Comparison of quality characteristics of Çökelek and Lor cheeses

The objective of this study was to compare some quality characteristics of Çökelek (cottage cheeselike) and Lor (whey cheese) cheeses during a storage period of 21 days. Çökelek and Lor cheeses significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) showed differences in terms of the examined parameters and storage period. Mean value of lipolysis in Çökelek cheese was higher (P < 0.01) than that of Lor cheese. Also storage time affected (P < 0.01) the values of lipolysis in two experiments. It was found that αs1casein was hydrolyzed much faster than those of γ-casein and β-casein in the Çökelek and Lor cheeses, the γ-, β-, and αs1casein levels in two cheeses remained relatively constant during storage. There were no significant differences in water-soluble N (WSN), trichloroacetic acid soluble N (TCA-SN) and phosphotungstic acid soluble N (PTA-SN) contents of the two experiments, but the storage time significantly (P < 0.01) affected these parameters. The counts of coliforms, lactic acid, proteolytic, psycrotrophic bacteria and yeasts-molds between Çökelek and Lor cheese samples were found to be significant (P < 0.01), but total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TAMB) and Salmonella thermophilus counts were not significant statistically. Storage time significantly (P < 0.01) affected the examined microbiological parameters. Sensory evaluations of the experimental cheeses showed differences in terms of cheese types and storage period.Key words: Çökelek, Lor, lipolysis , proteolysis, microbiology, sensory

Effect of different brine concentrations and ripening period on some quality properties of Turkish white pickled cheese

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different brine concentrations on some properties of Turkish white cheese. Cheeses made from pasteurized milk (65°C for 30 min) were ripened in 11, 14 and 17 g 100 ml-1 NaCl for 90 days at 7±1°C. Some physicochemical and biochemical analyses were carried out during storage time. The effects of brine concentrations on total solids, protein, ash, salt, pH, and WSN values were found to be significant (P<0.05). On the contrary, fat, lipolysis, TCA-SN and PTA-SN values of the cheese samples were not significantly affected by the brine concentrations used. On the other hand, the values of protein, ash, salt, pH, lipolysis, WSN, TCA-SN and PTA-SN of the experimental cheeses were significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01) affected by storage time, while the effect of storage period on total solids and fat contents was found to be insignificant (P>0.05).Key words: Turkish white cheese, brine salting, ripening, lipolysis, proteolysis

Phytochemical assessment, elemental composition, and biological kinetics of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. stalks

Introduction The essential oil of Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) has been extensively studied for phytochemical and elemental compositions, biochemical significance, and biological activities. However, the literature has a dearth of information on the Fennel stalk as a potential source of antioxidant and antibacterial agents. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical and elemental composition of Fennel stalks and also, to investigate the kinetic DPPH scavenging property and antibacterial activity of Fennel stalk extracts. Methods Fennel aqueous extract (FVAE) was prepared by mixing of powdered fennel stalks with sterile distilled water, followed by heating and filtration. Methanol (FVME) and ethanol (FVEE) extracts of F. vulgare were prepared by macerating the stalk with respective solvents, followed by filtration. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), determination of total phenols, and X-ray fluorescence were conducted to analyze the chemical composition of the extracts. Biological activities, including DPPH scavenging and antimicrobial activity against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli, were evaluated through spectrophotometric methods and well diffusion assay, respectively. Results The GCMS analysis revealed 15 compounds including anozol, myristyl iodine, flexiricin, dutadrupine, cycloheptaciloxane, neophytadiene, phthalic acid, and ribitol. Some of these compounds have not been reported from this plant before. FTIR analysis suggested hydroxyl (OH), alkane (CH), carbonyl (C = O), aromatic (C = C), and ether (CO) functional groups in the Fennel extracts. X-ray fluorescence identified elements including titanium, chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, rubidium, and strontium. The ethanol extract had higher total phenolic content (72.45±0.01 mg GAE/g) than the aqueous (54.3 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g) and methanol (51.3 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g) extracts. In addition, a high% DPPH scavenging activity was observed in the ethanol extract (85.1 %) compared to that of ascorbic acid (96.2 %). Fennel's stalks methanol extract showed significant inhibition against the growth of E. coli 0157 and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus B-4420, having zones of inhibition diameters of 16 mm and 13 mm, respectively. This is similar to what was observed for chloramphenicol and azithromycin. Conclusion The current study has demonstrated that Fennel stalks contain potentially useful antioxidant and antibacterial properties, in addition to the well-studied essential oil of its fruits and seeds

Olive leaves extract mediated zero-valent iron nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, and assessment as adsorbent for nickel (II) ions in aqueous medium

Zero-valent iron nanoparticles (NZVI-NPs) possess significantly high surface area and volume ratio, and this unique surface characteristic has enhanced reactivity to their adsorption potential. In this work, a bio-matter (Olive leaves extract) is deployed as a nature-inspired reducing agent for the synthesis of NZVI-NPs. The particle size of NZVINPs has been determined using particle sizer. The NZVI-NPs are characterized using analytical and morphological techniques such as ultraviolet − visible spectroscopy (UV − vis), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The average crystalline size of NZVINPs are around 30–60 nm while maximum adsorption is at 225 nm. XRD spectrum shows two distinctive diffraction peaks at 25.40° and 42.50° corresponding to lattice plane value indexed at (200) and (222) planes of faced centered cubic (FCC). At optimized experimental conditions, NZVI-NPs show 97% removal efficiency of Ni+2 ions from aqueous solution. The equilibrium time has been found to be 55 min and the monolayer maximum adsorption capacity is 139.5 mg/g. Kinetically, Ni+2 ions adsorption has been modelled using various physical isotherms and the data best fitted Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-first-order kinetic; revealing a maximum adsorption capacity of 139.5 mg/g at 25 ± 3 °C and pH of 6.5. Desorption tests affirm the possibility of recovering reasonable amount of NZVI-NPs after used. The specific surface area of the NZVI-NPs sample measured by BET analysis is 21.9967 m2/g indicating a high adsorption capacity

BIOMEDIATED - TITANIUM NANOCOMPOSITE FOR CORROSION PROTECTION

The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting corrosion of steel in contact with a corrosive solution . The method involves mixing an olive leaf extract titanium nano composite with the corrosive solution . The olive leaf extract titanium nanocomposite may be made by reducing TiC14 with an olive leaf extract , which forms nanoparticles with an average size of 50-100 nm

Gamma, Fast Neutron, Proton, and Alpha Shielding Properties of Borate Glasses: A Closer Look on Lead (II) Oxide and Bismuth (III) Oxide Reinforcement

The purpose of this research was to investigate the shielding characteristics of high-amount heavy metal oxide and Eu3+-activated borate glasses based on 10La2O3–50HMO–(40–x) B2O3–xEu2O3 (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and HMO = PbO, Bi2O3). Critical gamma radiation attenuation characteristics, particularly mass attenuation coefficients of investigated heavy metal oxide glass samples, were determined using Monte Carlo simulations and the Phy-x/PSD software. Following that, we looked at the half-value layer, mean free path, effective atomic number, and build-up factors across a broad energy range (0.015–15 MeV). According to the study’s results, the addition of Eu2O3 enhanced the mass attenuation coefficient and effective atomic number, while reducing the half-value layer, mean free path, and accumulation factors. In terms of gamma radiation attenuation, the LBi50BEu glass system surpassed the LPb50BEu glass system in terms of overall shielding properties against nuclear radiation. Additionally, the heavy metal oxide glass’ efficacy as a neutron shield was determined using fast neutron removal cross-sections (ΣR). LBi50BEu2 glass was shown to be more effective in preventing the penetration of charged particle radiation. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University through the Fast-track Research Funding Program. The APC was covered by “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Romania

Mechanical properties, elastic moduli, and gamma ray attenuation competencies of some TeO2-WO3-GdF3glasses: Tailoring WO3-GdF3substitution toward optimum behavioral state range

We report the mechanical properties, elastic moduli, and gamma ray attenuation properties of some TeO2-WO3-GdF3 glasses. Using the chemical composition of the selected glasses, the dissociation energy per unit volume (G t ) and the packing density (V t ) were calculated. Using the G t and V t values, Young's, Shear, Bulk, Longitudinal Modulus, and Poisson's ratio of the glasses are calculated. Next several fundamental gamma ray attenuation properties such as linear and mass attenuation coefficients, half value layer, mean free path, effective atomic number, effective electron density, effective conductivity, exposure, and energy absorption buildup factors are calculated in 0.015-15 MeV energy range. As a consequence of WO3-GdF3 substitution, the glass densities are observed in different values. The overall gamma ray attenuation properties are found to be enhanced through WO3 addition. Moreover, the increasing WO3 incorporation into glass configuration decreases the overall elastic moduli of glasses. It can be concluded that increasing WO3 may be a useful tool for enhancing the gamma ray attenuation qualities and decreasing the elastic moduli of TeO2-WO3-GdF3 in situations where a material with versatile mechanical properties is required. © 2023 the author(s), published by De Gruyter

Multiple characterization of some glassy-alloys as photon and neutron shields: In-silico Monte Carlo investigation

In the present work, the nuclear radiation shielding proficiency of eight glassy alloys (Gd25RE25Co25Al25 (RE = Tb, Dy and Ho)) containing different amounts of rare earth elements was investigated with MCNPX simulation codes. Mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) of the glassy alloys were simulated in the energy interval of 0.2-20 MeV by exploiting MCNPX codes, and the generated data were found to match with theoretical WinXCOM results. Next, other crucial photon attenuation parameters, effective atomic number (Zeff), Half Value Layer (HVL), and Mean Free Path (MFP), were gotten out using μ/ρ values. It was seen that Er20Tm20 and Er20Tb20 samples replaced with Er by Gd had the highest Zeff and μ/ρ values, whereas HVL and MFP values were the smallest among the other glassy alloys. Geometric progression (GP) procedure was enjoyed to achieve the exposure and energy absorption buildup factors (EBF and EABF) for the glassy alloys proposed. EABFs and EBFs took the largest and lowest values for Gd25Tb25 and Er20Tm20, respectively, to the other samples. Furthermore, the glassy alloys' neutron reduction abilities were estimated by acquiring fast neutron removal cross-sections (∑R). It was noticed that the ∑R values of the glassy alloys are increased with the rising sample density and seen to be comparable to ∑R values of water and ordinary concrete. The results obtained from this study are important in that they show that glassy alloys can be used as radiation shielding. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd