Radiation pasteurised oil palm empty fruit bunch fermented with Pleurotus sajor-caju as feed supplement to ruminants

In solid state fermentation, Pleurotus sajor-caju has been found to be able to degrade at least 30% oil palm empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) fibre leaving 70 % useful materials. Conditions under which fermentation carried out were investigated. It was found that, in the temperature range between 25– 28 °C, relative ph between 6–8, moisture between 60–70 % and medium composition of CaCO₃: rice bran 2 %: 5 % were the optimum conditions. The results showed in fermented products that, there were substantial reduction in cellulosic component such as Crude Fiber (CF, 18 %); Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF, 45 %), Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF, 61 %) and Acid Detergent Lignin (ADL, 14 %). However, Crude Protein (CP, 10%) increased resulted from single cell protein enrichment of mycelial microbial mass. The mass reductions of substrate in fermentation process corresponds to the CO₂ released during fermentation. Hence, attributable to the decreased in content of CF, ADF, NDF, and ADL. The digestibility study has also been carried out to determine the useful level of this product to ruminant. Aflatoxin content was detected low in both the initial substrates and products. Based on nutritional value and low content of aflatoxin, the product is useful as a source of roughage to ruminant.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of trivalent amino acid derived chiral phosphorus compounds

Reaction of the N-toluenesulfonyl derivatives of (S)-alanine, phenylalanine, and valine (4-6) with PhPCl(2) gave in high yield the 4-methyl, benzyl, and isopropyl derivatives (7-9) of 2-phenyl-1-p-toluenesulfonyl-1,3,2-oxazaphospholidin-5-one. The ratios of the (2S,4S)/(2R,4S) diastereomers (cis/trans isomers) were 1:1, 2:1, and 10:1 for the methyl, benzyl, and isopropyl derivatives 7a,b, 8a,b, and 9a,b, respectively. For 7a,b, both isomers could be crystallized, but for the others only the major isomers were isolable. The X-ray crystal structure of 9a shows that the isopropyl and phenyl groups are mutually cis and that the tolyl moiety is oriented s-trans to both the isopropyl and phenyl groups. Reaction of 6 with Cl(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PCl(2) (10) gave a 56:38:7 mixture of the cis/cis, cis/trans, and trans/trans diphosphorus heterocycles 11a-c. The major isomer could be crystallized and isolated free of the other diastereomers. Reaction of 6 with EtPCl(2) gave a 6:1 mixture of cis/trans isomers of the ethyl-substituted heterocycles 12a,b as an inseparable oil but allowed confirmation of the structure of 11a. Slow epimerization at phosphorus may occur by inversion but more likely by ring opening/closure, since 7b, 9a, and 11a give rise upon standing in solution to mixtures containing starting material and 7a, 9b, and 11b, respectively, along with the free amino acid derivatives 4 and 6. The NMR spectra, and in particular the coupling constants between the alpha-hydrogen atom of the amino acid moiety and phosphorus, were used to establish the identities of the cis and trans isomers. Reaction of 9a with (THF)W(CO)(5) gave the phosphorus-ligated adduct (9a)W(CO)(5) (13), and the IR spectrum of this complex shows that 9a is a strongly electron-withdrawing ligand. The geometry of the sulfonamide moiety is discussed in detail, as are the (1)H NMR coupling constants. The data are consistent with the presence of little steric interaction between the cis isopropyl and phosphorus substituent in 9a, 11a, and 12a and orientation of the tolyl moiety s-cis to the isopropyl group in 9b, 12b, and 13.     

[N2]*2-N2分子二聚物的发射谱和受激辐射特性

理论上通过从头算法计算与理论分析证明存在D_2h群对称性的[N₂]₂即N₂分子二聚物，且存在电偶极允许的类准分子跃迁a¹B_2g→a¹B_3u. 理论计算获得的a¹B_2g→a¹B_3u跃迁的发射谱与实验观测到的结果很好地吻合. 利用微波激励高纯氮和放大自发辐射法研究了N₂分子二聚物的受激辐射特性，实验研究结果表明，当微波功率大于100 W，充入N2气压在260~2200 Pa范围内N₂分子二聚物在336.21 nm处存在受激辐射特性.     

Predictive accuracy determination applied to a linear model phosphorus loading resulting from urban runoff

A case study of the application of an iterative technique for determination of predictive accuracy is presented. The method uses Monte Carlo simulations and split sampling techniques to verify model accuracy. Examination of the ability of a linear parametric runoff loading model's ability to project total phosphorus loadings reveals the sensitivity of the model to calibration procedures. Predictive reliability was found to vary widely as the number of rainfall events considered in the calibration process changed. Predictive reliability was substantially increased by imposing calibration constraints which ensured that a wide distribution of values of the independent variable were presented in the calibration pool.Although the linear model is theoretically weak in its representation of the runoff loading phenomenon, it displays relatively stable predictive capabilities which warrant its consideration for use in management studies. The predictive errors associated with loading projections limit the linear model's value to applications insensitive to errors in the loading projections for individual storm events. This study provides further evidence of the need to consider uncertainties associated with the modelling of water quality phenomena.     

Methylamine interaction with proteins of photosystem II: A comparison with biogenic polyamines

Biogenic polyamines are essential for cell growth and differentiation. The interaction of polyamines with protein of photosystem II (PSII) are well investigated, while there has been no report on the effect of monoamines complexation on photosynthetic oxygen evolution. This study was designed to investigate the interaction of methylamine with proteins of PSII, using PSII-enriched submembrane fractions with various concentrations of methylamine. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) and fluorescence spectroscopic methods were used in order to determine the methylamine binding mode, the protein conformational changes, and the effect of amine interaction on photosynthetic oxygen evolution. Spectroscopic evidence showed that methylamine interacts with protein (H-bonding) through polypeptide CO, C–N and NH groups with major perturbations of protein secondary structure. Major reduction of α-helix from 50% (free PSII) to 35% with an increase of β-sheet from 10% (free PSII) to 16% was observed in methylamine-PSII complexes. At very low methylamine concentration, no inhibition of oxygen-evolution occurred, while at higher amine content (12 mM), 100% inhibition was observed. Chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence measurements indicated the inhibition mainly affects the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) of PSII. Comparisons of the effects of methylamine with biogenic polyamine spermine, spermidine and putrescine showed a similar mode of binding with protein (H-bonding) through polypeptide CO, C–N and NH groups. However, major alterations of the protein secondary structure are induced by monoamine and not by polyamines.     

Thermal degradation behaviour of radiation grafted FEP-g-polystyrene sulfonic acid membranes

The thermal degradation behaviour and the gaseous products of FEP-g-polystyrene sulfonic acid membranes prepared by radiation-induced grafting of styrene onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP) films and the subsequent sulfonation were studied using thermal gravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (TGA/FTIR). The membranes were found to have a three-step degradation behaviour due to water removal, elimination of sulfonic acid groups and decomposition of the FEP matrix. The evolving gaseous products were identified using FTIR analysis. The degree of grafting was found to have a strong effect on the weight loss in the membranes, whilst the degradation temperatures of the individual membrane components were shown to be independent of the degree of grafting.     

CFD analysis of an oscillating wing at various reduced frequencies

The effect of various reduced frequencies has been examined for an oscillating aspect ratio 10 NACA 0015 wing. An unsteady, compressible three‐dimensional (3D) Navier–Stokes code based on Beam and Warming algorithm with the Baldwin–Lomax turbulence model has been used. The code is validated for the study against published experimental data. The 3D unsteady flow field is simulated for reduced frequency values of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 for a fixed mean angle of attack position and fixed amplitude. The type of motion is sinusoidal harmonic. The force coefficients, pressure distributions and flow visualization show that at the given conditions the flow remains attached to the wing surface even at high angles of attack with no clear separation or typical light‐to‐deep category of dynamic stall. Increased magnitude of hysteresis and higher gradients are seen at higher reduced frequencies. The 3D effects are even found at midspan locations. In addition, the rate of decrease in lift near the wing tips compared with the wing root is not much like in the static cases. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microdetermination of Xanthates

Summary A rapid, convenient and accurate method for the determination of xanthates has been developed. N-bromosuccinimide has been used to displace iodine from potassium iodide which in turn oxidizes xanthate to dixanthogen. The p_H 4 is optimum for the determination. The maximum relative standard deviation is 6% in the case of ethyl potassium xanthate when a 0.5 mg sample was taken.

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Zusammenfassung Ein genaues Verfahren zur raschen Bestimmung von Xanthat wurde entwickelt. N-Bromsuccinimid dient zur Freisetzung von Jod aus KJ; Jod oxydiert Xanthat zu Dixanthogen. Das optimale p_H für die Bestimmung ist 4. Die größte relative Standardabweichung ist 6% bei einer Einwaage von 0,5 mg Kaliumäthylxanthat.

     

Transport of kaolinite colloids through quartz sand: influence of humic acid, Ca(2+), and trace metals

To evaluate the risk of contaminant transport by mobile colloids, it seems essential to understand how colloids and associated pollutants behave during their migration through uncontaminated soil or groundwater. In this study, we investigated at pH 4 the influence of flow velocity, humic acid, solution Ca(2+) concentrations, and trace metals (Pb(2+), Cu(2+)) on the transport and deposition of kaolinite particles through a pure crystalline quartz sand as porous medium. A short-pulse chromatographic technique was used to measure colloid deposition. Adsorption of humic acid to the kaolinite increase its negative surface charge and then decrease colloid deposition. Experiments with different flow rates showed that humic-coated kaolinite colloid deposition followed a first-order kinetic rate law. The deposition rate coefficients of humic-coated kaolinite colloids increase with increasing Ca(2+) concentration in the suspension. The effect of trace metals on the mobility is studied by injecting two suspensions with different concentrations of Pb(2+) and Cu(2+). At very low cation concentration, the fraction of colloids retained is low and roughly independent of the nature of divalent cations. At high concentration, the deposition is higher and depends on the affinity of divalent cations toward humic-coated kaolinite colloids.     

Characterization of Fatty Acids,Polysaccharides, Amino Acids,and Minerals in Marine Macroalga Chaetomorpha crassa and Evaluation of Their Potentials in Skin Cosmetics

Cosmetic industries are highly committed to finding natural sources of functional active constituents preferable to safer materials to meet consumers’ demands. Marine macroalgae have diversified bioactive constituents and possess potential benefits in beauty care products. Hence, the present study was carried out to characterize the biochemical profile of marine macroalga Chaetomorpha crassa by using different techniques for revealing its cosmetic potentials. In results, the FTIR study characterized the presence of different bioactive functional groups that are responsible for many skin-beneficial compounds whereas six and fifteen different important phycocompounds were found in GCMS analysis of ethanolic and methanolic extracts, respectively. In the saccharide profile of C. crassa, a total of eight different carbohydrate derivatives were determined by the HRLCMS Q-TOF technique, which showed wide varieties of cosmetic interest. In ICP AES analysis, Si was found to be highest whereas Cu was found to be lowest among other elements. A total of twenty-one amino acids were measured by the HRLCMS-QTOF technique, which revealed the highest amount of the amino acid, Aspartic acid (1207.45 nmol/mL) and tyrosine (106.77 nmol/mL) was found to be the lowest in amount among other amino acids. Their cosmetic potentials have been studied based on previous research studies. The incorporation of seaweed-based bioactive components in cosmetics has been extensively growing due to its skin health-promoting effects.