Use of Response Surface Methodology to Investigate the Effectiveness of Commercial Enzymes on Buckwheat Malt for Brewing Purposes

The influence of two factors, total concentration and fraction of three pairs of commercial enzymes, which showed statistical significance (Biocellulase W with Hitempase 2XL, Biocellulase W with Amylo 300 and Amylo 300 with Hitempase 2XL), were studied for their overall effect on buckwheat wort quality using response surface methodology (RSM). This study revealed that the addition of increasing levels of Hitempase 2XL to the buckwheat mash increased colour, extract levels, wort filtration, fermentability and total fermentable extract (TFE), along with decreasing viscosity values. Results also determined a high level of fermentability when an enzyme combination of 30% Biocellulase and 70% Hitempase was added to the mash. The addition of increasing levels of Amylo 300 to buckwheat mashes resulted in increases in fermentability and total fermentable extract (TFE), along with increases in total soluble nitrogen (TSN), free amino nitrogen (FAN) and Kolbach index (KI). With regard to the proposed optimal regime, although no synergistic effect was found when the three enzymes were used together, the optimum conditions for the production of buckwheat wort with lowest viscosity, highest extract and optimal fermentability were achieved using a joint model. Overall, the findings of this study demonstrate the feasibility of producing wort suitable for the brewing of gluten‐free beer from 100% malted buckwheat with careful optimisation of enzyme types and dosage levels.     

Interleaving solving and elicitation of constraint satisfaction problems based on expected cost

We consider Constraint Satisfaction Problems in which constraints can be initially incomplete, where it is unknown whether certain tuples satisfy the constraint or not. We assume that we can determine the satisfaction of such an unknown tuple, i.e., find out whether this tuple is in the constraint or not, but doing so incurs a known cost, which may vary between tuples. We also assume that we know the probability of an unknown tuple satisfying a constraint. We define algorithms for this problem, based on backtracking search. Specifically, we consider a simple iterative algorithm based on a cost limit on the unknowns that may be determined, and a more complex algorithm that delays determining an unknown in order to estimate better whether doing so is worthwhile. We show experimentally that the more sophisticated algorithms can greatly reduce the average cost.     

The Case of Richard Tomlinson: The Spy Who E-mailed Me

This article considers the issues raised by the Richard Tomlinson affair. The authors discuss the following implications: First, the effective regulation and control of the Intelligence Services, concentrating upon the terms of Official Secrets legislation. Second, adequate legal safeguards for the internet. The authors discuss, inter alia , the problems of jurisdictional control, international regulation and technical possibilities for control. Finally, the authors assess the impact of the United Kingdom Government's proposals for a Freedom of Information Act and their impact upon the internet and the Intelligence Services. The authors contend that the Official Secrets Act 1989 is still in need of reform, regulation of the internet requires a paradigm shift in attitude, from all concerned and that the proposed Freedom of Information Bill requires overhauling.     

Diamond surfaces polished both mechanically and manually; an atomic force microscopy (AFM) study

Diamond surfaces that are polished both mechanically and manually have been studied using atomic force microscopy and compared with optical micrographs obtained within the Nomarski interference mode. The extra gentle manual polishing which follows the mechanical polishing was developed to produce much smoother, well characterized and flat diamond surfaces than those prepared through mechanical polishing only. Both the AFM and optical micrographs showed the manually polished diamond surfaces being smoother and also exhibiting lower roughness parameters than those polished mechanically only. Annealing the surfaces to 250 °C did not show any noticeable changes in the surface roughnesses, but a 750 °C vacuum-anneal did show some differences that were attributed to possible surface etching through the desorption of the surface-bonded species.     

Degradation kinetics of epoxidized soybean oil composites filled with sisal fiber

Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) composites were cured with methyl tetrahydrophthalic anhydride (MTHPA) and 2,4,6-tris(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol (DEH 35) as a catalyst, sisal fibers were added at 10% and 30% of percent per weight. Composites curing was monitored using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, whereas the thermal stability and the degradation kinetics were investigated using thermogravimetry (TG). ESO/MTHPA/DEH35/S10 and ESO/MTHPA/DEH35/S30 composites displayed curing temperatures approximately 100°C lower related to ESO/MTHPA/DEH35, as well as higher degree of conversion. Sisal addition improved the thermal stability, shifting the weight loss shifting the weight loss onset to higher temperature (from 82 to 120°C). Thermal degradation energy $$ was determined using Friedman, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall models. Sisal significantly increased $$, especially in the intermediate phase (α = 0.2 and 0.8). The degradation kinetics was investigated by TG, and the degradation mechanisms modeled using Kamal-Sourour, Sestack-Berggren, and 1st order (F1), showed excellent fit, with R² > 0.99. Acquired results demonstrate that sisal fiber addition benefited the curing process and increased the thermal stability of ESO composites.     

An All-Fiber Coupled Multicolor Microspherical Light Source

We present results on the realization of an all-taper coupled, multicolor microspherical light source fabricated from the erbium-doped fluoride glass ZBLALiP. Whispering gallery mode lasing at 1555 nm and fluorescent emissions from the ultraviolet to the infrared (IR) have been observed. A tapered fiber is used to launch 980-nm pump light into the microresonator cavity and to collect the resulting IR lasing. A separate, half-taper fiber is used to outcouple the upconversion spectrum over several hundred nanometers. A number of discrete emissions from 400 to 850 nm have been observed in the upconversion spectrum, indicating the suitability of this scheme as a miniature device with a 450-nm-wide band and reasonable output coupling efficiency.     

In-situ resource utilisation manufacturing of optically transparent glass from lunar regolith simulant

Journal of Materials Science - International space agencies are aiming to establish permanent outposts on the lunar surface. For that purpose, new technologies and equipment are being developed...     

Low frequency electrical properties of corroded iron barrier cores

We investigated the electrical signatures of iron corrosion and mineral precipitation in angle cores from an Fe(0) barrier installation in operation for eight years. The real and imaginary parts of the complex electrical conductivity measured between 0.1 and 1000 Hz were 2-10 times higher (varying between cores) in the reacted zone at the upgradient edge of the barrier relative to less altered locations inside the barrier. Scanning electron microscopy identified iron surface alteration with the thickest corrosion rinds closest to the upgradient soil/iron interface. Surface area of iron minerals was also greatest at the upgradient interface, gradually decreasing into the cores. X-ray diffractometry identified precipitation of iron oxide/hydroxide, carbonate minerals, iron sulfide, as well as green rusts, with mineral complexity decreasing away from the interface. The electrical measurements correlate very well with the solid-phase analyses, and they verify that electrical methods could be used to assess or monitor iron corrosion and mineral precipitation occurring in Fe(0) barriers.     

Viewing angle enhancement for two- and three-dimensional holographic displays with random superresolution phase masks

Holographic displays employing binary phase modulation have been demonstrated to be attractive on the grounds of efficiency and miniaturization, and they offer a plausible approach to two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) image projection and display. A novel algorithm--one-step phase retrieval--and corresponding hardware architecture have recently been proposed, providing the performance required for real-time holographic display. However, since viewing angle varies inversely with pixel size, very small display pixels are required to achieve a wide field of view. This is particularly problematic for 3D displays, as the requirement for a large display with small pixels has hitherto necessitated an unachievably large electrical bandwidth. We present a novel approach, utilizing fixed random pixelated quaternary phase masks of greater resolution than the displayed hologram, to dramatically increase the viewing angle for 2D and 3D holographic displays without incurring a bandwidth penalty or significantly degrading image quality. Furthermore, an algorithm is presented to generate holograms accounting for the presence of such a phase mask, so that only one mask is required.