Farmers' preferences for adopting on-farm concentration of raw milk: Results from a discrete choice experiment in Germany

Milk concentrates are used in the manufacturing of dairy products such as yogurt and cheese or are processed into milk powder. Processes for the nonthermal separation of water and valuable milk ingredients are becoming increasingly widespread at farm level. The technical barriers to using farm-manufactured milk concentrate in dairies are minimal, hence the suspicion that the practice of on-farm raw milk concentration is still fairly uncommon for economic reasons. This study, therefore, set out to investigate farmers' potential willingness to adopt a raw milk concentration plant. The empirical analysis was based on discrete choice experiments with 75 German dairy farmers to identify preferences and the possible adoption of on-farm raw milk concentration. The results showed that, in particular, farmers who deemed the current milk price to be insufficient viewed on-farm concentration using membrane technology as an option for diversifying their milk sales. We found no indication that adoption would be impeded by a lack of trustworthy information on milk processing technologies or capital.     

Co?N graphene encapsulated cobalt catalyst for H2O2 decomposition under acidic conditions

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) has been listed as one of the 100 most important chemicals in the world. However, huge amount of residual H₂O₂ is hard to timely decomposed into O₂ and H₂O under acidic condition, easily resulting in explosion hazard. Here, we reported a core–shell structure catalyst, that is graphene with Co N structure encapsulated Co nanoparticles. Co N graphene shell serves as the active site for the H₂O₂ decomposition, and Co core further enhance this decomposition. Benefiting from it, the H₂O₂ decomposition were close to 100% after 6 cycles without pH adjustment, which increased 6 orders of magnitude compared with no catalyst. At the same time, the O₂ generation reached 99.67% in 2 h with little metal leaching, and ·OH has been greatly inhibited to only 0.08%. This work can cleanly remove H₂O₂ with little deep oxidation and protect the process of H₂O₂ utilization to achieve a safer world.     

日本の寒地，北海道における2030年代の水稲生育への温暖化の影響予測とその対応(日语原文)

北海道では1980年代から2010年代まで，水稲圃場栽培期間である5–9月の気温は年代とともに上昇した。そこで，直近の2010年代（2010—2019年平均）と比べて， 2つの2030年代の予測気象から，既報の関係式より水稲生育を予測した。その結果，2030年代では2010年代に比べ，限界移植日（移植早限）が水稲栽培17地域の平均で8～9日早い。また，早限出穂期が1～5日早く，晩限出穂期が1～5日遅く，安全出穂期間が2～10日長い。出穂期は1～3日早い。出穂期から晩限出穂まで2～9日長いため，遅延型冷害の発生がやや少ない。生育期別気象は，出穂前24日以降30日間では生育が早いため平均気温が同じかやや低い。出穂前10日以降40日間および出穂期以降40日間では平均気温がやや高く，日射量はやや少ない。そのため，玄米収量は96～98％とやや低く，潜在収量性を示す気候登熟量示数は同じである。障害不稔発生に関係する穂ばらみ期冷害危険期の平均気温はわずかに低いかほぼ同じであるため，冷害発生の危険性は残る。一方，不稔発生をもたらす低温域の出現頻度には，地域間で差異がある。精米蛋白質含有率は同じであるが，アミロース含有率はやや低く，やや良食味である。米粒外観品質では被害粒歩合と着色粒歩合は一定の傾向がなく，未熟粒歩合はやや高い。精米白度は同じであるが，玄米白度はやや高い。以上の予測に対する技術的対応方向を示した。     

Molecular Characteristics of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) and Its Effects in Cancer

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein, and its homologs amyloid precursor-like protein 1 (APLP1) and amyloid precursor-like protein 2 (APLP2) are highly conserved in mammals. APP and APLP are known to be intimately involved in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and to play important roles in neuronal homeostasis and development and neural transmission. APP and APLP are also expressed in non-neuronal tissues and are overexpressed in cancer cells. Furthermore, research indicates they are involved in several cancers. In this review, we examine the biological characteristics of APP-related family members and their roles in cancer.     

Synthesis and performance evaluation of a new drag reducer based on acrylamide/12-allyloxydodecyl acid sodium

Hydraulic fracturing with slickwater is a field-proven stimulation technology used in tight reservoirs. Because of the high pumping rate associated with slickwater fracturing, drag reduction (DR) is critical in minimizing pressure drop and the success of oilfield operations. In this paper, a new type of drag reducer (SPR) was synthesized with acrylamide and 12-allyloxydodecyl acid sodium, and its drag reduction performance was evaluated. The results showed that the new drag reducer features low molecular weight, fast-dissolving rate and low interfacial tension. The algorithm of estimating the drag reduction rate of non-Newtonian fluid SPR was proposed and validated. Empirical or semianalytical models for estimating the friction ratio (σ) or friction factor (λ or f) were used to simulate the turbulence behavior of the SPR drag reducer under different Reynolds numbers (Re). The modified Virk's correlation could accurately model the turbulent behavior of the SPR drag reducer. A unified calculation formula was established in this study for different pipe diameters.     

The Impact of the ‘Mis-Peptidome’ on HLA Class I-Mediated Diseases: Contribution of ERAP1 and ERAP2 and Effects on the Immune Response

The strong association with the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I genes represents a shared trait for a group of autoimmune/autoinflammatory disorders having in common immunopathogenetic basis as well as clinical features. Accordingly, the main risk factors for Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), prototype of the Spondyloarthropathies (SpA), the Behçet’s disease (BD), the Psoriasis (Ps) and the Birdshot Chorioretinopathy (BSCR) are HLA-B*27, HLA-B*51, HLA-C*06:02 and HLA-A*29:02, respectively. Despite the strength of the association, the HLA pathogenetic role in these diseases is far from being thoroughly understood. Furthermore, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have highlighted other important susceptibility factors such as Endoplasmic Reticulum Aminopeptidase (ERAP) 1 and, less frequently, ERAP2 that refine the peptidome presented by HLA class I molecules to CD8⁺ T cells. Mass spectrometry analysis provided considerable knowledge of HLA-B*27, HLA-B*51, HLA-C*06:02 and HLA-A*29:02 immunopeptidome. However, the combined effect of several ERAP1 and ERAP2 allelic variants could generate an altered pool of peptides accounting for the “mis-immunopeptidome” that ranges from suboptimal to pathogenetic/harmful peptides able to induce non-canonical or autoreactive CD8⁺ T responses, activation of NK cells and/or garbling the classical functions of the HLA class I molecules. This review will focus on this class of epitopes as possible elicitors of atypical/harmful immune responses which can contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases.     

强变形工艺对2519A铝合金组织与性能的影响

通过硬度测试、拉伸性能测试、透射电镜观察等分析手段研究了不同强变形工艺下2519A铝合金的力学性能与微观组织。结果表明,经50%的冷轧变形和165 ℃人工时效后,2519A合金的力学性能明显提高,其抗拉强度、屈服强度和伸长率分别为522 MPa、468 MPa和8.5%。而在冷变形前添加165 ℃×2 h预时效处理,合金的力学性能进一步提高,其抗拉强度、屈服强度和伸长率分别达到535 MPa、497 MPa和8%。预时效处理可以提高合金中θ′相的密度,使析出相分布更加均匀,有助于提高合金的力学性能。     

Effects of fibers and conventional reinforcement contents on fibers scaterring in prismatic bars

This paper presents results from a second stage of an experimental study of the dependence of steel fibers distribution along RFC prismatic specimens on the conventional reinforcement ratio and on the total amount of fibers in the concrete mix. The experimental program included two types of prismatic specimens with 30- and 60- kg/m³ of hooked-end steel fibers. Each specimen was sawed into equal segments and the numbers of fibers appearing at the cross-sections were counted and used for a further statistical analysis. This analysis comprised calculations of the average value and standard deviation of a non-dimensional variable, which represents the distribution of the total steel along the specimen. They were used to calibrate a theoretical model, which had been previously proposed by the authors. The test results showed reasonable to good agreement with the theoretical model. A comparison between the results of the 30- and 60-kg/m³ fibers shows that as the conventional reinforcement ratio increases, the standard deviations for the different mixtures approach each other.     

Melting heat transfer analysis of electrically conducting nanofluid flow over an exponentially shrinking/stretching porous sheet with radiative heat flux under a magnetic field

Modern magnetic nanomaterial processing operations are progressing rapidly and require increasingly sophisticated mathematical models for their optimization. Stimulated by such developments, in this paper, a theoretical and computational study of a steady magnetohydrodynamic nanofluid over an exponentially stretching/shrinking permeable sheet with melting (phase change) and radiative heat transfer is presented. Besides, wall transpiration, that is, suction and blowing (injection), is included. This study deploys Buongiorno's nanofluid model, which simulates the effects of the Brownian motion and thermophoresis. The transport equations and boundary conditions are normalized via similarity transformations and appropriate variables, and the similarity solutions are shown to depend on the transpiration parameter. The emerging dimensionless nonlinear coupled ordinary differential boundary value problem is solved numerically with the Newton-Fehlberg iteration technique. Validation with special cases from the literature is included. The increase in the magnetic field, that is, the Hartmann number, is observed to elevate nanoparticle concentration and temperature, whereas it dampens the velocity. Higher values of the melting parameter consistently decelerate the boundary layer flow and suppress temperature and nanoparticle concentration. A higher radiative parameter strongly increases temperature (and thermal boundary layer thickness) and weakly accelerates the flow. The increase in the Brownian motion reduces nanoparticle concentrations, whereas a greater thermophoretic body force strongly enhances them. The Nusselt number and Sherwood number are observed to be decreased with an increasing Hartmann number, whereas they are elevated with a stronger wall suction and melting parameter.     

The influence of national culture on responsible innovation: A case of CO2 utilisation in Indonesia

Responsible innovation (RI) offers a promising step towards a more responsible adoption of innovations, such as new and emerging technologies. However, how RI would be practised in different cultural contexts and settings is still less studied, especially in the context of developing countries. Taking the utilisation of CO₂ in Indonesia as an empirical case, the purpose of this paper is to explore this issue through examining the influence of key characteristics of Indonesia's national culture on core dimensions of RI: anticipation, reflexivity, deliberation, responsiveness and participation. The different RI dimensions are applied in practice in a focus group discussion (FGD) and a round of interviews with different stakeholders that explored CO₂ utilisation in the country. Hofstede's classification of national cultural dimensions is used to single out key focus points for attention in these RI processes in the Indonesian context. The results from the experiment illustrate that culture matters in the application of RI dimensions in practice. In the sense that in order for RI to work well, the governance of core RI processes such as participation and deliberation has to be adjusted to social norms of what is considered legitimate, desirable and good behaviour. These norms differ across societies. The findings further suggest ways of applying RI dimensions in practice.