Periodic variation in kernel oil content and fatty acid profiles of Calophyllum innophyllm L.: A potential biodiesel feedstock in Australia

Variation in oil content and fatty acid profiles of a native Australian biodiesel feedstock species Calophyllum inophyllum were studied in two different fruiting periods (winter 2008 and autumn 2009) and in three different northern Queensland provenances (Cardwell, Townsville, Yeppoon). Oils were extracted by standard n-hexane double extraction and fatty acid profiles were determined by ISO 5508 and 5509 methods using gas chromatography. C. inophyllum provenances have demonstrated a significant periodic variation in oil content and fatty acid profile, and as a result alter the quality of fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel). FAP of majority of kernel oil sources were found to vary significantly (P < 0.05) with seasonal variation in temperature and longterm average rainfall.     

Comparison of 2D simultaneous multi-slice and 3D GRASE readout schemes for pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling of cerebral perfusion at 3 T

Objective

In this perfusion magnetic resonance imaging study, the performances of different pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) sequences were compared: two-dimensional (2D) single-shot readout with simultaneous multislice (SMS), 2D single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) and multishot three-dimensional (3D) gradient and spin echo (GRASE) sequences combined with a background-suppression (BS) module.

Materials and methods

Whole-brain PCASL images were acquired from seven healthy volunteers. The performance of each protocol was evaluated by extracting regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measures using an inline morphometric segmentation prototype. Image data postprocessing and subsequent statistical analyses enabled comparisons at the regional and sub-regional levels.

Results

The main findings were as follows: (i) Mean global CBF obtained across methods was were highly correlated, and these correlations were significantly higher among the same readout sequences. (ii) Temporal signal-to-noise ratio and gray-matter-to-white-matter CBF ratio were found to be equivalent for all 2D variants but lower than those of 3D-GRASE.

Discussion

Our study demonstrates that the accelerated SMS readout can provide increased acquisition efficiency and/or a higher temporal resolution than conventional 2D and 3D readout sequences. Among all of the methods, 3D-GRASE showed the lowest variability in CBF measurements and thus highest robustness against noise.

     

Studies on the stability of an edible film and its use for the preservation of carrot (Daucus carota)

An edible coating was formed by blending turmeric (Curcuma longa) and casein in equal proportions at 95 °C for 12 h. Small quantities of polyvinyl alcohol and propylene glycol were added to encourage film formation and plasticizing respectively. The blend was removed from the reaction vessel and homogenized using Tween‐80 as emulsifier. The homogenized blend was sampled at 2‐h intervals for stability by means of the ‘keeping property’ and ‘accelerated stability’ tests. Stability was also determined by differential scanning calorimetry in which a singlet endotherm indicated molecular mixing (miscibility window) of the components. All three tests indicated that the emulsion was stable after 12 h of blending. Colour, carotenoid content, texture retention and antimicrobial properties remained satisfactory for 10 days in the stable emulsion‐coated carrot whereas the control spoiled after 3 days. Thus turmeric and casein based‐emulsion coating could extend the shelf‐life of carrots by 7 days.     

Antimicrobial,mechanical, barrier,and thermal properties of starch–casein based,neem (Melia azardirachta) extract containing film

The Starch–Casein‐based edible films containing with or without neem (Melia azadirachta) extract was prepared. The neem based free films were also heat pressed and all of them were assessed for inhibition of pathogenic organisms namely E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas spp., and Salmonella, using disc diffusion assay. The Glass‐transition temperature (T_g) and thermal properties of the films were determined with the help of DSC and DMA. Tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EAB), water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of the films were also determined. Incorporation of neem extract to edible film did not affect any of the physical properties except microbial, and the films were effective in inhibiting the growth of pathogens, since the inhibition zones varied from 15 mm as large as 24 mm. However, the heat‐pressed films containing neem extract led higher the T_g, TS, and modulus, while the EAB was marginally affected, indicating the toughening of the film and as expected, the heat pressing of films decreased the WVTR and marginally affected OTR. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3948–3954, 2006     

Appropriate sample for determination of protein in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) raised in agricultural trials

Sampling of cereal foods from bulk samples for analyses of nutrients is a well-known procedure, but a satisfactory sampling scheme for such analyses from breeding and agronomic trials has not been defined. However, selection of five plants from each experimental plot is a common procedure among agricultural scientists. The validity of using grains from such a sample for analysis of protein was tested in the present investigation. Values obtained by analysis of pooled samples of five randomly selected ear-heads or the average values of five such ear-heads were not significantly different from those obtained by analyses of sampled aliquots from net plot.     

Performance analysis of MC‐CDMA by employing the MMSE‐PIC scheme in wireless communications

From the past decade, the multicarrier code division multiple access (MC‐CDMA) transmission schemes have placed major role in wireless communications. It is providing a secured wireless communication to the users with guaranteed performance. In many situations, the performance of the MC‐CDMA is restricted due to the interference caused by multiple access interference (MAI), which also influences the frameworks of CDMA. To overcome this issue, we concentrated on developing the efficient technique for data transmission with interference cancellation for downlink MC‐CDMA. In the proposed method, the interference cancellation procedure is done by using the regeneration and subtraction of MAI from the signal. The simulation results are evaluated using the MC‐CDMA system with different decision functions. Results proved that the proposed system is efficient in reducing the MAI along with an improved bit error rate (BER).     

Mechanical and barrier properties of edible starch–protein‐based films

The present investigation dealt with the mechanical properties, water‐vapor transmission behavior at different relative humidity conditions, and DSC thermograms of edible films formulated using various proteins (casein, gelatin, albumin) in combination with starch and nonthermal as well as intense thermal blending. Nonthermal blended film showed in the DSC thermogram a double T_g, indicating poor miscibility of the components and, hence, a poor film‐forming property. However, the DSC thermogram of all the films based on intense thermal blending showed a single T_g, indicating the complete molecular miscibility of the components. Casein‐based film showed a lower water‐vapor transmission rate, water gain at different relative humidity conditions, and higher tensile strength compared to its counterparts containing gelatin and albumin. Since the casein–starch blend gave better film properties, a blend of hydrophobic carnauba wax and casein was prepared to compare the properties of hydrophilic–hydrophilic and hydrophobic–hydrophilic blends. Both these blends compared well with respect to the water‐vapor transmission rate. Wax‐based film showed multiphased behavior in the DSC thermograms and the percent elongation was lower as compared to the casein–starch blend. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 64–71, 2003     

Altered signaling associated with chronic arsenic exposure in human skin keratinocytes

Modulation of signaling pathways upon chronic arsenic exposure remains poorly studied. Here, we carried out SILAC‐based quantitative phosphoproteomics analysis to dissect the signaling induced upon chronic arsenic exposure in human skin keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT. We identified 4171 unique phosphosites derived from 2000 proteins. We observed differential phosphorylation of 406 phosphosites (twofold) corresponding to 305 proteins. Several pathways involved in cytoskeleton maintenance and organization were found to be significantly enriched (p<0.05). Our data revealed altered phosphorylation of proteins associated with adherens junction remodeling and actin polymerization. Kinases such as protein kinase C iota type (PRKCI), mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 (MAP3K1), tyrosine‐protein kinase BAZ1B (BAZ1B) and STE20 like kinase (SLK) were found to be hyperphosphorylated. Our study provides novel insights into signaling perturbations associated with chronic arsenic exposure in human skin keratinocytes. All MS/MS data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD004868.     

Flow due to a porous stretching/shrinking sheet with thermal radiation and mass transpiration

This study investigates the behavior of carbon nanotubes (CNT) approaching an unsteady flow of a Newtonian fluid over a stagnation point on a stretching surface employing porous media. It flows when the liquid begins to move with the progression of time. Heat exchange with the environment has an impact on the flow. The implicitly limited component technique is used to solve the nondimensional partial differential equation with an associated boundary layer, which is an unstable system. Analytically, the solutions, as well as the required boundary conditions, are obtained. The effects of mass transpiration, volume fraction, and heat radiation on Newtonian fluid flow through porous media are explored. Single- and multi-walled CNTs are used as well as water, as base fluids in the experiment. The impact of thermal radiation and heat source/sink is shown in the energy equation, which is solved under four different cases: uniform heat flux case, constant wall temperature case, general power-law wall heat flux case, and general power-law wall temperature case. By supplying distinct physical characteristics, a theoretical analysis of the existence and nonexistence of unique and dual solutions may be explored. These physical parameters determine the velocity distribution and temperature distribution. Prescribed surface temperature (PST) and prescribed wall heat flux (PHF) heat transfer solutions can be written using confluent hypergeometric equations, and generic power-law PST and PHF situations can also be expressed using confluent hypergeometric equations. The graphical representations assist in the discussion of the current study's findings.