Influence of annealing on the optical properties of 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H, 23H-porphine iron (III) chloride thin films

Optical constants (refractive index, n, and absorption index, k) of the as-deposited and annealed films of 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H, 23H-porphine iron (III) chloride (FeTPPCl) have been obtained in the wavelength range 190–2500 nm by using spectrophotometric measurements. The obtained optical constants were used to estimate the type of transition for the as-deposited and annealed films. We present a single oscillator model that describes the dispersion of refractive index. Drude model of free carriers absorption have been described for the analysis the dispersion of refractive index dispersion before and after annealing.     

Electrophoretic patterns and thin-layer chromatography of common cheeses in Egypt: Comparison and quantification

The extent of cheese ripening and the type of proteolysis and lipolysis of common cheeses in Egypt were measured by concentration of each of soluble tyrosine; soluble trypophan; amino N; soluble N/total N; total volatile fatty acids and free fatty acids, and by quantitative gel electrophoresis and thin-layer chromatography. The effects of concentration-related factors (e.g. moisture, salt and pH) on cheese protein and fat hydrolysis were also studied.

The results showed that, as a heterogeneous group of cheese, differences were marked in gross chemical composition and both the extent of cheese ripening and the relative proportions of protein, fat and their degradation products. Among the selected cheeses, ras cheese has higher values of ripening indices, while kariesh cheese has lower values. Increasing the salt content of mish cheese caused an inhibition in degradation of its protein and fat.

The principal protein regions in electrophoretic patterns and fractions of fat in TLC patterns were similar in number and relative mobility. In most of the cheeses, _s-casein was degraded more extensively than β-casein, while the whole of the γ-caseins were resistant to further hydrolysis. Also, there was close correlation between _s-casein and its degradation products. In spite of the absence of significant relationships between the soluble nitrogen and the relative amounts of unattached _s-, β-, and γ-caseins, the amino nitrogen and soluble tyrosine and tryptophan were in close correlation with _s- and β-caseins and their degradation products.

A positive relationship was noted between pH (from 4·40 to 5·85) and both protein and fat hydrolysis. The fat of roquefort cheese was more hydrolysed than other cheeses; however, the fat of the soft cheeses was less hydrolysed. Moreover, negative and highly significant correlations between triglycerides and their degradation by both TLC and chemical analysis were obtained.     

Acceleration of Cheddar Cheese Lipolysis by Using Liposome-entrapped Lipases

ABSTRACT: Two types of lipase (Palatase M and Lipase 50) were encapsulated in liposomes with trapping efficiencies of 35.9 and 40.3%, respectively. The lipases were incorporated into cheese milk at levels of 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 lipase units/g fat. Treated cheeses had higher moisture and lower protein, fat, and ash contents than the control cheese and they were less firm, but more elastic and cohesive, than the control cheese. Production of free fatty acids was accelerated by the addition of encapsulated enzymes. Cheeses with up to 0.5 lipase unit/g milk fat had slightly better flavor intensities than control cheese. Cheeses with the highest level of Palatase M and Lipase 50 developed a pronounced soapy off-flavor after 2 and 3 mo of ripening, respectively.     

Surface and Biological Activity of Some Prepared Iminium Surfactants Based on Schiff Bases

A series of novel iminium surfactants were prepared through quaternization of different prepared fatty Schiff bases with benzyl chloride. The chemical structures were confirmed using FTIR, ¹H-NMR and mass spectroscopy. The surface properties and biological activity of these surfactants were investigated. The surface parameters including critical micelle concentration (CMC), maximum surface excess (Γ_max) and minimum surface area (A _min), Efficiency (PC₂₀) and Effectiveness (π_CMC) as well as the free energy of micellization ( $ \Updelta G_{\text{mic}}^{\text{o}} $ ) and adsorption ( $ \Updelta G_{\text{ads}}^{\text{o}} $ ) were calculated. It was found that the prepared compounds have good surface and biological activity.     

Novel Imidazolium-Based Gemini Surfactants: Synthesis, Surface Properties, Corrosion Inhibition and Biocidal Activity Against Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria

Three novel imidazolium-based gemini surfactants had been synthesized and characterized using different spectroscopic techniques. The surface properties of the synthesized surfactants were determined using surface tension measurements at 20 °C. The surface parameters including critical micelle concentration (CMC), π _CMC, Pc₂₀, Γ_max and A _min were determined. The synthesized compounds were evaluated as corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in 0.5 M HCl solution using the weight loss and polarization techniques. The biological activity of these surfactants was evaluated against sulfate reducing bacteria using most probable number method. The results indicate that the synthesized compounds have good surface properties and are proper corrosion inhibitors for low carbon steel, with a high inhibition efficiency observed around their CMC. These compounds exhibit a significant biocidal activity against sulfate reducing bacteria.     

Poly(o-phenylenediamine) as an inhibitor of mild steel corrosion in HCl solution

The inhibition properties of the electro-prepared P(o-phenylenediamine), P(oPD), on the corrosion rate of mild steel (MS) in HCl solutions have been investigated under different experimental conditions using weight loss and potentiodynamic polarization techniques. The data obtained from the two techniques are comparable and showed that the presence of P(oPD) in the acid solutions suppresses the corrosion rate of MS indicating that the polymer acts as corrosion inhibitor. The inhibition efficiency (IE%) of the polymer enhances with increasing its concentration and decreases with an increase in temperature. The inhibition occurs through adsorption and formation of barrier film on the metal surface which separates the metal from direct contact with the corrosive medium and hence protects the metal against the corrosion. Langmuir isotherm fits well with the experimental data. Thermodynamic parameters for both dissolution and adsorption processes were determined.     

Ferrocene-Based Cationic Surfactants: Surface and Antimicrobial Properties

A novel series of ferrocenyl surfactants was synthesized by the reaction of ferrocene disulfonic acid with different primary and tertiary fatty amines to produce the corresponding ammonium salts Fc[SO₃ ^{− +}NH₃(CH₂) _n CH₃]₂, where n = 9, 11, or 15 and Fc[SO₃^{− +}NH(CH₃)₂(CH₂) _n CH₃]₂, where n = 7 or 11, respectively, and where Fc = ferrocene. Chemical structures were confirmed by microelemental analysis, FTIR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The critical micelle concentration of each prepared surfactant was determined using equilibrium surface tension. Furthermore, air/water interface parameters including effectiveness (π _CMC), efficiency (Pc₂₀), maximum surface excess (Г_max), and minimum surface area (A _min) were determined at 30, 40, and 50 °C. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔS°, and ΔH°) for both micellization and adsorption processes were recorded. The new synthesized surfactants were screened as antimicrobial agents against different bacterial and fungal organisms.     

Prevalence of aflatoxins in blood and urine of Egyptian infants with protein-energy malnutrition

The aim of the present work was to study the presence of aflatoxins in blood and urine of infants with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). The study was conducted on 60 infants, 30 with kwashiorkor and 30 with marasmus, with 10 age-matched healthy infants studied as a control group. Complete blood count, liver function tests, and determination of the level of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2, M1, M2, G2a, B3, GM1, P, and aflatoxicol R0) in blood and urine were carried out in all studied infants. Serum aflatoxins were detected in more infants with kwashiorkor (80%) than in those with marasmus (46.7%). The mean serum levels of total aflatoxins, AFB1, AFG1, and AFB2a, were significantly higher in infants with kwashiorkor (p <.001). Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was the most commonly detected type. The prevalence of aflatoxin excretion in the urine of infants with kwashiorkor was 80%, a higher value than that in infants with marasmus (46.7%). The mean urinary concentration of total aflatoxins followed the same pattern of distribution (p < .052). There were no significant differences between groups in the mean urinary concentrations of AFB1, AFG1, AFB2a, AFM1, and AFG2a. Aflatoxins were not detected in any of the serum or urine samples of the control group. Aflatoxins are highly prevalent in this study population and show a high degree of correlation with severe PEM.