Optimisation of sourdough bread incorporation into wheat bread by response surface methodology: Bioactive and nutritional properties

The optimisation of the quantity of sourdough (A) prepared with two different fermentation methods, [spontaneous fermentation (F1) vs. starter of lactic acid bacteria‐added fermentation (F2)], instant active dry yeast (B) and wheat bran (C) for a nutritionally improved bread formulation has been studied by evaluating the bioavailability and bioactive properties. The bread produced according to the optimised formula and fermentation types of F1 (OB_F1) and F2 (OB_F2) was compared with control bread (CB). The optimised levels for F1 were 11.45% for sourdough, 1.10% for dry yeast and 1.58% for wheat bran and for F2 6.99% for sourdough, 1.02% for dry yeast and 38.84% for wheat bran. The addition of sourdough significantly (P < 0.05) affected antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, in vitro ash and protein digestibility, and enzyme resistance starch contents of bread. The F1 fermentation method was found to be more effective in terms of bread properties examined.     

Performance evaluation of a submerged membrane bioreactor for the treatment of brackish oil and natural gas field produced water

Produced water, which is co-produced during oil and gas manufacturing, represents one of the largest sources of oily wastewaters. Therefore, treatment of this produced water may improve the economic viability and lead to a new source of water for beneficial use. In this study a submerged hollow fiber membrane bioreactor (MBR) has been studied experimentally for the treatment of brackish oil and natural gas field produced water. This type of wastewater is also characterized with relatively moderate to high amount of salt, oil and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). However, the bacteria which are growing in conventional activated sludge and MBR cannot survive at these strict conditions, therefore acclimation of the bacteria is of vital importance. The performance of the biological system, membrane permeability, the rate and extent of TPH biodegradability have been investigated under different sludge age and F/M ratios. The results obtained by gas chromatography analyses showed that the MBR system could be very effective in the removal of TPH from produced water and a significant improvement in the effluent quality was achieved.     

Effects of processing on biochemical and rheological properties of wheat gluten proteins.

Protein solubility increases during mixing at water absorption suitable for bread doughs. The changes that result from heat treatment may be much greater than the differences normally found among wheat varieties. Sheeting brings about a reduction in the gluten content and increase in gel protein content of doughs. This may be due to increase in temperature during sheeting as a result of work input to the dough resulting in protein denaturation. Drying at higher temperatures causes denaturation of pasta dough protein. In addition, it has been shown that high temperatures contribute to the formation of the protein network. During extrusion processing proteins are denatured and chemical bonds are weakened as result of heat and shear through the extruder.     

Seismic microzonation of the historic peninsula of İstanbul

In this study, the geological and geotechnical conditions of old Istanbul (Fatih and Eminönü provinces) were investigated in detail and a seismic microzonation study was undertaken for this historical peninsula, which is the site of many ancient structures. Dynamic site response, liquefaction potential and slope stability analyses were carried out, based on field and laboratory tests and earthquake time histories computed with respect to probabilities of exceedance of 10 and 40% in 50 years. The output data obtained from the analyses were evaluated by GIS techniques, and ground shaking, liquefaction susceptibility and landslide hazard maps were prepared.     

Reliability analysis of the complex mode indicator function and Hilbert Transform techniques for operational modal analysis

This study presents application of the CMIF and the Hilbert Transform techniques onto simulated response data obtained using a numerical model of a typical school building from Turkey. White noise is added to the data in order to achieve a noise to signal ratio of 5%. 100 Monte Carlo analysis sequences are carried out and the modal parameters (the frequencies, the mode shapes and the damping ratios) are identified at each Monte Carlo run for both techniques. The results are compared with the identifications obtained from the simulated data using stochastic subspace based system identification technique. The overall results of the study show that the mode shapes are clearly identified the best by using the CMIF technique. The damping ratios are estimated better by using the stochastic subspace based system identification technique whereas the frequencies are best determined by the CMIF. The results also show that both the CMIF and the Hilbert Transform techniques are sensitive to the type of window used as well as the averaging and the decimation process. It is apparent that the CMIF technique is as robust as the frequently used stochastic subspace based system identification technique and can be confidently used for modal parameter estimation of stiff low to mid rise reinforced concrete structures.     

Automation of the stabilization diagrams for subspace based system identification

For the continuous real-time monitoring of structures, the realization of a fully automatic real time system identification without any human intervention is the most crucial step. In this study, a new technique for the automation of the stability diagrams is developed that uses the modal phase collinearity (MPC) in order to quantify the spatial consistency of the identification results. In the new technique, the stabilization diagram is modeled as a histogram composed of overlapping bins. New strategies for the multiple occurrence of poles in the neighboring bins and double poles within a bin are developed. A new cluster validity index is proposed which can solve the problem caused by the scale of measurements and which can be directly calculated from non-normalized data. The threshold limits are defined for the proposed index. The results of the study show that the automation of the pole selection process from the stabilization diagrams is successfully realized. It is also shown that for local modes, the MPC value will be substantially smaller as compared to the global modes and can be used as a quick, efficient and powerful measure of global versus local response behavior.     

Gap junctional intercellular communication of primary and asbestos-associated malignant human mesothelial cells

We examined gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) of primary human mesothelial cells and cell lines of asbestos-associated human pleural mesotheliomas, and the effect of asbestos and other mineral fibres on these cells. In homologous cultures, the GJIC capacity of six out of seven tumour cell lines was markedly less than for primary mesothelial cells. This defect in GJIC appeared not to be at the expression level of mRNA and protein of the gene encoding the 43 kDa gap junction protein. In heterologous cocultures of tumour cells and primary mesothelial cells, however, 80-90% of the tumour cell/normal cell contacts were functional. Exposure of primary mesothelial cells to TPA, a phorbol ester tumour promoter, resulted in marked inhibition of GJIC, being an action common to numerous tumour promoters. Such an effect though was not observed with the carcinogenic mesothelioma-inducing mineral fibres chrysotile and amosite, neither with glass wool. These results suggest that a permanent defect in GJIC capacity is a common feature of human mesothelioma cells, but how mineral fibres are involved in the process of mesotheliomagenesis is still unclear.     

Various types of suprameatal spines and depressions in the human temporal bone

Since it covers the lateral wall of the mastoid air system, the suprameatal triangle is of importance to otologic surgeons during mastoidectomy. Because of this clinical importance, topographic anatomy of the suprameatal spine and depression was studied on Anatolian skulls. In all, 363 male and 231 female skulls were studied. The most prevalent type of suprameatal spine resembled a crest and was found in both sexes on the right (77.6%) and left (80%) sides. The absence of a suprameatal depression was significantly higher in females (right 9.1%; left 8.7%) than in males (right 1.7%; left 2.5%). Suprameatal depressions were mostly shallow in female subjects, but were mostly observed in males to be at a medium depth or deep.