Process optimization of sweet potato pulp‐based biodegradable plastics using response surface methodology

Biodegradable plastics were produced from sweet potato pulp (SPP) and cationic starch (CS) or chitosan composite (CC) by compression molding and their mechanical properties were tested. A universal testing machine, Rockwell hardness tester, and Izod impact tester were used for testing the mechanical properties (flexural strength, Rockwell hardness, and Izod strength) of the plastics. A central composite second‐order design was used to study the effects of temperature, time, and moisture content on the flexural strength, Rockwell hardness, and Izod strength of SPP/CS and SPP/CC blended plastics. The flexural strength, Rockwell hardness, and Izod strength of SPP‐based plastics was 101.1–305.9 kg/cm², R29.0–R96.7, and 0.6–3.0 kg cm cm^?2, respectively. Regression analysis predicted the optimal mechanical properties (flexural strength, Rockwell hardness, and Izod strength) to be attained with a 150–160°C temperature, 15–20‐min reaction time, and 20–23% moisture content. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 423–434, 2002     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of new blue‐light‐emitting polyconjugated poly{1,1′‐biphenyl‐4,4′‐diyl‐[1‐(4‐t‐butylphenyl)]vinylene} polymers and copolymers

Three new soluble polyconjugated polymers, all of which emitted blue light in photoluminescence and electroluminescence, were synthesized, and their luminescence properties were studied. The polymers were poly{1,1′‐biphenyl‐4,4′‐diyl‐[1‐(4‐t‐butylphenyl)]vinylene}, poly((9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)‐alt‐{1,4‐phenylene‐[1‐(4‐t‐butylphenyl)vinylene‐1,4‐phenylene]}) [P(DOF‐PVP)], and poly([N‐(2‐ethyl) hexylcarbazole‐3,6‐diyl]‐alt‐{1,4‐phenylene‐[1‐(4‐t‐butylphenyl)]vinylene‐1,4‐phenylene}). The last two polymers had alternating sequences of the two structural units. Among the three polymers, P(DOF‐PVP) performed best in the light‐emitting diode devices of indium–tin oxide/poly(ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (30 nm)/polymer (150 nm)/Li:Al (100 nm). This might have been correlated with the balance in and magnitude of the mobility of the charge carriers, that is, positive holes and electrons, and also the electronic structure, that is, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels, of the polymers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 307–317, 2006     

Improvement of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase as an antistaling enzyme by error-prone PCR

In an effort to improve the properties of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) as an antistaling enzyme, error-prone PCR was used to introduce random mutations into a CGTase cloned from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. I-5 (CGTase I-5). A mutant CGTase[3-18] with the three mutations M234T, F259I and V591A was selected by agar plate assay. Sequence alignment of various CGTases indicated that M234 and F259 are located in the vicinity of the catalytic sites of the enzyme and V591 in the starch binding domain E. The cyclization activity of CGTase[3-18] was dramatically decreased by 10-fold, while the hydrolyzing activity was increased by up to 15-fold. These mutations near subsite +1 (M234T) and at subsite +2 (F259I) are likely to alter the enzyme activity in a concerted manner, promoting hydrolysis of substrate while retarding cyclization. The addition of CGTase[3-18] reduced the retrogradation rate of bread by as much as did the commercial antistaling enzyme Novamyl during 7-day storage at 4 degrees C. No cyclodextrin (CD) was detected in bread treated with CGTase[3-18], whereas 21 mg of CD per 10 g of bread was produced in bread treated with wild-type CGTase.     

带二次流增推尾喷管的脉冲爆震发动机数值模拟研究

为提升现有脉冲爆震发动机增推喷管性能,对带二次流尾喷管发动机分别在定常流和爆震多循环过程进行了数值模拟,研究了二次流尾喷管的流场并计算了其推进性能。结果表明,定常流动中,随着主流压力的升高,注入二次流对尾喷管推进性能的提升幅度逐渐降低;当爆震室内压力很高时,二次流的瞬时流量会自动降低或者停止注入,当爆震室压力较低时,二次流流量又会自动恢复;单管注入二次流对PDE平均推力和平均单位推力的提升率分别达到2.63%和0.36%;双管注入二次流达到5.96%和0.75%。     

一种基于RGV、AGV的柔性输送系统

随着现代制造业的迅速发展,我国的物流行业也随之崛起,并且逐渐受到全社会的广泛关注。早期的人工物流、机械化物流方式,已经远远不能满足现在大规模生产流水线的需求。本文提出了一种基于RGV、AGV的柔性输送系统,其中环形RGV输送系统通过成对的码头和码头之间的流水线与AGV输送系统、非环形往复式RGV输送系统相接驳;AGV输送系统和非环形往复式RGV输送系统用于将物流货品从环形RGV输送系统送入或送出指定物流系统。该系统有效地克服传统单一RGV输送系统对使用场所的适应性差、轨道占用空间大等缺点,同时避免使用单一AGV输送系统带来的输送效率较低、设备及维护成本较高等问题。     

mVoIP for P2P service based authentication system using AA authentication server

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), which provides voice calls as well as additional services at cheaper prices than PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), is gaining ground over the latter, which had been the dominant telephone network in the past. This kind of a VoIP service is evolving into a dedicated mVoIP service for the smartphone which allows calls to be made at cheap prices using a WiFi network, as the number of smartphone users is skyrocketing as of late. While an increase in the user base is expected for mVoIP, a packet network is an open network which means anyone can easily gain access and so there can be various problems. To mitigate this, in this paper an authentication system is designed which has an AA (Attribute Authority) server added to VoIP in order to increase security and discriminate user access. In this paper a system for addressing security vulnerabilities from the increase in the use of VoIP services and providing differentiated services according to user access privileges is designed. This paper is organized as follows: Chapter 1 gives the introduction; Chapter 2 is on related research; Chapter 3 describes the proposed technique and system; Chapter 4 implements the system and analyzes its the performance; and Chapter 5 gives the conclusions.     

CC1020的点对多点无线组网研究

为了满足近距离无线点对多点系统的实际需求,从基于无线收发芯片CC1020实现该系统出发,对3种点对多点实现方式的特点、性能、以及从机扩展能力等进行详细论述,并给出基于CC1020实现的点对多点无线数据采集系统的主从机软件工作流程。     

Depth-Fused 3D Imagery on an Immaterial Display

We present an immaterial display that uses a generalized form of depth-fused 3D (DFD) rendering to create unencumbered 3D visuals. To accomplish this result, we demonstrate a DFD display simulator that extends the established depth-fused 3D principle by using screens in arbitrary configurations and from arbitrary viewpoints. The feasibility of the generalized DFD effect is established with a user study using the simulator. Based on these results, we developed a prototype display using one or two immaterial screens to create an unencumbered 3D visual that users can penetrate, examining the potential for direct walk-through and reach-through manipulation of the 3D scene. We evaluate the prototype system in formative and summative user studies and report the tolerance thresholds discovered for both tracking and projector errors.     

L-thiocitrulline. A stereospecific, heme-binding inhibitor of nitric-oxide synthases

Nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) catalyzes the oxidation of L-arginine to citrulline and nitric oxide (NO). The enzyme is inhibited by a variety of N omega-monosubstituted L-arginine analogs, and some of these compounds are useful in reversing pathologies associated with the overproduction of NO (e.g. the hypotension of septic shock). We report here that L-thiocitrulline (gamma-thioureido-L-norvaline) is a potent, stereospecific inhibitor of the constitutive brain and endothelial isoforms of NOS as well as the isoform induced in vascular smooth muscle cells by lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma. Steady state kinetic studies show L-thiocitrulline inhibition is competitive with L-arginine (Ki approximately 4-20% of KArgm), indicating that initial binding is as a substrate/product analog. In contrast to L-arginine and N omega-methyl-L-arginine, the prototypic NOS inhibitor, L-thiocitrulline binding elicits a "Type II" difference spectrum, indicating a high spin to low spin transition of the iron in the heme cofactor. This finding suggests that L-thiocitrulline is contributing the sixth ligand to heme iron, probably through the thioureido sulfur. Such interaction with heme iron neither stimulates nor inhibits the direct flavin-mediated cytochrome c reduction activity of the enzyme, but it does inhibit heme-dependent superoxide formation. In vivo, L-thiocitrulline is a potent pressor agent in both normal and endotoxemic rats, the latter finding suggesting utility in treating the hypotension of septic shock.     

Renal amyloidosis in a drug abuser

Drug abusers, particularly those who inject drugs s.c. ("skin popping"), may develop amyloidosis. Chronic infections are thought to play a pathogenetic role in this setting. A patient is presented who had a history of "skin popping" cocaine and heroin and developed nephrotic syndrome, with an elevated serum creatinine and a creatinine clearance of 61 mL/min. Renal biopsy demonstrated amyloidosis. Treatment with colchicine was initiated, and proteinuria decreased to near normal levels after 12 months. Concomitant with the decrease in proteinuria, creatinine clearance improved, although a repeat renal biopsy failed to show any significant improvement in amyloid burden. These observations suggest that colchicine may be a useful treatment in reversing the proteinuria of renal amyloidosis associated with drug abuse. Furthermore, clinical improvement may occur before any demonstrable regression in the amyloidosis.