K. Suresh Kumar

Studies on the functional properties of protein concentrate of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty - an edible seaweed.

Protein concentrate (PC) of Kappaphycus alvarezii (cultivated on the West coast of India), was extracted and its functional properties were evaluated. The K. alvarezii PC contained 62.3 ± 1.62% proteins. At pH 12, the nitrogen solubility of this PC was 58.72 ± 1.68% in the presence of 0.5M NaCl. The emulsifying and foaming properties of this PC varied with time and pH. However, it formed remarkably stable emulsions with Jatropha oil after 720 min (i.e. E720=53.67 ± 1.59). On the other hand, maximum foaming ability (53.33 ± 2.31%) of the PC was recorded at pH 4.0. This PC had high oil (1.29 ± 0.20 ml oil/g PC) and water absorption capacity (2.22 0.04 ml H2O/g PC). DSC analysis revealed thermal transitions at about 109.25°C at neutral pH. The results obtained in this investigation suggest the suitability of K. alvarezii PC as an inexpensive source of protein; thus this PC could be incorporated into several value-added food products.

RETRACTED: Preconcentration and solid-phase extraction of beryllium, lead, nickel, and bismuth from various water samples using 2-propylpiperidine-1-carbodithioate with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS).

This article has been retracted at the request of the Editors-in-Chief. Please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). REASON: Considerable concern was raised about the research purportedly conducted at Sri Venkateswara University, India with the alleged involvement of Professor P. Chiranjeevi. Questions were raised as to the volume of publications, the actual capacity (equipment, orientation and chemicals) of the laboratory in which Professor Chiranjeevi worked, the validity of certain of the research data identified in the articles, the fact that a number of papers appear to have been plagiarized from other previously published papers, and some aspects of authorship. Professor Chiranjeevi was given the opportunity to respond to these allegations. Thereafter, a committee was constituted by the University to look into these allegations. Based on the enquiry committee report, we have been informed by the head of the Department of Chemistry at Sri Venkateswara University that the university authorities have taken disciplinary action against Professor Chiranjeevi, as the university considers that there are grounds for such action. Therefore, based on the results of this investigation, the Editors-in-Chief are retracting this article.

RETRACTED: Simultaneous flow-through determination of nitrites, nitrates and their mixtures in environmental and biological samples using spectrophotometry

This article has been retracted at the request of the Editors-in-Chief. Please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). REASON: Considerable concern was raised about the research purportedly conducted at Sri Venkateswara University, India with the alleged involvement of Professor P. Chiranjeevi. Questions were raised as to the volume of publications, the actual capacity (equipment, orientation and chemicals) of the laboratory in which Professor Chiranjeevi worked, the validity of certain of the research data identified in the articles, the fact that a number of papers appear to have been plagiarized from other previously published papers, and some aspects of authorship. Professor Chiranjeevi was given the opportunity to respond to these allegations. Thereafter, a committee was constituted by the University to look into these allegations. Based on the enquiry committee report, we have been informed by the head of the Department of Chemistry at Sri Venkateswara University that the university authorities have taken disciplinary action against Professor Chiranjeevi, as the university considers that there are grounds for such action. Therefore, based on the results of this investigation, the Editors-in-Chief are retracting this article.

RETRACTED: Development of novel reactions for the simple and sensitive spectrophotometric determination of vanadium in various samples

This article has been retracted at the request of the Editors-in-Chief. Please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). Reason: Considerable concern was raised about the research purportedly conducted at Sri Venkateswara University, India with the alleged involvement of Professor P. Chiranjeevi. Questions were raised as to the volume of publications, the actual capacity (equipment, orientation and chemicals) of the laboratory in which Professor Chiranjeevi worked, the validity of certain of the research data identified in the articles, the fact that a number of papers appear to have been plagiarized from other previously published papers, and some aspects of authorship. Professor Chiranjeevi was given the opportunity to respond to these allegations. Thereafter, a committee was constituted by the University to look into these allegations. Based on the enquiry committee report, we have been informed by the head of the Department of Chemistry at Sri Venkateswara University that the university authorities have taken disciplinary action against ProfessorChiranjeevi, as the university considers that there are grounds for such action. Therefore, based on the results of this investigation, the Editors-in-Chief are retracting this article.

Effect of Pilot Fuel Quantity on the Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Pre-Mixed CNG - Diesel Dual Fuel Mode Engine

The serious environmental pollution and the energy crisis all over the world has caused for development of the lower pollution and lower energy consumption automobile to become major research goal. With huge back ground, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is projected as the best alternative fuel for the country like India. The properties of CNG make it an ideal fuel for direct use in spark ignition engines. Conversion of any existing spark ignition engine to operate on natural gas is relatively simple with available equipment. Many spark ignition engine vehicles are successfully operating in major cities of India with CNG fuel. However CNG cannot be used as a fuel in diesel engines with ease. Since the maximum engines at present run on diesel, it will be very much useful if a solution could be found to alter the existing diesel engine with minimum modifications to run on CNG. Several researchers could attempt to run diesel engines with CNG. In the process three methods were reported to be successful to use CNG as a fuel in diesel engines, they are (i) Spark ignited gas mode (ii) Direct injection of CNG in dual fuel mode and (iii) Premixed CNG dual fuel mode. In the present work a premixed dual fuel engine was developed which can perform well for the entire range of load and experiments are carried out by varying the pilot fuel amount and studied the effect of pilot fuel amount on engine performance and emissions characteristics and determined optimum fuel injection quantity for better performance and lower emissions.

Retraction notice to “Cloud point extraction of palladium in water samples and alloy mixtures using new synthesized reagent with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS)” [J. Hazard. Mater. 144 (1–2) (2007) 152–158]

This article has been retracted at the request of the editors. Considerable concern was raised about the research purportedly conducted at Sri Venkateswara University, India with the alleged involvement of Prof. P. Chiranjeevi. Questions were raised as to the volume of publications, the actual capacity (equipment, orientation and chemicals) of the laboratory in which Prof. Chiranjeevi worked, the validity of certain of the research data identified in the articles, the fact that a number of papers appear to have been plagiarized from other previously published papers, and some aspects of authorship. Prof. Chiranjeevi was given the opportunity to respond to these allegations. Thereafter, a committee was constituted by the university to look into these allegations. Based on the enquiry committee report, we have been informed by the head of the Department of Chemistry at Sri Venkateswara University that the university authorities have taken disciplinary action against Prof. Chiranjeevi, as the university considers that there are grounds for such action. Therefore, based on the results of this investigation, the editor is retracting this article, consistent with Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal. Please see http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy .

Retraction notice to“The determination of nickel(II) after on-line sorbent preconcentration by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry using Borassus Flabellifer inflorescence loaded with coniine dithiocarbamate” [J. Hazard. Mater. 112 (3) (2004) 233–238]

This article has been retracted at the request of the editors. Considerable concern was raised about the research purportedly conducted at Sri Venkateswara University, India with the alleged involvement of Prof. P. Chiranjeevi. Questions were raised as to the volume of publications, the actual capacity (equipment, orientation and chemicals) of the laboratory in which Prof. Chiranjeevi worked, the validity of certain of the research data identified in the articles, the fact that a number of papers appear to have been plagiarized from other previously published papers, and some aspects of authorship. Prof. Chiranjeevi was given the opportunity to respond to these allegations. Thereafter, a committee was constituted by the University to look into these allegations. Based on the enquiry committee report, we have been informed by the head of the Department of Chemistry at Sri Venkateswara University that the university authorities have taken disciplinary action against Prof. Chiranjeevi, as the university considers that there are grounds for such action. Therefore, based on the results of this investigation, the editor is retracting this article, consistent with Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal. Please see http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy .