Main Mineral Content Research Articles

Unravelling the bridge of polyphenol composition and mineralomics in Se biofortified edible Allium species

Selenium is an essential element for the well-being of humans and animals. Micronutrient deficiencies affect over half of the global population. Biofortification of crops with selenium represents an economically sustainable solution to combat this problem. In this study, seven Allium species underwent Se biofortification, via Se soil enrichment with selenate in pots, at three distinct concentration levels and were used to explore the relationship between Se plant internalization, polyphenol composition, and mineral content. Allium species were chosen because they are recognized as secondary accumulators of Se. Plant morphology, as well as the presence of fifteen phenolic acids and flavonoids, were analysed using a UHPLC-DAD system. Mineral content was determined using both ICP-OES and FAES. Se levels were quantified using a validated method based on HG-HR-CS-QT-AAS. Even at the lowest biofortification level, Allium species demonstrated potential as sources of dietary Se, offering viable alternatives to Se supplements, without negatively impacting the main mineral content. Higher biofortification levels led to reduced levels of flavonoids and phenolic acids, accompanied by potential decreases in biomass for certain species. The study highlighted how Se concentration affects key polyphenols like quercetin, gallic acid, and luteolin, although the response varied among species.

Combined Effects of Glutaraldehyde-based Desensitizer and Nd: YAG Laser on Dentinal Tubules Occlusion.

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of Nd:YAG laser, glutaraldehyde-based desensitizer (GD), or their combination on occluding dentinal tubules. Fifty dentin samples were obtained from non-carious human third molars and randomly divided into five groups (n = 10): (1) Control group treated with 37% phosphoric acid, (2) GD group, (3) Nd:YAG laser group (1064 nm, 100 µs, 10 Hz, 300 µm fiber, 1 W power, 100 mJ energy, and 85 J/cm2 energy density), (4) GD followed by Nd:YAG laser group, and (5) Nd:YAG laser followed by GD group. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to capture five images from each sample for analysis of dentinal tubules using Image J software. SEM/EDX elemental analysis was performed to determine the main mineral contents. Data analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test for statistical comparisons. Laser and combination groups showed a significant decrease in dentinal tubule counts compared with the control and GD groups (p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in open dentinal tubule counts between the control and GD groups, as well as between the laser and combination groups. However, significant differences were observed in the total area, average size of the tubules, and percentage area between the control group and the treatment groups (GD, laser, GD + laser, laser + GD). No significant difference was found in the Ca/P ratio between the tested groups. The use of Nd:YAG laser alone or in combination with GD was more effective in occluding dentinal tubules compared to GD alone. This study has shown that Nd:YAG laser alone and in combination with GD has superior dentinal tubule occlusion in vitro. Its clinical use in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity may overcome the drawback of conventional treatment approaches for dentin hypersensitivity needing repeated applications to achieve continuous relief from pain since acidic diet and toothbrushing result in the continuing elimination of precipitates and surface coatings. How to cite this article: Alzarooni AH, El-Damanhoury HM, Aravind SS, et al. Combined Effects of Glutaraldehyde-based Desensitizer and Nd: YAG Laser on Dentinal Tubules Occlusion. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(1):52-57.

Analysis of Mountain Sand Material Content in Rumah Tiga and Hative Besar Villages, Teluk Ambon District Using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Methods)

One area that has a mountain sand mine is Maluku, especially Ambon City, Teluk Ambon District, Hative Besar Village, and Rumah Tiga Village. This study aims to analyze mineral content, lattice parameters/crystal size, and the percentage of elemental and oxide content that forms a material on mountain sand in Wailete, Hative Besar Village and Kota Jawa, Rumah Tiga Village, using XRD and XRF methods. The mineral content analyzed by the XR-D method at both research locations showed the presence of diffraction peaks of the relationship between angle (2θ) and intensity (I) in the diffraction pattern with the main mineral content dominated by Quartz, Cristobalite, Sodalite, Calcite-synthetic, Anorthite, and followed by other minerals. Analysis of the percentage of elemental content using the XR-F method. Based on the results of XR-F analysis, the most dominant element in Wailete mount sand is Si (Silicon) with a percentage of 66.3% then followed by Al (Aluminum) at 10.8%, Fe (Iron) at 3.75% and in Kota Jawa hill, namely Si (Silicon) is 46.2%, Al (Aluminum) is 10.8%, Fe (Iron) is 9.11% and the rest is in the form of several elements with smaller percentages, namely Rb (Rubidium) and Sr (Strontium) 0.09%.

Quantitative Analysis of Mixed Minerals with Finite Phase Using Thermal Infrared Hyperspectral Technology

It is crucial but challenging to detect intermediate or end products promptly. Traditional chemical detection methods are time-consuming and cannot detect mineral phase content. Thermal infrared hyperspectral (TIH) technology is an effective means of real-time imaging and can precisely capture the emissivity characteristics of objects. This study introduces TIH to estimate the content of potassium salts, with a model based on Competitive Adaptive Reweighted Sampling (CARS) and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR). The model takes the emissivity spectrum of potassium salt into account and accurately predicts the content of Mixing Potassium (MP), a mineral mixture produced in Lop Nur, Xinjiang. The main mineral content in MP was measured by Mineral Liberation Analyzer (MLA), mainly including picromerite, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, and less sodium chloride. 129 configured MP samples were divided into calibration (97 samples) and prediction (32 samples) sets. The CARS-PLSR method achieved good prediction results for MP mineral content (picromerite: correlation coefficient of correction set (Rp2) = 0.943, predicted root mean square error (RMSEP) = 2.72%, relative predictive deviation (RPD) = 4.24; potassium chloride: Rp2 = 0.948, RMSEP = 2.86%, RPD = 4.42). Experimental results convey that TIH technology can effectively identify the emissivity characteristics of MP minerals, facilitating quantitative detection of MP mineral content.

Mineralogical and Petrographic Characteristics of the Jurassic Kaban Dacite in the Eastern Sakarya Zone (Olur/Erzurum)

The volcanic rocks of the Kaban dacite, which is the subject of the study, are located in the Olur (Erzurum) region of the eastern Sakarya zone. This zone is divided into four tectonic slices as Hopa-Borçka zone, Artvin Yusufeli zone, Olur Tortum zone and Erzurum Kars Ophiolite zone from north to south, east of the Eastern pontides, and the investigated rocks are located within the Olur-Tortum zone. These rocks are represented by dacites and rhyolites in the study area. Petrographically, it is observed in fine grained grayish, greenish, earthy colors. The main mineral contents are plagioclase, quartz and K-feldspars. Plagioclase, quartz and K-feldspars occur as phenocrysts, but are also observed in microlithic pastes. Plagioclases are characteristic with albite and polysynthetic twinning. Quartz is in the form of anhedral crystals and is distinguished from K-feldspars by its transparent colors in a single nicol.

Characterization of Natural Clay from Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

Clay is one of the essential natural minerals in human life, especially in the industrial sector, which is widely used as a raw material for ceramics fabrication, adsorbents, and photocatalysts. The characteristics of clay significantly affect the quality of the resulting material. This study will study the aspects of natural clay in Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi Province, without the leaching process and with acid leaching. Acid leaching uses 3 M HCl, previously roasted at a temperature of 600 oC. The characterization consisted of metal oxide analysis using XRF, mineral content analysis using XRD, morphological analysis, and compound content using SEM-EDX. The results showed that the primary metal oxide content in natural clay was Fe2O3, Al2O3, and SiO2, the content of Fe2O3 decreased after the raw clay was treated with acid. The main mineral content in the sample is quartz, kaolinite, and hematite. The sample's morphology looks different after being given acid treatment; the acid leaching natural clay sample shows a porous morphology, while the natural clay without acid leaching shows the morphology in the form of lumps. The EDX mapping analysis showed that the number of impurities decreased after being given acid treatment.

Preparasi Detergen Penyuci Najis Air Liur Anjing dengan Variasi Konsentrasi Surfaktan Metil Ester Sulfonat (MES)

The kaolin detergent preparation as an alternative a dog saliva cleanser has been carried out by varying the concentration of Methyl Ester Sulfonate (MES) surfactant. This study aims to obtain the best kaolin detergent composition based on the results of physicochemical testing. The manufacture of kaolin detergent in this study has three stages. The first step is the preparation and characterization of kaolin using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The second step is the manufacture of kaolin detergent with various concentrations of MES surfactant by 10%, 14%, and 18% (w/w). The third step is testing the physicochemical properties which include organoleptic, pH, foam stability, and surface tension. The results showed that kaolin used in the manufacture of detergents has the main mineral content in the form of kaolinite is shown at 2θ=12,24o (d=7,24 Å) and 2θ=24,78o (d=3,58 Å). Based on the results of physicochemical testing, kaolin detergent F3 (MES 18%) was chosen as the best kaolin detergent because it has a thick and homogeneous liquid form, soft texture, white color, has a coconut milk smell, pH 8,270, and surface tension of 0,010 Nm-1.

Pore Structure and Wettability of Lacustrine Shale With Carbonate Interlayers in Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, East China

Shale samples with carbonate interlayers have attracted more and more attention in shale oil exploration of lacustrine shale in China, and the characterization of pore structure and wettability of these shales are significant to the study of shale-oil enrichment and effective exploitation. In this work, by examining six shale samples with carbonate interlayers of Shahejie Formation in East China, the pore structure and wettability characteristics of shale are characterized by means of thin section petrography; X-ray diffraction mineralogy; total organic carbon (TOC) analyses; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging; air-liquid contact angle for wettability; as well as N2 physisorption, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for pore structure. The results show that the main mineral contents are carbonate (with an average of 51.4%) and clay minerals (mainly mixed-layer illite-smectite). The average TOC content is 2.90%, and there is a strong correlation between TOC and dolomite content. In addition, the obvious layered structure is observed by thin section and SEM methods. The pores below 200 nm with ink-bottle shapes are obviously smaller than those of marine shale, and the pore throats are mainly below 50 nm; however, there are also some micrometer-sized cracks. The droplet contact angle measurement shows that the shale is mainly lipophilic, while moderately hydrophilic, at millimeter observational scales. The NMR T2 spectra of water- and oil-saturated samples have an obvious feature of three peak characteristics, as the pore size-associated wettability of these samples can be divided into three stages: water-wet (0.01–1 ms), oil-wet (1–40 ms), and mixed-wet (&amp;gt;40 ms) in terms of relaxation time of the NMR T2 spectrum. The proportion of the second main peak of T2 spectra (P2) for dodecane-saturated samples is directly proportional to the TOC content, and the relationship between P2 and mineral composition is consistent with water-saturated samples.

Evaluation Method of Granite Multiscale Mechanical Properties Based on Nanoindentation Technology

In order to study the mechanical properties of granite at the micro- and nanoscale, the load-displacement curve, residual indentation information, and component information of the quartz, feldspar, and mica in granite were obtained using a nanoindentation test, a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The elastic modulus and the hardness of each component of the granite were obtained through statistical analysis. Treating rock as a composite material, the relation between the macro- and microscopic mechanical properties of rock was established through the theory of micromechanical homogenization. The transition from micromechanical parameters to macromechanical parameters was realized. The equivalent elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the granite were obtained by the Self-consistent method, the Dilute method, and the Mori-Tanaka method. Compared with the elastic modulus and the Poisson ratio of granites measured by a uniaxial compression test and the available data, the applicability of the three methods were analyzed. The results show that the elastic modulus and hardness of the quartz in the granite is the largest, the feldspar is the second, the mica is the smallest. The main mineral contents in granite were analyzed using the semiquantitative method by XRD and the rock slice identification test. The elastic modulus and the Poisson ratio of granite calculated by three linear homogenization methods are consistent with those of the uniaxial compression test. After comparing the calculation results of the three methods, it is found that the Mori-Tanaka method is more suitable for studying the mechanical properties of rock materials. This method has an important theoretical significance and practical value for studying the quantitative relationship between macro- and micromechanical indexes of brittle materials. The research results provide a new method and an important reference for studying the macro-, micro-, and nanomechanical properties of rock.

Determination of the mineral profile of raw and roasted lentil flour after addition to yogurt

Introduction: Lentil (Lens culinaris) is a pulse largely consumed in the world, especially in Algeria. This legume can be consumed in different forms (pottage, soup), but also flour can be produced after roasting treatment of the lentils. Resulted flour can be used as a food or ingredient in the formulation of food products. Aims: The main objective of this study is to determine the variation in the main mineral content of lentil flour. The flour was analyzed at its native state (raw), after roasting, raw before addition to yogurt, and roasted after addition in yogurt as a functional ingredient at a rate of 4%. Material and Methods: The lentil flours analysis was carried out by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) associated with Dispersive X-ray Energy (EDX) microanalysis (SEM-EDX). Results: The results show that the roasting treatment does not have a marked effect on the mineral content of lentil flours. However, the addition to the yogurt made it possible to raise the mineral content of the raw and roasted lentil flour remarkably. Conclusions: Adding lentil flour to yogurt is an effective way to increase the mineral content of yogurts made from these flours. Keywords: Lens culinaris, flour, roasting, SEM-EDX, mineral.

Analysis of physical properties of middle-deep reservoirs in the east of Jizhong Depression

The Jizhong Depression is one of the hot spots for oil and gas exploration in North China. As the Jizhong Depression has the largest area and richest oil and gas resources, the Raoyang Depression has good prospects for exploration. This paper takes the middle-deep reservoirs of the Shahejie Formation in the Raoyang Depression as the research object. Aiming at the problem of the unclear characteristics of the middle-deep reservoirs in the Raoyang Depression, using core description, thin section identification, and cathodoluminescence technology, the physical properties of the middle-deep reservoirs in Shahejie are clarified. The following points of understanding have been obtained: The rock types of Shahejie Formation in Raoyang area are mainly feldspar sandstone and detrital feldspar, followed by feldspar detrital sandstone and feldspar quartz sandstone. The main mineral content of different structural belts is different. The quartz content in Suning and Maxi areas is higher than that in Liuchu and Dawangzhuang areas. The feldspar content in Liuchu and Dawangzhuang areas is higher than that in Suning, Maxi and Liuxi areas. The Maxi area has the highest lithic content. There are 7 types of pores, including intergranular pores, intragranular pores, granular dissolved pores, mold pores, intergranular dissolved pores, intragranular dissolved pores, and intergranular pores. The porosity in Raoyang area is between 0.85% and 35.26 % with the average value of 12.05%. The permeability is 0.01mD-1312mD, and the average value is 12.75mD. It belongs to low porosity-low permeability reservoirs. Finally, combined with sedimentary facies characteristics and actual drilling and logging data, the reservoir division of the study area is completed, and 10 favorable areas are proposed. The research results provide a reference for the next step in the study of the physical characteristics of the middle and deep reservoirs in the eastern part of the Jizhong Depression.

An investigation on the effect of thermal maturity and rock composition on the mechanical behavior of carbonaceous shale formations

Abstract An accurate assessment of the geomechanical behavior of shale reservoirs is extremely significant in screening the potential intervals for hydraulic stimulation and sweet spot mapping. While most of the studies were carried out on siliciclastic shales, we here examine the mechanical behavior of a carbonaceous organic-rich shale in the Lurestan Basin, Iran, and the factors controlling them. Direct laboratory measurements at reservoir stress conditions (static method) and well-logging interpretations (dynamic approach) were employed to assess the main geomechanical properties. Besides, various experimental techniques have been employed to evaluate the dominant shale mineralogy, geochemical properties and rock fabric. It is observed that Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio, obtained from either static or dynamic approaches, are capable of reflecting rock brittleness. Conducted sensitivity analyses also reveal that abundances of organic matter, clay and carbonate minerals are the most significant factors controlling rock brittleness. An increase in the brittleness is envisioned by increasing the carbonate content and inversely by decreasing the concentrations of clay minerals and organic matter. Moreover, week or no clear relationship regarding the possible effects of thermal maturity and quartz content could be distinguished. Incorporating the distinguished controlling factors into a compositional index, a similar relative brittleness sequence with the elasticity-based approach was detected. This indicates that both independent methods are suitable for the identification of brittle layers. Inspected shale samples illustrate notably higher strengths in comparison with well-characterized organic-rich shales in the world, translated as a direct contribution of firm carbonate textures to the rock framework. Taking these textures together with the main mineral contents into account, the reservoir can be subdivided into three lithofacies including limestone, argillaceous limestone and micritic limestone. Micritic limestones show relatively higher strength and brittleness, whereas limestone and argillaceous limestone facies, in spite of high variability, reflect in average lower strength and brittle characteristics.

Education on the impact of reverse osmosis (ro) drinking water toward health in village pb Selayang II Medan

At this time, there is a lot of ready-to-drink drinking water consisting of mineral water and demineralized drinking water such as Reverse Osmosis (RO) both in packets and refills. Drinking water must meet biological, chemical, and physical requirements so that it does not have negative effects on health. One of the chemical requirements is about the main mineral content of calcium and magnesium in drinking water. Based on research results, drinking water with low minerals (usually expressed as low water hardness) if consumed for a long time will cause health problems, for example increasing the risk of several diseases such as cancer, coronary heart disease, and others. Absorption of toxic metals such as Pb will occur if the minerals calcium and magnesium are very low in drinking water. So, if there is a small amount of Pb toxic metals in food, it will be easily absorbed by the body when calcium and magnesium levels are low in drinking water. However, if calcium and magnesium are sufficient in drinking water, the absorption of Pb, both in drinking water and other food, will be inhibited or not occur. Means can avoid diseases caused by these toxic metals.&#x0D; Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that the calcium and magnesium content in drinking water each with a minimum requirement is 20 mg of calcium and 10 mg of magnesium in one liter of drinking water. The Indonesian Ministry of Health in 1975 only stated that the maximum calcium content in drinking water was 75 mg / liter of drinking water and there were no minimum requirements. Then the Ministry of Health in 2010 did not include the calcium and magnesium requirements but only the hardness requirements. So low-mineral drinking water will absorb (trap) the minerals present in other foods and dispose of them so that the body lacks minerals in the long run. Water without minerals will also reduce the process of absorption of minerals in digestion, and can even bind minerals from the body if consumed without other food.&#x0D; Low mineral water is not good as drinking water, especially demineralized drinking water that does not contain minerals can cause health problems especially water without minerals such as RO drinking water. The results showed that the levels of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in bottled and refilled drinking water in Medan more did not reach the minimum levels of calcium and magnesium, meaning that drinking water was low in minerals. Even more important is that producers of refilled RO drinking water are in Medan (some claim to get permission from the government) and there is even a bottled RO drinking water product which means getting permission from the Drug and Food Control (POM).

Adsorption of copper ion from aqueous solutions by well-crystalized nanosized hydroxyapatite

Hydroxyapatite (HAp), the main mineral content of bones and teeth, is one of the most important calcium phosphate-based bio-ceramics. Due to its crystal structure, it has the potential to be used as a low cost and biocompatible adsorbent. In this study, nano-synthesized and well-crystallized HAp was used in adsorption process of copper which causes growth problems. In order to investigate the synthesized nano-HAp crystal structure and functional groups, x-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyzes were performed. Nano-HAp concentration, copper concentration and time were selected as variables affecting copper adsorption and Box-Behnken design was applied. According to the results, it was found that at least 33 min and 510 mg l−1 nano-HAp concentration was required to achieve a higher removal rate than 90% removal efficiency. It was determined that all selected independent variables are effective in copper removal. The optimization study was carried out with the findings obtained from the study and 514.0 mg l−1 nano-HAp and 60.4 min were found to be required for optimal removal. Moreover, the lowest selected Cu concentration can be totally removed by 700 mg l−1 nano-HAp and in 60.4 min of reaction time. This study demonstrates that nano-HAp can be used as an environmentally friendly adsorbent for copper removal from aqueous solution.

Determination of mineral contents of wild Boletus edulis mushroom and its edible safety assessment

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to determine the contents of main mineral elements of wild Boletus edulis and to assess its edible safety, which may provide scientific evidence for the utilization of this species. Fourteen mineral contents (Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Sr, V and Zn) in the caps and stipes of B. edulis as well as the corresponding surface soils collected from nine different geographic regions in Yunnan Province, southwest China were determined. The analyses were performed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) after microwave digestion. Measurement data were analyzed using variance and Pearson correlation analysis. Edible safety was evaluated according to the provisionally tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of heavy metals recommended by United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization (FAO/WHO). Mineral contents were significantly different with the variance of collection areas. B. edulis showed relative abundant contents of Ca, Fe, Mg and Na, followed by Ba, Cr, Cu, Mn and Zn, and the elements with the lower content less were Cd, Co, Ni, Sr and V. The elements accumulation differed significantly in caps and stipes. Among them, Cd and Zn were bioconcentrated (BCF > 1) while others were bioexcluded (BCF < 1). The mineral contents in B. edulis and its surface soil were positively related, indicating that the elements accumulation level was related to soil background. In addition, from the perspective of food safety, if an adult (60 kg) eats 300 g fresh B. edulis per week, the intake of Cd in most of tested mushrooms were lower than PTWI value whereas the Cd intakes in some other samples were higher than this standard. The results indicated that the main mineral contents in B. edulis were significantly different with respect to geographical distribution, and the Cd intake in a few of regions was higher than the acceptable intakes with a potential risk.

Ceratonia siliqua honeys from Morocco: Physicochemical properties, mineral contents, and antioxidant activities

Physicochemical properties, main mineral content, and antioxidant activity were determined for eight floral carob honeys collected from different geographical regions of Morocco. Moroccan honeys showed good chemical and nutritional qualities, fulfilling the criteria described in the standard codex for honey. The percentages obtained for ashes were (0.13–0.69%), electrical conductivity (0.36–1.35 mS/cm), water content (17.30–22.80%), pH (4.17–5.05), free acidity (11.0–42.50 meq/kg), lactone acidity (4.0–16.50 meq/kg), and for total acidity (16.50–59.50 meq/kg). In addition, minerals such as K, Na, Mg, Cu, Zn, and Ca of honey samples were determined and potassium was the major mineral in all samples. The antioxidant activities based on the free radical scavenging, reducing power, and total antioxidant activity were investigated, and the antioxidant capacity of the honey samples was correlated with their biochemical constituents such as total phenol and flavonoids content, and the best antioxidant capacity was confirmed by the honey from Taounate.

An updated acid dew point temperature estimation method for air-firing and oxy-fuel combustion processes

The estimation of acid dew point temperature (Tadp) of flue gas, which is mainly determined by SO3 concentration and steam concentration (CH2O) in flue gas, is crucial for coal-fired boiler system design. In this work, the heterogeneous and homogeneous effects for the conversion of SO2 to SO3 in the oxy-fuel flue gas have been examined. An updated formula for Tadp estimation of flue gas was proposed, which is:Tadp=186+20lgCH2O+26lg(CSO2*(127.65CSO2*−0.585+lgAar×αflyCSO2*12×(15.191+0.071Fe+0.044Al−0.058Ca−0.117Mg)×10−2))The updated formula shows that the main effects of the Tadp were the steam concentration, initial SO2 concentration (CSO2, ppm), ash content of raw coal (Aar, %), fly ash proportion of the inherent coal ash (αfly, %), main mineral contents of coal ash (Fe, Al, Ca, Mg, g/kg). The formula was then fully validated by a large amount of data obtained from laboratory-scale experiments, pilot-scale experiments and industrial scale coal-fired power plants. The results showed that, the heterogeneous effect for the conversion of SO2 to SO3 contributed to 1.33 to 20.86% of the total SO3 formed, smaller than the homogenous effect. Furthermore, the influence of the heterogeneous effect for oxy-fuel process was 1.2–1.6 times larger than that for the conventional air-fired process. The accuracy of the updated formula was proven much higher than the conventional empirical formula for air-firing combustion. The relative deviation of the calculation for oxy-fuel combustion by the updated formula was <7.8%.

DIETARY INTAKE OF MINERALS AND PROSTATE CANCER: INSIGHTS INTO PROBLEM BASED ON THE CHEMICAL ELEMENT CONTENTS IN THE PROSTATE GLAND

Objective: As men age total dietary mineral bioavailability falls which may increase the risk of prostate cancer. The aims of this study were to investigate the changes in main mineral contents in prostate gland that occurred with aging. Design: Population based study on changes in mineral contents in prostate gland with ageing. Participants and setting: 65 free-living healthy men aged 21-87 years who had died suddenly. Prostates were removed at necropsy and the samples of morphologic normal prostate tissue were investigated. Measurements: Contents of ten main minerals (B, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Se, and Zn) were determined by four instrumental analytical methods. Results: No any age-related deficiencies in minerals such as B, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Se, and Zn in the prostate tissue were found. Moreover, the mean mass fractions of Co, Fe, and Zn in prostate tissue for the age group adult men aged 41 years and older were statistically significant higher than for those younger than 40 years. Conclusions: Ageing is not associated with reduced mineral contents in prostate gland resulting in inadequate intakes in nutrients. Nutrition policy for men aged 41 years and older should include advice to decrease intakes of red meat for the purpose to reduce Fe and Zn intake.

Seed processing and oil quality of Jatropha curcas L. on farm scale: A comparison with other energy crops

There are many examples of small-scale initiatives, based on exploitation of the jatropha-crude oil chain, to provide energy at local level, especially in the rural areas of a developing country, where mechanical pressing is currently the most widely used process to extract oil from seed. This study is a comparative analysis of the extraction performance parameters and the quality of the cold pressed oil obtained utilizing a commercial single screw extruder at the farm level for the extraction of Jatropha curcas, sunflower and rapeseed oil. In the case of J. curcas, the best operating results were obtained at a seed feed rate of 25.7kg/h yielding about 8kg/h of oil. This result, although satisfactory, was much lower than that of the rape and sunflower seeds. The levels of the main mineral contents (phosphorus, calcium and magnesium) in the jatropha oil, are significantly higher than those specified in the DIN V 51605 standard. Moreover jatropha oil showed high K and Na content (>2ppm), the elements that promote deposit formations in engines, while these were not detectable in rapeseed and sunflower oil. Preventive measures (optimizing harvest and storage condition) and avoiding an excessive rise in oil temperature (<50°C) during the extraction process are necessary to improve the quality of the jatropha crude oil. In order to meet the quality standards of the new DIN 51506, in order to reduce the mineral elements content in the jatropha oil (especially P, Ca+Mg) inert additives may be mixed with the oil during the seed processing, but these additives can lower the oxidation stability of the oil, so a stabilizer also needs to be added. Moreover these steps complicate the technological process and lower the commercial value of the oil, clearly demonstrating the advantage of producing oil with low concentration of P, Ca+Mg and K+Na in the first place.

습식분해 및 직접용해법에 따른 천일염 중 무기성분 함량 비교

The aims of this research were to determine the proximate composition of various salts and to compare two digestion methods (direct digestion without heating, and microwave digestion) for the determination of the main mineral contents of various salts. Twelve salt samples were divided into three groups of four samples each (imported, Korean gray, and Korean white salts). As a result, the NaCl contents of the Korean white, Korean gray, and imported salts were 85.1, 89.3, and 91.3%, respectively. The salts in the three groups were analyzed for their main mineral contents via AAS. The sodium (Na) content of the Korean white salt was found to be slightly lower than that of the imported salt while the magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) contents of the Korean white salt were found to be higher than those of the imported salt. The mineral composition (% Na:Mg) obtained using microwave-assisted digestion procedures, and the other dissolutions for the subsequent sample analysis, were 89:1 (for both the imported and Korean gray salts) and 82:3 vs. 81:3 (Korean white salt), respectively. The data regarding the mineral contents and composition of the sun-dried salts obtained through the analysis method of wet digestion and the dissolution procedure were compared, and no significant difference was found between the two datasets. Consequently, in this paper, a direct dissolution procedure is suggested for the analysis of the mineral composition of salt.