Retention of oxalates in frozen products of three brassica species depending on the methods of freezing and preparation for consumption

The investigation showed that fresh brassicas: Brussels sprouts, broccoli, green cauliflower and white cauliflower respectively contained 50 mg, 67 mg, 72 mg and 95 mg oxalates in 100 g fresh matter. Soluble oxalates constituted 70%, 40%, 40% and 54% of total oxalates respectively. The cooked product obtained from traditionally prepared frozen vegetables (blanching-freezing-refrigerated storage-cooking) contained 45-66% of soluble oxalates. The product obtained from frozen vegetables produced using the modified method (cooking-freezing-refrigerated storage-defrosting and heating in a microwave oven) contained more oxalates than that obtained using the traditional method. The oxalate: calcium ratio in fresh vegetables varied considerably: 0.63 (Brussels sprouts); 1.10 (broccoli); 1.27 (green cauliflower); and 2.42 (white cauliflower). In products prepared for consumption the ratios were lower. The proportion of calcium bound as calcium oxalate differed between the vegetables investigated, but the treatments applied did not influence this parameter. The apparent retention of oxalate overestimated the true retention.     

Nitrosamines and water

This paper provides an overview of all current issues that are connected to the presence of nitrosamines in water technology. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is the most frequently detected member of this family. Nitrosamines became the hottest topic in drinking water science when they were identified as disinfection by-products (DBPs) in chloraminated waters. The danger that they pose to consumer health seems to be much higher than that from chlorinated DBPs. This review summarizes our contemporary knowledge of these compounds in water, their occurrence, and precursors of nitrosamines in drinking and wastewaters, in addition to attempts to remove nitrosamines from water. The paper also reviews our knowledge of the mechanisms of nitrosamine formation in water technology. The current, commonly accepted mechanism of NDMA formation during chloramination of drinking waters assumes that dichloramine reacts with dimethylamine, forms unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine and further oxidizes to NDMA. The question to answer is which precursors are responsible for delivering the DMA moiety for the reaction since the presence of DMA in water cannot explain the quantities of NDMA that are formed. There are also reports that other oxidants that are commonly used in water technology may generate NDMA. However, the mechanisms of such transformations are unknown. Methods for the removal of nitrosamines from water are described briefly. However, the research that has been undertaken on such methods seems to be at an early stage of development. It is predicted that photolytic methods may have the greatest potential for technological application.     

Boron and aluminum diffusion into 4H-SiC substrates

Boron and aluminum doping by diffusion into n-type 4H-SiC Si-face substrates was carried out at the temperatures of 1800-2000 °C. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) was employed to obtain the impurity profiles, which showed that linearly graded boron profile and shallow aluminum profiles have been achieved, which may be a promising application in SiC device fabrication, such as p-n diode or ohmic contact. Characterization of high temperature processing influence on SiC surface morphology has been performed. Elemental boron and aluminum carbide were determined to be the best candidates as an impurity source materials for realizing p-type diffusion.     

Magnesium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Thia-Michael Addition to α,β-Unsaturated Ketones

We demonstrate the application of chiral magnesium complexes in an asymmetric carbon-sulfur bond-forming reaction. Enantioselective and cost-effective methodology under mild condition for the thia-Michael addition, utilizing an in situ generated chiral dinuclear magnesium-ProPhenol complex, has been developed. The versatility of this protocol is demonstrated with a broad range of thiol nucleophiles and a wide selection of enones. Enantioenriched β-ketosulfides are obtained in good to excellent yields and moderate to excellent enantioselectivity. The presented catalytic system exhibits excellent tolerance for structurally different substrates while maintaining high enantioselectivity. This observation aligns with proposed mechanism, wherein the sulfur atom coordinates to the catalyst in close proximity to the reaction center.     

Colossal negative magnetoresistance from hopping in insulating ferromagnetic semiconductors

Ferromagnetic semiconductor Ga_1–xMn_xAs_1–yP_y thin films go through a metal–insulator transition at low temperature where electrical conduction becomes driven by hopping of charge carriers. In this regime, we report a colossal negative magnetoresistance (CNMR) coexisting with a saturated magnetic moment, unlike in the traditional magnetic semiconductor Ga_1–xMn_xAs. By analyzing the temperature dependence of the resistivity at fixed magnetic field, we demonstrate that the CNMR can be consistently described by the field dependence of the localization length, which relates to a field dependent mobility edge. This dependence is likely due to the random environment of Mn atoms in Ga_1–xMn_xAs_1–yP_y which causes a random spatial distribution of the mobility that is suppressed by an increasing magnetic field.     

Antipsychotic- and Anxiolytic-like Properties of a Multimodal Compound JJGW08 in Rodents

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness, which remains difficult to treat. A high resistance to the available therapies, their insufficient efficacy, and numerous side effects are the reasons why there is an urgent need to develop new antipsychotics. This study aimed to assess the antipsychotic-like effects of JJGW08, a novel arylpiperazine alkyl derivative of salicylamide, in rodents. First, considering the JJGW08 receptor profile, we investigated the compound’s intrinsic activity towards dopamine D₂ and serotonin 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A, and 5-HT₇ receptors using functional assays. Next, we assessed the effect of JJGW08 on MK-801- and amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion, its risk of inducing catalepsy and impairing motor coordination, as well as the anxiolytic-like effects in the four-plate and marble burying tests in mice. Finally, we investigated the antipsychotic-like properties of JJGW08 in rats using MK-801-induced hyperlocomotion and prepulse inhibition tests. We found that JJGW08 showed antagonistic properties at dopamine D₂ and serotonin 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A, and 5-HT₇ receptors. However, the effect on the 5-HT_2A and 5-HT₇ receptors was very weak. Moreover, the tested compound showed an antipsychotic-like effect in MK-801- and amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion but not in a prepulse inhibition test in rats. Notably, JJGW08 demonstrated anxiolytic-like properties in both behavioral tests. Importantly, the compound did not induce catalepsy or motor coordination impairment in mice at antipsychotic-like doses. Our study suggests it is worth searching for new potential antipsychotics among arylpiperazine alkyl derivatives of salicylamide.     

Influence of oxide scales on heat transfer in secondary cooling zones in the continuous casting process,part 2: determination of material properties of oxide scales on steel under spray-water cooling conditions

In order to model heat transfer from the slab to the cooling agent in the continuous casting process the thermophysical properties of the surface layer must be taken into account. For this purpose thermal conductivities and thermal diffusivities of wustite as well as of two carbon steels were measured. The oxide scale growth for six steels was measured as a function of time and at temperatures between 900 and 1200°C in air and in steam. Complex heterogeneous oxide scales were examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy, by SIMS, as well as by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Segregation of alloying elements in the metal-oxide contact zone was found. Cracks due to thermal stresses result in spalling of the scale. Therefore, a straightforward use of the data for process modelling can principally not be recommended without restrictions.     

Dielectric and viscoelastic studies of curing epoxy-amine model systems

Summary The curing of different epoxy-amine model systems which present only gelification and/or vitrification processes has been followed with the evolution of their viscoelastic and electrical behaviours during the network formation. Some attempts are performed to correlate the significant evolution of the mechanical and electrical parameters with the physico-chemical changes of these well defined chemical systems during their hardening and complete curing.     

A numerical Hartree-Fock program for diatomic molecules

This paper describes an algorithm and a computer program which solves numerically (virtually exactly) equations of the restricted open-shell Hartree-Fock and Hartree-Fock-Slater model for diatomic molecules