Textural and chemical attributes of sausages developed from talang queenfish (Scomberoides commersonnianuus) mince and surimi

Talang Queenfish (Scomberoides commersonnianuus) is relatively inexpensive fish with low consumption in Fars Province, South of Iran. In this research which was performed in 2011, sausages were produced from mince and surimi of this species and some physicochemical attributes of the products were investigated during 60 days of cold storage at 4 °C. According to the results, free fatty acid (FFA), peroxide and TBARS values of minced fish sausage were significantly higher than those for surimi sausage (p<.05). It was found that minced fish sausage significantly had (P<.05) more breaking and gel strength compared to the surimi sausage at each time of preservation. There were significant differences (P<.05) in L*, a* and whiteness colorimetric parameters of the sausages. Scanning electron microscopy images demonstrated that the surface porosity increased during preservation. This study demonstrated that surimi sausage had better textural and chemical characteristics than minced fish sausage during cold storage

Fluoride removal from aqueous solution by pumice: case study on Kuhbonan water

The fluoride removal from synthetic water by pumice was studied at batch experiments in this study. The effect of pH, contact time, fluoride concentration and adsorbent dose on the fluoride sequestration was investigated. The optimum conditions were studied on Kuhbonan water as a case study. The results showed that with increasing of the absorbent amount; contact time and pH improve the efficiency of fluoride removal. The maximum fluoride uptake was obtained in pH and contact time 7.0 and 180 min, respectively. Also, with increasing initial concentration of fluoride in water, the efficiency of fluoride removal decreased. The obtained results in this study were matched with freundlich isotherm and pseudo second order kinetic. The maximum adsorption capacity (Qm) and constant rate were found 0.31 (mg/g) and 0.21 (mg/g.min), respectively. This study also showed that in the optimum conditions, the fluoride removal efficiency from Kuhbonan water by 2.8 mg/L fluoride was 74.64%. Eventually, pumice is recommended as a suitable and low cost absorbent to fluoride removal from aqueous solutions.Key words: Adsorption, Freundlich isotherm, Langmuir isotherm, Kuhbonan water

A novel hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on modified electrode with hemoglobin and zinc oxide nanoparticles

In this study, direct electron transfer between immobilized hemoglobin (Hb) and zinc oxide nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode was studied. Direct electrochemical response of Hb on the modified electrode can be achieved and a couple of well-defined and nearly reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks of Hb can be observed in a phosphate solution. The Hb immobilized on the Modified electrode with Zno Nps displayed a pair of redox peaks in 0.1 M pH 7.0 PBS with a formal potential of + (292 ± 2) mV (vs. SCE). Hb adsorbed on the modified electrode surface shows a good activity for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The reduction peak currents were proportional linearly to the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. The Hb/ Zno Nps/ CPE had good repeatability and stability for the determination of H2O2

Determination of sex and sexual maturation stages in cultured Acipenser nudiventris using biopsy method

Sturgeon fish take long time to mature sexually and determination of sex and sexual maturity stages is important in artificial rearing of the fish. Sex determination by macroscopic method has thus far been impossible for the fish at juvenile stages. Gonad biopsy and its histological examination is one way for detecting male and female sturgeon fishes. To do so, we collected gonad samples from 13 five year old and 17 six year old specimens of the cultured Acipenser nudiventris. Samples were studied by light microscope after fixing and histological practices. Of the 13 five years old specimens, only 3 (23.1%) were male and 10 (76.9 %) were females. From 17 six years old fish, 10 (58.8%) were males and 7 (41.2%) were females. Histological studies showed that all male fish were at stage IV, but 5.8 % of all females were at stage I, 41.2 % were at stage II and 53 % were at stage II-III of sexual maturation. We also showed that in the studies sample, males reached maturity sooner than females

Safely dissolvable and healable active packaging films based on alginate and pectin

Extensive usage of long-lasting petroleum based plastics for short-lived application such as packaging has raised concerns regarding their role in environmental pollution. In this research, we have developed active, healable, and safely dissolvable alginate-pectin based biocomposites that have potential applications in food packaging. The morphological study revealed the rough surface of these biocomposite films. Tensile properties indicated that the fabricated samples have mechanical properties in the range of commercially available packaging films while possessing excellent healing effciency. Biocomposite films exhibited higher hydrophobicity properties compared to neat alginate films. Thermal analysis indicated that crosslinked biocomposite samples possess higher thermal stability in temperatures below 120 °C, while antibacterial analysis against E. coli and S. aureus revealed the antibacterial properties of the prepared samples against different bacteria. The fabricated biodegradable multi-functional biocomposite films possess various imperative properties, making them ideal for utilization as packaging material

On a Linear Program for Minimum-Weight Triangulation

Minimum-weight triangulation (MWT) is NP-hard. It has a polynomial-time constant-factor approximation algorithm, and a variety of effective polynomial- time heuristics that, for many instances, can find the exact MWT. Linear programs (LPs) for MWT are well-studied, but previously no connection was known between any LP and any approximation algorithm or heuristic for MWT. Here we show the first such connections: for an LP formulation due to Dantzig et al. (1985): (i) the integrality gap is bounded by a constant; (ii) given any instance, if the aforementioned heuristics find the MWT, then so does the LP.Comment: To appear in SICOMP. Extended abstract appeared in SODA 201

Perfluorocarbon liquid migration into the subarachnoid space in a patient with morning glory syndrome

Purpose: To report a case of perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) migration into the subarachnoid space at the time of vitreoretinal surgery in a patient with morning glory syndrome associated retinal detachment. Case report: A 9-year-old girl underwent pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection for retinal detachment associated with morning glory syndrome. PFCL was used for retinal stabilization before endolaser photocoagulation. The retina detached, and repeated vitrectomy and silicone oil injection was performed. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed PFCL in the subarachnoid space. Conclusion: The migration of perfluorocarbon into the subarachnoid space is a rare complication of vitrectomy in patients with morning glory syndrome. © 2015 Iranian Society of Ophthalmology

Multi-trigger thermo-electro-mechanical soft actuators under large deformations

Dielectric actuators (DEAs), because of their exceptional properties, are well-suited for soft actuators (or robotics) applications. This article studies a multi-stimuli thermo-dielectric-based soft actuator under large bending conditions. In order to determine the stress components and induced moment (or stretches), a nominal Helmholtz free energy density function with two types of hyperelastic models are employed. Non-linear electro-elasticity theory is adopted to derive the governing equations of the actuator. Total deformation gradient tensor is multiplicatively decomposed into electro-mechanical and thermal parts. The problem is solved using the second-order Runge-Kutta method. Then, the numerical results under thermo-mechanical loadings are validated against the finite element method (FEM) outcomes by developing a user-defined subroutine, UHYPER in a commercial FEM software. The effect of electric field and thermal stimulus are investigated on the mean radius of curvature and stresses distribution of the actuator. Results reveal that in the presence of electric field, the required moment to actuate the actuator is smaller. Finally, due to simplicity and accuracy of the present boundary problem, the proposed thermally-electrically actuator is expected to be used in future studies and 4D printing of artificial thermo-dielectric-based beam muscles