Monitoring of acrylamide carcinogen in selected heat-treated foods from Saudi Arabia

Food Science and Biotechnology - The present study reports the outcomes of assessment on acrylamide levels in selected heat-treated foods of diverse brands and origins from Saudi Arabia. In chips,...     

Ag2O–Al2O3–ZrO2 Trimetallic Nanocatalyst for High Performance Photodegradation of Nicosulfuron Herbicide

Topics in Catalysis - In the present study, Ag2O–Al2O3–ZrO2 based trimetallic oxide nanocatalyst was designed using simple microwave assisted reduction method. It was characterized...     

Image retrieval based on non-uniform bins of color histogram and dual tree complex wavelet transform

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Traditional Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) systems were developed for retrieving similar kinds of images from a whole image database based on the given...     

Ion Exchange Kinetics of Heavy Metal Ions on Organic–Inorganic Composite Cation Exchanger Poly-o-toluidine Zr(IV) Tungstate

To study the ion exchange kinetics of heavy metal ions on the organic–inorganic composite cation exchanger poly-o-toluidine Zr(IV) tungstate, Nernst–Planck was computer simulated. Simulated numerical results for counter ions (Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) of equal valence and four different ionic mobilities are presented to understand the ionic diffusion process. These results are based on the fractional attainment of equilibrium U(τ), of the counter ions under study. The forward (M²⁺–H⁺) and reverse (H⁺–M²⁺) ion exchange processes are justified as the particle diffusion phenomenon. The self-diffusion coefficient (D _o ), energy of activation (E _a ), and entropy of activation (?S*) have also been estimated to understand the ion exchange process occurring over the surface of this cation exchanger and indicated that the ion exchange process is feasible and spontaneous. It is concluded that the difference in activation energies and entropy of activation may facilitate the separation of metal ions. The regeneration capability of this cation exchanger was also explained.     

Pasting,thermal, gel texture,resistant starch and colour properties of unripe banana flour from 10 desert banana varieties cultivated in South Africa

Unripe banana flour is a potential commercial ingredient in various food products for increased resistant starch and reduced gluten contents. In the present study, the pasting (rapid visco-analysis), gel texture (penetration test), thermal (differential scanning calorimetry), colour (tri-stimulus colour indices) and the resistant starch properties of unripe banana flour produced from different dessert banana varieties (n?=?10) cultivated in South Africa, were analysed and juxtaposed to wheat and maize flour. The functional properties varied significantly (p?≤?0.05) between banana varieties, and from wheat and maize flours, to various extents. Selected functional property ranges of unripe banana, wheat and maize flours, respectively included; flour colour index (63.16–76.42, 77.34 and 80.96), paste viscosity (405.5–556.6, 124.7 and 115.6 RVU), gelatinization temperature (64.67–71.21, 71.11 and 69.95?°C), gel firmness (7.24–11.44?×?10^??2 N, 3.49?×?10^??2 N and 6.56?×?10^??2 N) and resistant starch content (19.9–47.4, 2.8 and 2.2% w/w). Multivariate analysis (principle component analysis) showed that the unripe banana flours from different varieties were distinguished from each other based on the pasting temperature. The unripe banana flours were distinguished from both wheat and maize flour based on breakdown and peak paste viscosities. The breakdown viscosity was the most positively related measure to the resistant starch content with a linear regression R-squared value of 0.898, indicating a significant role played by granule structure in resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis. The present research demonstrates that selection of appropriate dessert banana variety is important when replacing staple flours (wheat and maize) with unripe dessert banana flour as a functional ingredient.     

Study of the antiferromagnetic phase in Sm(Mn1−xCrx)2Ge2

Magnetic and thermal expansion measurements have been carried out on the polycrystalline Sm(Mn_1−xCr_x)₂Ge₂ samples to see how the antiferromagnetie (AFMII) region in SmMn₂Ge₂ is affected by Cr substitution. It is found that the antiferromagnetic region disappears for samples with less than 2 at.% of Cr. Sharp changes in the thermal expansivity (Δl/l) at FMI–AFMII and AFMII–FMII transitions are observed, indicating first order transitions. The decrease in relative thermal expansivity at the two transitions with the increase of Cr concentration is related to the decrease in the stability and the temperature-range of the AFMII phase observed in magnetization measurements. A spin reorientation transition (T_SR) has been observed for x=0, at 148 K. It is found that the T_SR increases with the increase of Cr concentration. A magnetic phase diagram as a function of Cr concentration in Sm(Mn_1−xCr_x)₂Ge₂ has been constructed.     

A new ion-selective electrode based on aluminium tungstate for Fe(III) determination in rock sample, pharmaceutical sample and water sample

An inorganic cation exchanger, aluminum tungstate (AT), has been synthesized by adding 0·1 M sodium tungstate gradually into 0·1 M aluminium nitrate at pH 1·2 with continuous stirring. The ion exchange capacity for Na⁺ ion and distribution coefficients of various metal ions was determined on the column of aluminium tungstate. The distribution studies of various metal ions showed the selectivity of Fe(III) ions by this cation exchange material. So, a Fe(III) ion-selective membrane electrode was prepared by using this cation exchange material as an electroactive material. The effect of plasticizers viz. dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dioctylphthalate (DOP), di-(butyl) butyl phosphate (DBBP) and tris-(2-ethylhexylphosphate) (TEHP), has also been studied on the performance of membrane sensor. It was observed that the membrane containing the composition AT: PVC: DBP in the ratio 2: 20: 15 displayed a useful analytical response with excellent reproducibility, low detection limit, wide working pH range (1–3·5), quick response time (15 s) and applicability over a wide concentration range of Fe(III) ions from 1 × 10⁻⁷ M to 1 × 10⁻¹ M with a slope of 20 ± 1 mV per decade. The selectivity coefficients were determined by the mixed solution method and revealed that the electrode was selective for Fe(III) ions in the presence of interfering ions. The electrode was used for atleast 5 months without any considerable divergence in response characteristics. The constructed sensor was used as indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Fe(III) ions against EDTA and Fe(III) determination in rock sample, pharmaceutical sample and water sample. The results are found to be in good agreement with those obtained by using conventional methods.     

Innovation Dynamics in Catch-Up Firms: Process, Product and Proprietary Capabilities for Development

This paper analyses how firms organize for industrial innovation where they are significantly below being globally competitive. It investigates the dynamics by which catch-up firms in developing countries (DCs) go beyond the boundaries assigned to them by their national environments and by the world's leading technology-driven firms. The paper analyses cases of how a range of successful firms managed to break these boundaries to increase competitiveness through innovation. Our key argument concerns the innovation dynamics of catch-up firms. We argue that aspirant firms approach the frontier differently to leaders. We construct and use a tool, based on resource-based theory, to map the alternative approaches taken by firms to develop new capabilities. It focuses on the relationship between process and product innovation and the nature of proprietary competencies. This allows the development of approaches to build strategies for innovation in DC catch-up firms and thereby transform development dynamics.     

Heavy toxic metal ion exchange kinetics: Validation of ion exchange process on composite cation exchanger nylon 6,6 Zr(IV) phosphate

Nernst–Planck equation was applied to study the heavy metal ion exchange kinetics over the surface of nylon 6,6 Zr(IV) phosphate at various temperatures under particle diffusion controlled phenomena. Various useful ion exchange kinetic parameters such as self-diffusion coefficient (D_o), energy of activation (E_a), and entropy of activation (ΔS*) were evaluated to validate the ion exchange process for practical applicability of this composite cation exchanger in remediation processes of the environment. This study is also supported for the good selectivity of Cu(II) to validate the practical application of this cation exchanger in environmental analysis.     

Sources and impacts of pharmaceutical components in wastewater and its treatment process: A review

Pharmaceutical compounds and their derivatives are major pollutants in the environment, as their metabolites affect the terrestrial as well as aquatic organisms in one or another way. In recent times, many papers have discussed the treatment procedures for single pharmaceutical and mixture of pharmaceutical components, but only few papers have discussed the fate and the exposure of pharmaceutical contaminants in our environment. In this paper, we discuss the sources and the forms of pharmaceutical products and their resultant in the environment and their addition to the microbial and to human communities. A detailed discussion of various treatment techniques from conventional to current techniques, their advantages and disadvantages is given here. Researchers are finding the techniques in order to completely degrade the contaminants and their transformed products from the environment. Among the technique, s nanotechnology was found to be an efficient technique, and the combination of nanotechnology with other conventional technologies gives higher removal efficiency.