Effect of enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins on growth of Bifidobacterium bifidus in milk

The effect of enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins in milk using neutrase on the growth of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium bifidus was evaluated by estimation of microbial growth, acidity, viscosity and flavour production. A significant increase in the growth of B bifidus was observed in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk. The setting time of bifidus‐cultured milk was advanced by about 12 h at 5% degree of hydrolysis. Enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins prior to cultivation also significantly increased the viscosity of the product. An approximately 60% increase in viscosity of the product was observed in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk. Production of steam‐volatile monocarbonyls as an indication of development of flavour was also higher in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk. The concentration of steam‐volatile monocarbonyls was 2.47 µmol per 100 ml in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk but only 1.84 µmol per 100 ml in control milk at the setting point of the curd. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

DEPOSITIONAL AND DIAGENETIC HISTORY OF THE KERENDAN CARBONATE PLATFORM, OLIGOCENE, CENTRAL KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA

The Kerendan carbonate platform (Oligocene Berai Limestone) covers a subsurface area measuring approximately 11 by 16 km in the westernmost Kutei Basin, Central Kalimantan. Aggradation of the Kerendan platform occurred during a major Oligocene transgression, and is contemporaneous with aggradation and backstepping of the Barito shelf margin which was located approximately 30 km to the south. The Kerendan platform is approximately 1,000 m thick, and comprises three aggrading seismic sequences identified by the downlap of basinal strata at the platform margin and downlap of transgressive strata within the platform. Carbonate deposition started in the Late Eocene, and ended when the upper limestone sequence drowned and was covered with shale in the Late Oligocene (approximately 28.6 Ma). Three depositional areas can be distinguished in seismic sections: (1) a platform interior (lagoon); (2) a slightly raised platform rim (1–2 km wide); and (3) a basinward‐dipping platform margin and slope. The margin of the platform is identified by inflections on the seismic profiles where the relatively flat platform top begins to slope basinward. Depositional models from outcrops combined with core from three Kerendan wells were used to extrapolate depositional facies onto the seismically‐defined platform. Platform‐interior (lagoon) facies consist largely of fossiliferous wackestones and packstones, and porosities are generally lower than 5%. The platform rim is characterized by interbedded bioclastic wackestones, packstones, grainstones and boundstones, with grainstones increasing toward the platform margin. Porosity preferentially occurs in packstones, grainstones and boundstones. The platform‐rim deposits have greater porosity (5–13%) than the platform interior because the platform run is more grainstone‐rich, and because acidic waters compacting out of basinal shales concentrated dissolution near the platform margin. Pore types include vuggy porosity, microporosity within grains, and intercrystalline porosity in dolomite in the upper part of the platform rim. Different pore types have resulted in variable but locally very high permeabilities (greater than 100 mD). Permeabilities decrease with depth as vuggy pores decrease, and microporosity becomes dominant.     

微波处理对离体黄瓜子叶生根和根活力的影响

用辐射功率200W微波（2450MHz）处理6～16，明显促进离体黄瓜子叶生根．根长和根鲜重增加。不同辐射强度和辐服时间对离体黄瓜子叶生根有不同影响。用TTC法测定，微波处理后与根活力相关的OD值比对照体增加了。用温箱模拟FISO微波炉功率为200W的温度，不同处理时间处理离体黄瓜子叶，没有发现促进生根。说明在一定条件下，微波辐射处理离体黄瓜子叶促进生根．主要是微波的辐射效应。     

Conductivity study of polyethylene oxide (PEO) complexed with sodium bicarbonate

Ion conducting thin film polymer electrolytes based on polyethylene oxide (PEO) complexed with NaHCO₃ salt has been prepared using solution-cast technique. The complexation of NaHCO₃ salt with PEO is confirmed by XRD and IR studies. DC conductivity in the temperature range 303–368 K has been evaluated. The conductivity is found to increase in the PEO complex with the NaHCO₃ salt and also with an increase in temperature. Using this polymer electrolyte, an electrochemical cell with the configuration Na/(PEO + NaHCO₃)/(I₂ + C + electrolyte) has been fabricated and its discharge characteristics studied. Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) and Short Circuit Current (SCC) are found to be 2.69 V and 1.28 mA, respectively. Other parameters associated with the cell are evaluated and presented in this paper.     

Curcumin Prevents Cerebellar Hypoplasia and Restores the Behavior in Hyperbilirubinemic Gunn Rat by a Pleiotropic Effect on the Molecular Effectors of Brain Damage

Bilirubin toxicity to the central nervous system (CNS) is responsible for severe and permanent neurologic damage, resulting in hearing loss, cognitive, and movement impairment. Timely and effective management of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia by phototherapy or exchange transfusion is crucial for avoiding permanent neurological consequences, but these therapies are not always possible, particularly in low-income countries. To explore alternative options, we investigated a pharmaceutical approach focused on protecting the CNS from pigment toxicity, independently from serum bilirubin level. To this goal, we tested the ability of curcumin, a nutraceutical already used with relevant results in animal models as well as in clinics in other diseases, in the Gunn rat, the spontaneous model of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Curcumin treatment fully abolished the landmark cerebellar hypoplasia of Gunn rat, restoring the histological features, and reverting the behavioral abnormalities present in the hyperbilirubinemic rat. The protection was mediated by a multi-target action on the main bilirubin-induced pathological mechanism ongoing CNS damage (inflammation, redox imbalance, and glutamate neurotoxicity). If confirmed by independent studies, the result suggests the potential of curcumin as an alternative/complementary approach to bilirubin-induced brain damage in the clinical scenario.     

Artificial Intelligence System Approach for Optimization of Drilling Parameters of Glass-Carbon Fiber/Polymer Composites

Silicon - In recent times, the study on machining characteristics of combined (hybrid) fiber polymer composites has drawn a remarkable research attention because of its emerging industrial...     

Sorption,diffusion, and swelling characteristics of sodium alginate and its blend membranes with poly(vinyl alcohol) in water–acetic acid mixtures

Sorption, diffusion, and swelling characteristics of sodium alginate and its blend membranes with poly(vinyl alcohol) were investigated for water–acetic acid mixtures by using a gravimetric method at 30, 40, and 50°C. The membranes were characterized by X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared techniques. Concentration‐independent diffusion coefficients were obtained by applying Fick's relationship before completion of equilibrium sorption. Permeation coefficients were calculated from sorption and diffusion coefficients. Concentration profiles of liquids were computed considering the sheet geometry for the membrane by solving Fick's equation under suitable boundary conditions. Arrhenius activation parameters were computed for the transport processes. Experimental results and calculated quantities were discussed to understand membrane–solvent interactions. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 1139–1150, 2004     

TURBULENT FLOW IN A PIPE WITH INTERMITTENT ROUGH PATCHES: AN ANALOGUE OF ANNULAR TWO-PHASE FLOW

The response of turbulent pipe flow to sudden changes in wall roughness and flow cross-sectional area has been studied experimentally and numerically. Changes typical of those encountered by the gas phase in annular gas-liquid flow have been considered. The results show that the flow field and the pressure field can be significantly distorted at these transitions. Good agreement has been obtained between the measured results and those calculated using the Harwell-FLOW3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code.