Effect of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) Supplementation on Physical and Chemical Properties of Semolina (Triticum durum) Based Fresh Pasta

Taking into account that many advantages have been associated with the consumption of spirulina (microalgae) in terms of antioxidant capacity, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging activities, the study focuses on spirulina supplementation of semolina-based pasta. Fresh pasta was prepared by mixing semolina flour (Triticum durum) with an addition of 3, 5, 7, and 10% (w/w) of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) powder. Physicochemical and nutritional analyses were done on raw materials, and on fresh pasta before and after cooking. Sensorial analysis was done shortly after cooking pastas. Spirulina had a high content of protein (71.34%), with all the essential amino acids, a high total fiber (8.45%), as well as ash content (5.93%), which significantly increased the nutritional value of the obtained fresh pasta. Supplemented pastas have a significantly better amino acid profile and higher total fiber content (up to 2.99 g/100 g d.m.) than the control sample. Moreover, the addition of spirulina had a significant effect on the pasta’s color, weight gain, and cooking loss after being cooked. The addition of spirulina also affected the scores obtained for the individual parameters (texture, color, flavor, taste, and overall acceptability) of the sensory evaluation.     

Calculated ro-vibrational spectrum of 7Li+3 and 7Li2 6Li+

Calculated ro-vibrational energy levels (J ⩽ 4) and transition intensities are presented for the two most abundant isotopomers of Li⁺₃. The calculations use the recent ab initio potential energy surface of Searles et al. (Spectrochim. Acta 43A, 699 (1987); 44A, 505 (1988); 44A, 985 (1988)). The rotational levels of the ground state and vibrational fundamentals are given in terms of parameterised Hamiltonians due to Watson retaining terms to fourth-order. The small splitting of the degenerate ν₂ mode in the mixed isotopomer leads to strong Coriolis coupling between the ν₂ and ν₃ in ⁷Li₂ ⁶Li⁺.     

Fresh Basil Infusion: Effect of Sous-Vide Heat Treatment on Their Volatile Composition Profile,Sensory Profile,and Color

Herbs, including basil, are used to enhance the flavor of food products around the world. Its potential is influenced by the quality of fresh herbs and processing practices, wherein conditions of heat treatment play an important role. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of sous-vide heat treatment on the volatile compounds profile, sensory quality, and color of basil infusions. The material used for research was aqueous basil infusion prepared conventionally at 100 °C, and using the sous-vide method (65, 75, and 85 °C). The composition of volatile compounds was identified by GC/MS analysis, the sensory profile was assessed using a group of trained panelists, while the color was instrumentally assessed in the CIE Lab system. No significant differences were found in the intensity of the taste and aroma of basil infusions at different temperatures. Seventy headspace volatile compounds were identified in the analyzed samples, ten of which exceeded 2% of relative area percentage. The most abundant compounds were eucalyptol (27.1%), trans-ocimene (11.0%), β-linalool (9.2%), and β-myrcene (6.7%). Most of the identified compounds belonged to the terpenes and alcohols groups. Our findings show that the conventional herbal infusion was more like a sous-vide infusion prepared at the lowest temperature SV₆₅, while SV₇₅ and SV₈₅ were similar to each other but different from the conventional. However, a smaller number of volatile compounds in the samples heated at higher temperatures of sous-vide were identified. The sous-vide samples showed a higher content of alkanes. The sous-vide method (p ≤ 0.05) resulted in darker, less green, and less yellow basil leaves than fresh and traditionally steeped ones. Long heat treatment under vacuum at higher temperatures causes a pronounced change in the aroma composition.     

Vibrational (FT-IR and FT-Raman) and NMR studies on selected metal (Ca, Mn, Zn) complexes with ortho-, meta-, and para-iodobenzoic acids

The vibrational (FT-IR and FT-Raman) and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectra of Ca, Mn, and Zn complexes with ortho-, meta-, and para-iodobenzoic acids have been studied. The solid state samples of all complexes have been measured within the range 4000–400 cm⁻¹, while water solutions of ortho-iodobenzoates within the range 4000–800 cm⁻¹. Based on previous experimental data and normal mode calculations for simpler complexes the assignment of bands observed in vibrational spectra of studied compounds has been done. Some significant differences in vibrational structure (frequency and intensity of selected bands) have been observed and discussed. The effect of metal on ring vibrations and carboxylic anion stretching and deformation has been investigated. Also, influence of iodine substitution on the aromatic ring and carboxylic anion, depending on iodine ring position, has been discussed. In case of soluble compounds, wavenumbers of characteristic bands of water solution samples have been compared with wavenumbers of corresponding bands of solid state samples.     

Submonolayer island growth with adatom exchange

Submonolayer epitaxy is studied with two simple theoretical models where adatom exchange with a surface atom yields a stable nucleus for island growth. The results are relevant to systems where surface layer inclusions are formed by alloying and where buried islands are formed in the presence of surfactants. Rate equations and Monte Carlo simulations are used to study the evolution of the island size distributions. The rate equations reproduce all of the qualitative features found in both the simulations and in recent experiments when the coverage-dependent rate of adatom capture by islands is calculated self-consistently.     

Thermodynamics of binary mixtures containing N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone: VLE measurements for systems with ethers—Comparison with the Mod. UNIFAC (Do) and DISQUAC models—Predictions for VLE,GmE, HmE and SLE

Isothermal vapour–liquid equilibrium data, (VLE) have been measured by an ebulliometric method for four binary mixtures of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) with dipropyl ether at T = 353.15 K and T = 373.15 K, or dibutyl ether at T = 373.15 K, or methyl 1,1-dimethylethyl ether (MTBE) at T = 333.15 K, or methyl 1,1-dimethylpropyl ether (MTAE) at T = 353.15 K, in the pressure range from P = 0 kPa to P = 135 kPa.The experimental VLE results have been correlated using a three parameter Redlich–Kister expansion. All these systems present positive deviations from Raoult's law.Binary mixtures of NMP with dipropyl ether, dibutyl ether, MTBE and MTAE have been investigated in the framework of the Modified UNIFAC (Do) and DISQUAC models. The reported new interaction parameters for the NMP-group (NCO) and the ether group (O) give much better results than known from literature predictions of the thermodynamic properties, including vapour–liquid equilibrium, excess molar Gibbs energy, molar excess enthalpies and solid–liquid equilibrium. Our experimental data and literature data for binary mixtures containing NMP and ethers were compared to the results of predictions with the Mod. UNIFAC (Do) and DISQUAC models.     

On the Fourier transform of SO(d)-finite measures on the unit sphere

The paper presents a simple new approach to the problem of computing Fourier transforms of SO(d)-finite measures on the unit sphere in the euclidean space. Representing such measures as restrictions of homogeneous polynomials we use the canonical decomposition of homogeneous polynomials together with the plane wave expansion to derive a formula expressing such transforms under two forms, one of which was established previously by F. J. Gonzalez Vieli. We showthat equivalence of these two forms is related to a certain multi-step recurrence relation for Bessel functions, which encompasses several classical identities satisfied by Bessel functions. We show it leads further to a certain periodicity relation for the Hankel transform, related to the Bochner- Coifman periodicity relation for the Fourier transform. The purported novelty of this approach rests on the systematic use of the detailed form of the canonical decomposition of homogeneous polynomials, which replaces the more traditional approach based on integral identities related to the Funk-Hecke theorem. In fact, in the companion paper the present authors were able to deduce this way a fairly general expansion theorem for zonal functions, which includes the plane wave expansion used here as a special case.Received: 7 May 2004; revised: 11 October 2004     

Stereoselective Synthiesis of Both Enantiomers of Disparlure from D-Glucose

D-Glucose was transformed stereoselectively into (7R,8S)8-benzyloxy-7-hydroxy-2-methyl-9-octadecene from which both enantiomers of disparlure, (7R,8S)-(+)-and (7S,8R)-(-)-7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadecane, sex pheromone of the gypsy moth, were obtained in four and three steps, respectively.