the white cultivars was found in Narince wine (1.93 mg/L). Within the red wine and must cultivars, Bo?azkere, Öküzgozü, and Cabernet contained the highest concentrations of flavan-3-ols and trans-resveratrol. Catechin was the major phenolic in all wines and most musts. Epicatechin was the major phenolic in 6 of the 11 must samples, but none of the wine samples. trans-Resveratrol was generally found in lowest concentrations in both wines and musts.     

Split-attention effects in multimedia learning environments: eye-tracking and EEG analysis

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This study aimed to evaluate the split-attention effect in multimedia learning environments via objective measurements as EEG and eye-tracking. Two different...     

Investigation of Spin State Transition of [FeC<Subscript>17</Subscript>H<Subscript>31</Subscript>N<Subscript>7</Subscript>]<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Compound by Using the Density Functional Method

The symmetry of the [FeC₁₇H₃₁N₇]²⁺ novel compound is close to octahedral which has spin crossover properties (SCO). In this study, geometrical optimization, IR vibration frequencies, and HOMO-LUMO energy differences at various temperatures of the compound were calculated by DFT. It is realised that the computed splitting energies and splitting free enthalpies together with the mole fraction of HS state are compatible with the experiment.     

Thermal modelling of the high temperature treatment of wood based on Luikov's approach

A 3D, unsteady‐state mathematical model was used to simulate the behaviour of wood during high temperature treatment. The model is based on Luikov's approach and solves a set of coupled heat and mass transfer equations. Using the model, the temperature and moisture content profiles of wood were predicted as a function of time for different heating rates. Parallel to the modelling study, an experimental study was carried out using small birch samples. The samples were subjected to high temperature treatment in a thermogravimetric system under different operating conditions. The experimental results and the model predictions were found to be in good agreement. The results show that the distributions of temperature and moisture content are influenced appreciably by the heating rate and the initial moisture content. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetic modelling of lactic acid production from whey by Lactobacillus casei (NRRL B‐441)

The biomass growth, lactic acid production and lactose utilisation kinetics of lactic acid production from whey by Lactobacillus casei was studied. Batch fermentation experiments were performed at controlled pH and temperature with six different initial whey lactose concentrations (9‐77 g dm^?3) in a 3 dm³ working volume bioreactor. Biomass growth was well described by the logistic equation with a product inhibition term. In addition, biomass and product inhibition effects were defined with corresponding power terms, which enabled adjustment of the model for low‐ and high‐substrate conditions. The Luedeking‐Piret equation defined the product formation kinetics. Substrate consumption was explained by production rate and maintenance requirements. A maximum productivity of 2.5 g dm^?3 h^?1 was attained with an initial lactose concentration of 35.5 g dm^?3. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Adsorption of boron from aqueous solutions using fly ash: batch and column studies

In the present paper, boron removal from aqueous solutions by adsorption was investigated. Fly ash particle size used in adsorption experiments was between 250 and 400 microm. During the experimental part of this study, the effect of parameters such as pH, agitation time, initial boron concentration, temperature, adsorbent dosage and foreign ion on boron removal were observed. In addition, adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherm studies and column studies were made. Maximum boron removal was obtained at pH 2 and 25 degrees C. Thermodynamic parameters such as change in free energy (DeltaG degrees), enthalpy (DeltaH degrees), entropy (DeltaS degrees) were also determined. As a result of the kinetic studies, it was observed that the adsorption data conforms to the second degree kinetics model. In the isotherm studies, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied and it was determined that the experimental data conformed to Langmuir isotherm model. Batch adsorbent capacity (q(o)) was calculated as 20.9 mg/g. The capacity value for column study was obtained by graphical integration as 46.2 mg/g. The Thomas and the Yoon-Nelson models were applied to experimental data to predict the breakthrough curves and to determine the characteristics parameters of the column useful for process design.