The Quality of Infrared Rotary Dried Terebinth (Pistacia atlantica L.)-Optimization and Prediction Approach Using Response Surface Methodology

Most agricultural products are harvested with a moisture content that is not suitable for storage. Therefore, the products are subjected to a drying process to prevent spoilage. This study evaluates an infrared rotary dryer (IRRD) with three levels of infrared power (250, 500, and 750 W) and three levels of rotation speed (5, 10, and 15 rpm) to dry terebinth. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to illustrate and optimize the interaction between the independent variables (infrared power and rotation speed) and the response variables (drying time, moisture diffusivity, shrinkage, color change, rehydration rate, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity). As infrared power and rotation speed increased, drying time, rehydration rate, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic content decreased, while the other parameters were increased. According to the results, the optimum drying conditions of terebinth were determined in the IRRD at an infrared power of 250 W and drum rotation speed of 5 rpm. The optimum values of the response variables were 49.5 min for drying time, 8.27 × 10⁻⁹ m²/s for effective moisture diffusivity, 2.26 for lightness, 21.60 for total color changes, 34.75% for shrinkage, 2.4 for rehydration rate, 124.76 mg GAE/g d.m. for total phenolic content and 81% for antioxidant activity.     

On eigenvalues of Seidel matrices and Haemers’ conjecture

For a graph G, let S(G) be the Seidel matrix of G and \({\theta }_1(G),\ldots ,{\theta }_n(G)\) be the eigenvalues of S(G). The Seidel energy of G is defined as \(|{\theta }_1(G)|+\cdots +|{\theta }_n(G)|\). Willem Haemers conjectured that the Seidel energy of any graph with n vertices is at least \(2n-2\), the Seidel energy of the complete graph with n vertices. Motivated by this conjecture, we prove that for any \(\alpha \) with \(0<\alpha <2,|{\theta }_1(G)|^\alpha +\cdots +|{\theta }_n(G)|^\alpha \geqslant (n-1)^\alpha +n-1\) if and only if \(|\hbox {det}\,S(G)|\geqslant n-1\). This, in particular, implies the Haemers’ conjecture for all graphs G with \(|\hbox {det}\,S(G)|\geqslant n-1\). A computation on the fraction of graphs with \(|\hbox {det}\,S(G)|<n-1\) is reported. Motivated by that, we conjecture that almost all graphs G of order n satisfy \(|\hbox {det}\,S(G)|\geqslant n-1\). In connection with this conjecture, we note that almost all graphs of order n have a Seidel energy of order \(\Theta (n^{3/2})\). Finally, we prove that self-complementary graphs G of order \(n\equiv 1\pmod 4\) have \(\det S(G)=0\).     

K-shell single-electron capture in collision of fast protons with multi-electron atoms

Single-electron capture from the K shell of atomic targets by impact of protons at moderate and high energies has been studied using a first-order three-body Coulomb-Born continuum distorted wave approximation. The applied formalism satisfies the correct Coulomb boundary conditions. Single-zeta Roothaan-Hartree-Fock wave functions are used to describe the initial electronic bound state of the exchanged electron. Both differential and integral capture cross sections are calculated for impact of protons on carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, neon and argon atoms. The results are compared with the available measurements and other theories. The agreement between the calculations and experimental data is remarkable.     

Determination of ochratoxin A in grains by immuno-ultrafiltration and HPLC-fluorescence detection after postcolumn derivatisation in an electrochemical cell

The paper presents a new sample clean-up method based on immuno-ultrafiltration for the analysis of ochratoxin A in cereals. In contrast to immunoaffinity chromatography, in immuno-ultrafiltration, the antibodies are used in non-immobilised form. Ochratoxin A was extracted with ACN/water (60/40, v/v), and the extract was loaded onto the ultrafiltration device. After a washing step with phosphate-buffered saline, containing 0.05% Tween 20, ochratoxin A was eluted with MeOH/acetic acid (99/1, v/v). The detection of ochratoxin A was carried out with high-performance liquid chromatography and a fluorescence detector coupled to an electrochemical cell (Coring cell). The electrochemical cell was used to eliminate matrix interferences by oxidising matrix compounds. The method was validated by repeatedly analysing spiked barley and rye samples as well as a certified wheat reference material. Recoveries and standard deviations (1 SD) were found to be 71 ± 9%, 77 ± 12% and 77 ± 8% in wheat, barley and rye, respectively. The limit of detection (S/N = 3) and limit of quantitation (S/N = 10) were determined to be 0.4 μg kg^-1 and 1 μg kg^-1. The analysis of the certified reference material resulted in ochratoxin A concentrations which were in the range assigned by the producer. Additionally, the effect of the electrochemical cell on other widely used clean-up techniques, namely the immunoaffinity clean-up and multifunctional columns (Mycosep #229), was evaluated. In all clean-up methods, an improvement of the chromatogram quality was registered.     

Weak module amenability of triangular Banach algebras

Let A and B be unital Banach algebras and let M be a unital Banach A,B-module. Forrest and Marcoux [6] have studied the weak amenability of triangular Banach algebra \(\mathcal{T} = \left[ {_B^{AM} } \right]\) and showed that T is weakly amenable if and only if the corner algebras A and B are weakly amenable. When \(\mathfrak{A}\) is a Banach algebra and A and B are Banach \(\mathfrak{A}\)-module with compatible actions, and M is a commutative left Banach \(\mathfrak{A}\)-A-module and right Banach \(\mathfrak{A}\)-B-module, we show that A and B are weakly \(\mathfrak{A}\)-module amenable if and only if triangular Banach algebra T is weakly \(\mathfrak{T}\)-module amenable, where \(\mathfrak{T}: = \{ [^\alpha _\alpha ]:\alpha \in \mathfrak{A}\} \).     

Sol-gel immunoaffinity chromatography for the clean up of ochratoxin A contaminated grains

This paper describes the application of sol-gel immunoaffinity columns for clean up of ochratoxin A contaminated cereal crops. Monoclonal antibodies selective for OTA have been entrapped into the pores of a sol-gel matrix in order to prepare immunoaffinity columns. Different parameters such as amount of entrapped antibodies and loading conditions were optimized to obtain highest possible recoveries of OTA. The method has been found to be a suitable tool in sample preparation prior to HPLC-FLD determination and as selective as conventional commercially available immunoaffinity columns. In the clean up of different cereals mean recoveries of 82±5%, 90±6% and 91±3%, were obtained for wheat, barley and rye, respectively, with sol-gel columns containing 1mg of anti-OTA antibodies. The detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio, 3) was 0.5 μg/kg and the limit of quantification (signal-to-noise ratio, 10) determined to be 1 μg/kg. Sol-gel columns can be reused 7 times without significant loss of recovery. After 10 applications the recovery decreased to approx. 50%.     

Isocyanide-based multicomponent reactions: synthesis of 3,3-dicyano-N-alkyl-2-arylpropanamide derivatives

A new isocyanide-based multicomponent reaction between an aromatic aldehyde, malononitrile, an isocyanide, and acetic acid efficiently provides 3,3-dicyano-N-alkyl-2-arylpropanamide derivatives in excellent yields in ethanol at 70 °C. This reaction led to the construction of two carbon-carbon bonds and one amide group in a single synthetic step.     

Mesoporous silica SBA-15 modified with copper as an efficient NO2 adsorbent at ambient conditions

Copper oxide particles were synthesized by precipitation in sodium hydroxide and dispersed simultaneously in mesoporous SBA-15 silica. The materials were then submitted to thermal treatment under nitrogen at different temperatures. They were tested as novel NO(2) adsorbents in dynamic condition at room temperature. The surface of the initial and exhausted materials was characterized using N(2) adsorption, XRD, TEM, thermal analysis and FT-IR. The addition of Cu(2)O particles leads to a significant increase in the NO(2) adsorption capacity. However, no trend between the NO(2) capacity and the temperature of the thermal treatment of the materials has been observed. The amount of NO released during the NO(2) adsorption was found to be lower on the materials submitted to a low temperature treatment. On these materials, the formation of copper nitrites is favored, whereas on materials treated at higher temperature, copper nitrates are formed as a predominant species. The results suggest that silanol groups of the silica matrix play an important role in NO(2) adsorption and NO retention at room temperature.