Fabricating Strong and Stiff Bioplastics from Whole Spirulina Cells

Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion tonnes (Bt) of virgin plastics have been produced, of which around 5 Bt have accumulated as waste in oceans and other natural environments, posing severe threats to entire ecosystems. The need for sustainable bio-based alternatives to traditional petroleum-derived plastics is evident. Bioplastics produced from unprocessed biological materials have thus far suffered from heterogeneous and non-cohesive morphologies, which lead to weak mechanical properties and lack of processability, hindering their industrial integration. Here, a fast, simple, and scalable process is presented to transform raw microalgae into a self-bonded, recyclable, and backyard-compostable bioplastic with attractive mechanical properties surpassing those of other biobased plastics such as thermoplastic starch. Upon hot-pressing, the abundant and photosynthetic algae spirulina forms cohesive bioplastics with flexural modulus and strength in the range 3–5 GPa and 25.5–57 MPa, respectively, depending on pre-processing conditions and the addition of nanofillers. The machinability of these bioplastics, along with self-extinguishing properties, make them promising candidates for consumer plastics. Mechanical recycling and fast biodegradation in soil are demonstrated as end-of-life options. Finally, the environmental impacts are discussed in terms of global warming potential, highlighting the benefits of using a carbon-negative feedstock such as spirulina to fabricate plastics.     

Linking temporal first-order logic with Bayesian networks for the simulation of pervasive computing systems

The authors’ previous work discussed a scalable abstract knowledge representation and reasoning scheme for Pervasive Computing Systems, where both low-level and abstract knowledge is maintained in the form of temporal first-order logic (TFOL) predicates. Furthermore, we introduced a novel concept of a generalised event, an abstract event, which we define as a change in the truth value of an abstract TFOL predicate. Abstract events represent real-time knowledge about the system and they are defined with the help of well-formed TFOL expressions whose leaf nodes are concrete, low-level events using our AESL language.In this paper, we propose to simulate pervasive systems by providing estimated knowledge about its entities and situations that involve them. To achieve this goal, we enhance AESL with higher-order function predicates that denote approximate knowledge about the likelihood of a predicate instance having the value True with respect to a time reference. We define a mapping function between a TFOL predicate and a Bayesian network that calculates likelihood estimates for that predicate as well as a confidence level, i.e., a metric of how reliable the likelihood estimation is for that predicate.Higher-order likelihood predicates are implemented by a novel middleware component, the Likelihood Estimation Service (LES). LES implements the above mapping; first, for each abstract predicate, it learns a Bayesian network that corresponds to that predicate from the knowledge stored in the sensor-driven system. Once trained and validated, the Bayesian networks generate a likelihood estimate and a confidence level. This new knowledge is maintained in the middleware as approximate knowledge therefore providing a simulation of the pervasive system, in the absence of real-time data. Last but not least, we describe an experimental evaluation of our system using the Active BAT location system.     

Constant round group key agreement protocols: A comparative study

The scope of this paper is to review and evaluate all constant round Group Key Agreement (GKA) protocols proposed so far in the literature. We have gathered all GKA protocols that require 1,2,3,4 and 5 rounds and examined their efficiency. In particular, we calculated each protocol’s computation and communication complexity and using proper assessments we compared their total energy cost. The evaluation of all protocols, interesting on its own, can also serve as a reference point for future works and contribute to the establishment of new, more efficient constant round protocols.     

Attached growth systems for wastewater treatment in small and rural communities: a review

This paper reviews the application of attached growth processes for municipal wastewater treatment. Attached growth processes are classified as aerobic (either aerated or non‐aerated), anaerobic and hybrid (anaerobic/anoxic and aerobic). The main advantage of attached growth systems is that they maintain a high concentration of microorganisms resulting in high removal rates at relatively small hydraulic retention times. The basic design and operational characteristics of various systems are presented in terms of packing materials, organic loading rates, treatment temperature, as well as achieved removal rates. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Optimal Robot Speed Trajectory by Minimization of the Actuator Motor Electromechanical Losses

This paper considers the control problem of a robotic manipulator with separately excited dc motor drives as actuators. An innovative method is proposed which achieves robot speed-control requirements, with simultaneous minimization of total electromechanical losses, while the drives follow the desired speed profiles of the robot joints under various loads and random load disturbances. If there is no demand for a specific speed profile, the optimal speed trajectory is determined by minimizing an electromechanical losses criterion. Controllable energy losses, such as armature copper losses, armature iron losses, field copper losses, stray load losses, brush load losses, friction and windage losses, can be expressed proportionally to the squares of the armature and the field (exciting) currents, the angular velocity and the magnetic field flux. The controllable energy loss term is also included in the optimal control integral quadratic performance index, defined for the whole operation period. Thus the appropriate control signals required for following the desired trajectory by simultaneous energy loss minimization for the whole operation interval are achieved. Two case studies of optimal robot control with and without minimization of actuator energy losses are presented and compared, showing the energy savings that can be achieved by the proposed methodology.     

HE4 Transcription- and Splice Variants-Specific Expression in Endometrial Cancer and Correlation with Patient Survival

We investigated the HE4 variant-specific expression patterns in various normal tissues as well as in normal and malignant endometrial tissues. The relationships between mRNA variants and age, body weight, or survival are analyzed. ICAT-labeled normal and endometrial cancer (EC) tissues were analyzed with multidimensional liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry. Levels of HE4 mRNA variants were measured by real-time PCR. Mean mRNA levels were compared among 16 normal endometrial samples, 14 grade 1 and 14 grade 3 endometrioid EC, 15 papillary serous EC, and 14 normal human tissue samples. The relationship between levels of HE4 variants and EC patient characteristics was analyzed with the use of Pearson correlation test. We found that, although all five HE4 mRNA variants are detectable in normal tissue samples, their expression is highly tissue-specific, with epididymis, trachea, breast and endometrium containing the highest levels. HE4-V0, -V1, and -V3 are the most abundant variants in both normal and malignant tissues. All variants are significantly increased in both endometrioid and papillary serous EC, with higher levels observed in grade 3 endometrioid EC. In the EC group, HE4-V1, -V3, and -V4 levels inversely correlate with EC patient survival, whereas HE4-V0 levels positively correlate with age. HE4 variants exhibit tissue-specific expression, suggesting that each variant may exert distinct functions in normal and malignant cells. HE4 levels appear to correlate with EC patient survival in a variant-specific manner. When using HE4 as a biomarker for EC management, the effects of age should be considered.     

A Multiplex Assay to Assess the Transaminase Activity toward Chemically Diverse Amine Donors

The development of methods to engineer and immobilize amine transaminases (ATAs) to improve their functionality and operational stability is gaining momentum. The quest for robust, fast, and easy-to-use methods to screen the activity of large collections of transaminases, is essential. This work presents a novel and multiplex fluorescence-based kinetic assay to assess ATA activity using 4-dimethylamino-1-naphthaldehyde as an amine acceptor. The developed assay allowed us to screen a battery of amine donors using free and immobilized ATAs from different microbial sources as biocatalysts. As a result, using chromatographic methods, 4-hydroxybenzylamine was identified as the best amine donor for the amination of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural. Finally, we adapted this method to determine the apparent Michaelis-Menten parameters of a model immobilized ATA at the microscopic (single-particle) level. Our studies promote the use of this multiplex, multidimensional assay to screen ATAs for further improvement.     

Low Volume Bioreactor Development in Dairy Industry Based on Encapsulated Rennin in Tubular Cellulose/Starch Gel Composite

A novel process development is described in this study, based on a low volume bioreactor containing enzyme (rennin) encapsulated in a nano/micro porous cellulose (or tubular cellulose; TC) and starch gel matrix (TC/SG composite), for use in continuous coagulation of milk in cheese production. To validate the process, experiments were carried out in 10- and 50-L bioreactors. The biocatalyst (rennin immobilized in the TC/SG composite) proved to be efficient for continuous coagulation of milk. The biocatalyst was divided in four portions (filters) evenly distributed in the bioreactors, and high flow rate of milk was applied in order to avoid curd formation inside the bioreactors. Both bioreactor systems provided two economically useful results for the dairy industries: (i) substantial increase of milk coagulation productivity, (ii) acceleration of maturation of the produced cheeses, and (iii) reusability of the biocatalyst. Based on the results, it was estimated that a bioreactor of 1 m³ containing 20 kg of the TC/SG biocatalyst with encapsulated rennin could be used to treat 12,000 L of milk daily for cheese production. Physicochemical analyses of the produced cheeses at various stages of maturation were performed as well as analysis of aroma volatile compounds by SPME GC/MS. No significant differences were found compared to cheeses prepared with the traditional method.     

Antimicrobial Effects of Biosurfactants

Some biosurfactants possess antimicrobial properties. Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive against the detergents than gram-negative bacteria, which were weakly or not inhibited. Especially sophoro- and rhamnolipids prevented the growth of Gram-positive bacteria; the conidia germination of the fungus Glomerella cingulata was influenced by sophoro-, rhamno-, trehalose- and cellobiose-lipids, resp. In the case of the Gram- negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa not inhibited by those surfactants, our studies indicated that the glycolipids are hydrolyzed by enzymatic reactions.     

Temperature decreases in an urban canyon due to green walls and green roofs in diverse climates

This paper discusses the thermal effect of covering the building envelope with vegetation on the microclimate in the built environment, for various climates and urban canyon geometries. A two-dimensional, prognostic, micro scale model has been used, developed for the purposes of this study. The climatic characteristics of nine cities, three urban canyon geometries, two canyon orientations and two wind directions are examined. The thermal effect of green roofs and green walls on the built environment is examined in both inside the canyon and at roof level. The effects of this temperature decrease on outdoors thermal comfort and energy savings are examined. Conclusions are drawn on whether plants on the building envelope can be used to tackle the heat island effect, depending on all these parameters taken into consideration.