The effect of slice thickness on potato crisp yield and composition

Potato tubers of cv. Record UK were used to produce crisps (chips) of different slice thickness (40–70 thousandths of an inch; 1-1·75 mm approximately) using an industrial slicer. The slices were examined to determine maxumum thickness variability of each slice and the range of values produced at each set thickness. Prepared crisps were analysed to determine the effect of slice thickness on the yield and composition of crisps. A series of regression equations were produced relating slice thickness and total surface area of slices to yield, moisture content and oil content of product. Oil uptake during frying was found to be related to the surface area of the potato slices.     

Recent advances in engineered nanomaterials for acute kidney injury theranostics

Acute kidney injury(AKI),has become the focus of increasing attention due to its high risk of death.The early diagnosis and treatment of AKI significantly reduce the risk of renal tissue damage and kidney dysfunction.However,the efficient early diagnosis and treatment approach for AKI remains a challenge.AKI screening via precise nanomaterial theranostics is a new alternative approach.This study summarizes the recent advances in functional nanomaterials in the early detection and treatment of AKI.The challenges and problems in the use of nanomaterials for AKI in clinical applications are also discussed.It is anticipated that highlighting these new advances will lay the foundation for further translational research on the promising application of nanomaterials for AKI.     

Monitoring and analysis of results for two strutted deep excavations using vibrating wire strain gauges

As part of the North East Line Mass Rapid Transit Project in Singapore, Contract 704 included the construction of two underground station structures. The excavation for Serangoon Station was in the residual Bukit Timah granite and the excavation for Woodleigh Station was in the residual Old Alluvium material. The temporary retaining structures for both excavations consisted of driven soldier piles and timber lagging supported by steel struts. The excavation for the construction of both stations was monitored in part using vibrating wire strain gauges on the struts. This paper presents the strut monitoring results. A comparison is made with the apparent earth pressure envelopes recommended by Peck. The need to balance continued development with the land constraints in Singapore means that underground structures will continue to be used. The results presented in this paper are relevant in determining the geotechnical parameters for deep excavation retaining walls constructed in these types of materials. It is concluded that the measured earth pressures relate reasonably well to the apparent earth pressure envelopes recommended by Peck.     

A low-cost horizontal current bipolar transistor (HCBT) technology for the BiCMOS integration with FinFETs

A novel Horizontal Current Bipolar Transistor (HCBT) is processed with the scaled down dimensions and the improved technology. The active transistor region is built in the defect-free sidewall of the 580 nm wide n-hills in the (1 1 0) wafer, implying the reduction of the parasitic region's volume, i.e. the extrinsic base and the collector. The fabricated HCBT exhibits the cutoff frequency (f_T) of 21.4 GHz, the maximum frequency of oscillations (f_max) of 32.6 GHz and the collector–emitter breakdown voltage (BV_CEO) of 5.6 V, which are the highest f_T and the highest f_TBV_CEO product among the lateral bipolar transistors (LBTs).     

The forecasting model based on fuzzy novel ν-support vector machine

This paper presents a new version of fuzzy support vector machine to forecast multi-dimension fuzzy sample. By combining the triangular fuzzy theory with the modified ν-support vector machine, the fuzzy novel ν-support vector machine (FNν-SVM) is proposed, whose constraint conditions are less than those of the standard Fν-SVM by one, is proved to satisfy the structure risk minimum rule under the condition of probability. Moreover, there is no parameter b in the regression function of the FNν-SVM. To seek the optimal parameters of the FNν-SVM, particle swarm optimization is also proposed to optimize the unknown parameters of the FNν-SVM. The results of the application in sale forecasts confirm the feasibility and the validity of the FNν-SVM model. Compared with the traditional model, the FNν-SVM method requires fewer samples and has better forecasting precision.     

Thermal ablation of separable microneedles for transdermal delivery of metformin on diabetic rats

The separable microneedles (MNs), consisted of upper metformin-loaded PCL arrowheads and lower PVA/PCL supporting array, have been fabricated by separately molding method. The metformin-loaded and thermal ablation MNs arrowheads were capped on dissolving solid supporting array. The as-fabricated MNs exhibited an excellent thermal ablation change due to the low melting point of PCL. After insertion into the skin, the upper separable MNs arrowheads could be embedded into the skin. When the separable MNs arrowheads were exposed to thermal stimulus, causing the PCL MNs arrowheads to melt and enabling the release of encapsulated metformin to be thermally modulated.     

基于DCOM和ASTM的LIS联机通信研究与设计

针对当前临床实验室仪器与计算机系统间的通信需求,研究国际上普遍采用的ASTME1831,ASTME1394标准,基于DCOM技术和ASTM标准提出一种相对通用的联机通信设计方案,包括多层分布式应用、ASTM标准通信实现和数据收发多线程处理。实现具有标准化接口的实验仪器与计算机系统之间的双向信息传输,不仅业务变更灵活,而且有利于运算均衡。