Effect of high hydrostatic pressure processing on rheological and textural properties of probiotic low-fat yogurt fermented by different starter cultures

The effect of milk processing on rheological and textural properties of probiotic low-fat yogurt (fermented by two different starter cultures) was studied. Skim milk fortified with skim milk powder was subjected to three treatments: (1) thermal treatment at 85C for 30 min; (2) high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) at 676 MPa for 5 min; and (3) combined treatments of HHP (676 MPa for 5 min) and heat (85C for 30 min). The processed milk was fermented using two different starter cultures containing Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum at inoculation rates of 0.1 and 0.2%. Rheological parameters were determined and a texture profile analysis was carried out. Yogurts presented different rheological behaviors according to the treatment used, which could be attributed to structural phenomena. The combined HHP and heat treatment of milks resulted in yogurt gels with higher consistency index values than gels obtained from thermally treated milk. The type of starter culture and inoculation rate, providing different fermentation pathways, also affected the consistency index and textural properties significantly. The combined HHP and heat treatment of milks before fermentation, and an inoculation rate of 0.1% (for both cultures), led to desirable rheological and textural properties in yogurt, which presented a creamy and thick consistency that does not require the addition of stabilizers.

Effect of La2O3 addition and O-2 atmosphere on the electric properties of SnO2TiO2

The electric properties of (Sn, Ti)O-2 doped with 1.00 mol% CoO, 0.05 mol% Nb2O5 and xmol% La2O3 (0.25 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1.00) have been studied. Sn0.25Ti0.75Co0.01Nb0.005 doped with 0.50 mol% La2O3 has a nonlinearity coefficient of 6. An increase in the concentration of La2O3 raised its resistivity, thereby altering the electric properties of the material. A thermal treatment in oxygen atmosphere increased the nonlinearity coefficient to a value of 9. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ceramic Primer Heat-Treatment Effect on Resin Cement/Y-TZP Bond Strength

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different heat-treatment strategies for a ceramic primer on the shear bond strength of a 10-methacryloyloxydecyl-dihydrogen-phosphate (MDP)-based resin cement to a yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) ceramic. Specimens measuring 4.5 x 3.5 x 4.5 mm(3) were produced from Y-TZP presintered cubes and embedded in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Following finishing, the specimens were cleaned using an ultrasound device and distilled water and randomly divided into 10 experimental groups (n=14) according to the heat treatment of the ceramic primer and aging condition. The strategies used for the experimental groups were: GC (control), without primer; G20, primer application at ambient temperature (20 degrees C); G45, primer application + heat treatment at 45 degrees C; G79, primer application + heat treatment at 79 degrees C; and G100, primer application + heat treatment at 100 degrees C. The specimens from the aging groups were submitted to thermal cycling (6000 cycles, 5 degrees C/55 degrees C, 30 seconds per bath) after 24 hours. A cylinder of MDP-based resin cement (2.4 mm in diameter) was constructed on the ceramic surface of the specimens of each experimental group and stored for 24 hours at 37 degrees C. The specimens were submitted to a shear bond strength test (n=14). Thermal gravimetric analysis was performed on the ceramic primer. The data obtained were statistically analyzed by two-way analysis of variance and the Tukey test (alpha=0.05). The experimental group G79 without aging (7.23 +/- 2.87 MPa) presented a significantly higher mean than the other experimental groups without aging (GC: 2.81 +/- 1.5 MPa; G20: 3.38 +/- 2.21 MPa; G100: 3.96 +/- 1.57 MPa), showing no difference from G45 only (G45: 6 +/- 3.63 MPa). All specimens of the aging groups debonded during thermocycling and were considered to present zero bond strength for the statistical analyses. In conclusion, heat treatment of the metal/zirconia primer improved bond strength under the initial condition but did not promote stable bonding under the aging condition.

Effect of atmosphere on the electrical properties of TiO2-SnO2 varistor systems

This work illustrates the advancement of research on TiO2-based electroceramics. In this work will be presented that the addition of different dopants, as well as thermal treatments at oxidizing and inert atmosphere, influences of the densification, the mean grain size and the electrical properties of the TiO2-based varistor ceramics. Dopants like Ta2O5, Nb2O5, and Cr2O3 have an especial role in the barrier formation at the grain boundary in the TiO2 varistors, increasing the nonlinear coefficient and decreasing the breakdown electric field. The influence of Cr'(Ti) is to increase the O' and O'(2) adsorption at the grain boundary interface and to promote a decrease in the conductivity by donating electrons to O-2 adsorbed at the grain boundary. In this paper, TiO2 and (Sn,Ti)O-2-based studies of polycrystalline ceramics, which show a non-linear I-V electrical response typical of low voltage varistor systems are also presented. All these systems are potentially promising for varistor applications. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Thermal behavior of the Cu-22.55 at.%Al alloy with small Ag additions

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Simultaneous solidification of two catalyst wastes and their effect on the early stages of cement hydration

Two catalyst wastes (RNi and RAI) from polyol production were considered as hazardous, due to their respective high concentration of nickel and aluminum contents. This article presents the study, done to avoid environmental impacts, of the simultaneous solidification/stabilization of both catalyst wastes with type II Portland cement (CP) by non-conventional differential thermal analysis (NCDTA). This technique allows one to monitor the initial stages of cement hydration to evaluate the accelerating and/or retarding effects on the process due to the presence of the wastes and to identify the steps where the changes occur. Pastes with water/cement ratio equal to 0.5 were prepared, into which different amounts of each waste were added. NCDTA has the same basic principle of Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), but differs in the fact that there is no external heating or cooling system as in the case of DTA. The thermal effects of the cement paste hydration with and without waste presence were evaluated from the energy released during the process in real time by acquiring the temperature data of the sample and reference using thermistors with 0.03 A degrees C resolution, coupled to an analog-digital interface. In the early stages of cement hydration retarding and accelerating effects occur, respectively due to RNi and RAl presence, with significant thermal effects. During the simultaneous use of the two waste catalysts for their stabilization process by solidification in cement, there is a synergic resulting effect, which allows better hydration operating conditions than when each waste is solidified separately. Thermogravimetric (TG) and derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) of 4 and 24 h pastes allow a quantitative information about the main cement hydrated phases and confirm the same accelerating or retarding effects due to the presence of wastes indicated from respective NCDTA curves.

Effect of posture-control insoles on function in children with cerebral palsy: Randomized controlled clinical trial

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Two thermal methods to measure the energy fluence of a brief exposure of diagnostic x rays

This paper describes two simple thermal methods for measuring the energy fluence in J/cm 2 from a diagnostic x-ray exposure. Both detectors absorb essentially 100% of the radiation and give a signal that is directly proportional to the energy fluence of the x-ray beam. One detector measures the thermal effect when a pulse of x rays is totally absorbed in the pyroelectric detector of lead-zirconium-titanate (PZT). The other detector measures the expansion of a gas surrounding a lead disk detector in a photoacoustic chamber. The increased pressure of the gas is transmitted through a 1-mm duct to a sensitive microphone. Both detectors have previously been used to measure the energy fluence rate of continuous x-ray beams in the same energy region using a chopped beam and a lock-in amplifier. Measurement of the energy fluence of a pulse of radiation eliminates the need for the beam chopper and lock-in amplifier and results in a simple, rugged, and inexpensive dosimeter. Either method can be combined with the area of the beam to give an estimate of the imparted energy to the patient from a diagnostic x-ray exposure.

Drying of SnO2 hydrogels: effect of the electrolyte

The effect of the electrolyte (NH+ 4, Cl-) on the drying of SnO2 hydrogels was investigated by linear shrinkage, mass loss, gravimetric thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy. Results show that the drying mechanism for monolithic SnO2 gels is highly dependent on the concentration of the electrolyte solution inside the pores. For higher concentrations, the drying process is governed by capillary forces while for the smaller ones (≤20 mM) syneresis shrinkage becomes predominant just before the end of the first drying period. This phenomenon is related to condensation reaction among the superficial OH groups and may hamper formation of monolithic SnO2. © 1992 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of atmosphere and dopants on sintering of SnO2

Tin oxide is an n-type semiconductor material with a high covalent behavior. Mass transport in this oxide depends on the surface state promoted by atmosphere or by the solid solution of a non-isovalent oxide doping The sintering and grain growth of this type of oxide powder is then controlled by atmosphere and by extrinsic oxygen vacancy formation. For pure SnO2 powder the surface state depends only on the interaction of atmosphere molecules with the SnO2 surface. Inert atmosphere like argon or helium promotes oxygen vacancy formation at the surface due to reduction of SnO2 to SnO at the surface and liberation of oxygen molecules forming oxygen vacancies. As consequence surface diffusion is enhanced leading to grain coarsening but no densification. Oxygen atmosphere inhibits the SnO2 reduction decreasing the surface oxygen vacancy concentration. Addition of dopants with lower valence at sintering temperature creates extrinsic charged oxygen vacancies that promote mass transport at grain boundary leading to densification and grain growth of this polycrystalline oxide.

Thermal inactivation of Phytophthora nicotianae

Phytophthora nicotianae was added to pasteurized soil at the rate of 500 laboratory-produced chlamydospores per gram of soil and exposed to temperatures ranging from 35 to 53°C for 20 days. The time required to reduce soil populations to residual levels (0.2 propagule per gram of soil or less) decreased with increasing temperatures. Addition of cabbage residue to the soil reduced the time required to inactivate chlamydo spores. Temperature regimes were established to simulate daily temperature changes observed in the field, with a high temperature of 47°C for 3 h/day, and were good estimators of the efficacy of soil solarization for the control of P. nicotianae in soil. Cabbage amendment reduced the time required to inactivate chlamydospores of P. nicotianae and its effect was more pronounced at lower temperature regimes.

Simultaneous determination of As, Cu, Mn, Sb, and Se in drinking water by GFAAS with transversely heated graphite atomizer and longitudinal zeeman-effect background correction

A method has been developed for the direct and simultaneous determination of As, Cu, Mn, Sb, and Se in drinking water by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) using a transversely heated graphite tube atomizer (THGA) with longitudinal Zeeman-effect background correction. The thermal behavior of analytes during the pyrolysis and atomization stages was investigated in 0.028 mol L-1 HNO3, 0.14 mol L-1 HNO3 and 1 + 1 (v/v) diluted water using mixtures of Pd(NO3)2 + Mg(NO3)2 as the chemical modifier. With 5 μg Pd + 3 μg Mg as the modifier, the pyrolysis and atomization temperatures of the heating program of the atomizer were fixed at 1400°C and 2100°C, respectively, and 20 μL of the water sample (sample + 0.28 mol L-1 HNO3, 1 + 1, v/v), dispensed into the graphite tube, analytical curves were established ranging from 5.00 -50.0 μg L-1 for As, Sb, Se; 10.0 - 100 μg L-1 for Cu; and 20.0 - 200 μg L-1 for Mn. The characteristic masses were around 39 pg As, 17 pg Cu, 60 pg Mn, 43 pg Sb, and 45 pg Se, and the lifetime of the tube was around 500 firings. The limits of detection (LOD) based on integrated absorbance (0.7 μg L-1 As, 0.2 μg L-1 Cu, 0.6 μg L-1 Mn, 0.3 μg L-1 Sb, 0.9 μg L-1 Se) exceeded the requirements of the Brazilian Food Regulations (decree # 310-ANVS from the Health Department), which established the maximum permissible level for As, Cu, Mn, Sb, and Se at 50 μg L-1, 1000 μg L-1, 2000 μg L-1, 5 μg L-1, and 50 μg L-1, respectively. The relative standard deviations (n = 12) were typically < 5.3% for As, < 0.5% for Cu, < 2.1% for Mn, < 11.7% for Sb, and < 9.2% for Se. The recoveries of As, Cu, Mn, Sb, and Se added to the mineral water samples varied from 102-111%, 91-107%, 92-109%, 89-97%, and 101-109%, respectively. Accuracy for the determination of As, Cu, Mn, Sb, and Se was checked using standard reference materials NIST SRM 1640 - Trace Elements in Natural Water, NIST SRM 1643d - Trace Elements in Water, and 10 mineral water samples. A paired t-test showed that the results were in agreement with the certified values of the standard reference materials at the 95% confidence level.

Temperature and stoichiometry effect on microstructural and ferroelectric properties of Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3 thin films prepared by chemical soulution deposition

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) solutions were prepared using a polymeric precursor method, Zr n-propoxide and Ti i-propoxide were used as starting materials with ethylene glycol and water as solvents. The PZT solution was spin-coated on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates, baked on a hot plate, and finally heat-treated in a tube furnace between 400 and 800°C. The surface morphology and grain size of the films were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), using a tapping mode with amplitude modulation. The films, thermal annealed at temperatures higher than 500°C, exhibited a dense microstructure, without noticeable cracks or voids. Electrical properties were investigated as a function of composition and annealing temperature.

Effect of milk treatment on acidification, physicochemical characteristics, and probiotic cell counts in low fat yogurt

The effect of milk treatment (heat, high hydrostatic pressure - HHP, or combined heat and HHP) on acidification, physicochemical characteristics, and probiotic cell counts in low fat yogurt was studied. All samples were analyzed for fermentation time, pH, titratable acidity, total solids, water-holding capacity, syneresis, Hunter L*, a*, and b* values, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp bulgaricus, L. acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium longum. The application of HHP combined with thermal treatment resulted in yogurt gels with attractive physicochemical characteristics and high water-holding capacity. In addition to this, the milk treatment did not affect the probiotic bacteria growth. The balance of strains in the starter culture and level of inoculation influenced the yogurt fermentation and properties. The use of combined heat and HHP to treat milk before yogurt fermentation could be an alternative process for obtaining high quality, additive-free healthy products.

Influence of thermal and mechanical cycling on the flexural strength of ceramics with titanium or gold alloy frameworks

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of thermal and mechanical cycling alone or in combination, on the flexural strength of ceramic and metallic frameworks cast in gold alloy or titanium. Methods: Metallic frameworks (25 mm × 3 mm × 0.5 mm) (N = 96) cast in gold alloy or commercial pure titanium (Ti cp) were obtained using acrylic templates. They were airborne particle-abraded with 150 μm aluminum oxide at the central area of the frameworks (8 mm × 3 mm). Bonding agent and opaque were applied on the particle-abraded surfaces and the corresponding ceramic for each metal was fired onto them. The thickness of the ceramic layer was standardized by positioning the frameworks in a metallic template (height: 1 mm). The specimens from each ceramic-metal combination (N = 96, n = 12 per group) were randomly assigned into four experimental fatigue conditions, namely water storage at 37 °C for 24 h (control group), thermal cycling (3000 cycles, between 4 and 55 °C, dwell time: 10 s), mechanical cycling (20,000 cycles under 10 N load, immersion in distilled water at 37 °C) and, thermal and mechanical cycling. A flexural strength test was performed in a universal testing machine (crosshead speed: 1.5 mm/min). Data were statistically analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). Results: The mean flexural strength values for the ceramic-gold alloy combination (55 ± 7.2 MPa) were significantly higher than those of the ceramic-Ti cp combination (32 ± 6.7 MPa) regardless of the fatigue conditions performed (p < 0.05). Mechanical and thermo-mechanical fatigue decreased the flexural strength results significantly for both ceramic-gold alloy (52 ± 6.6 and 53 ± 5.6 MPa, respectively) and ceramic-Ti cp combinations (29 ± 6.8 and 29 ± 6.8 MPa, respectively) compared to the control group (58 ± 7.8 and 39 ± 5.1 MPa, for gold and Ti cp, respectively) (p < 0.05) (Tukey's test). While ceramic-Ti cp combinations failed adhesively at the metal-opaque interface, gold alloy frameworks exhibited a residue of ceramic material on the surface in all experimental groups. Significance: Mechanical and thermo-mechanical fatigue conditions decreased the flexural strength values for both ceramic-gold alloy and ceramic-Ti cp combinations with the results being significantly lower for the latter in all experimental conditions. © 2007 Academy of Dental Materials.