Effect of high hydrostatic pressure pretreatment on flavour and physicochemical properties of freeze-dried carambola slices

Ripe carambolas are hard to store and transport, while freeze-dried ones are easy to store. However, its long production time leads to higher costs. This study shows that high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment could shorten the freeze-drying time of carambola slices. After HHP treatment (25–250 MPa), the drying time of the fresh sample can be shortened by 33.3–44.4% and the distribution of water and pigment in tissues is much uniform. With the increment of the pressure, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical scavenging rate are increased. At 250 MPa, the total phenolic content (TPC) increased from 11.34 to 13.36 mg GAE g⁻¹, and the total flavonoid content (TFC) of the control sample was increased from 10.77 to 12.73 mg RE g⁻¹. Compared with the untreated sample, HHP treatment can enhance the flavour and shorten the freeze-drying time. This work guides the application of HHP technology for drying food processing.     

Calcium deficient hydroxyapatite by precipitation: Continuous process by vortex reactor and semi-batch synthesis

Precipitation of calcium deficient hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in an environmentally benign manner by using only dilute solutions of calcium hydroxide and phosphoric acid without pH adjustment and addition of other chemicals, and water, being the only by-product was investigated by using continuous flow Vortex Reactor (VR) and Semi-Batch Reactor (SBR). The effect of hydrodynamics by changing the Reynolds number of the jets providing residence times of 8.4 ms to 4.37 s for VR, and by changing the stirrer speed between 100 rpm (Re = 2656) and 1000 rpm (Re = 26560) for SBR, on the particle size, particle size distribution, and morphology of the particles was investigated for both systems. It has been shown that it is possible to produce pure phase hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in the desired morphology by changing production system, without resorting to additives. While VR produced rod-like particles with the crystallite size around 4 nm, SBR produced spherical particles with the crystallite size of around 5 nm.     

Electrical and optical properties of fluorine-doped CdO films deposited by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

The CdO:F samples have been deposited onto microscope glass substrates at 250 °C by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method. With the incorporation of fluorine into CdO, the direct optical transition has shifted towards the shorter wavelengths, and the transparency of the material has increased at a given wavelength above the fundamental absorption edge. The shift in the absorption edge is explained by means of the Moss–Burstein effect, which is also supported with the results of the current–voltage characteristics. Here, a correlation has been established between the band broadening and the increase in conductivity due to the increase in carrier density.     

Theoretical Investigation of Time Suboptimal Control of Industrial Manipulators Along Specified Paths

A method for the time suboptimal control of an industrial manipulator from an initial position and orientation to a final position and orientation as it moves along a specified path is proposed. Nonlinear system equations that describe the manipulator motion are linearized at each time step along the path. A method which gives the control inputs (joint angular velocities) for time suboptimal control of the manipulator is developed. In the formulation, joint angular velocity and acceleration limitations are also taken into consideration. A six degree of freedom elbow type manipulator is used in numerical examples to verify the method developed.     

A combo technology of autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification processes for groundwater treatment

In this study,a sequential process (heterotrophic up-flow column and completely mixed membrane bioreactors) was proposed combining advantages of the both processes.The system was operated for 249 days with simulated and real groundwater for nitrate removal at concentrations varying from 25 to 145 mg·L-1 NO3-N.The contribution of heterotrophic process to total nitrate removal in the system was controlled by dozing the ethanol considering the nitrate concentration.By this way,sulfur based autotrophic denitrification rate was decreased and the effluent sulfate concentrations were controlled.The alkalinity requirement in the autotrophic process was produced in the heterotrophic reactor,and the system was operated without alkalinity supplementation.Throughout the study,the chemical oxygen demand in the heterotrophic reactor effluent was (23.7 ± 22) mg·L-1 and it was further decreased to(7.5 ± 7.2) mg·L-1 in the system effluent,corresponding to a 70％ reduction.In the last period of the study,the real groundwater containing 145 mg·L-1 NO3-N was completely removed.Membrane was operated without chemical washing in the first 114 days.Between days 115-249 weekly chemical washing was required.     

基于灰色关联分析的电网安全事故关键致因分析

探讨和研究电网安全事故的影响因素及控制已成为预防电网安全事故发生的热点问题。为揭示电网安全事故发生的深层机理,基于事故致因理论,采用质性分析和灰色关联分析的方法,分析中国电网安全事故的关键致因。研究发现,电网安全事故的影响因素主要包括主体因素（认知因素、行为因素和身体因素）、过程因素（组织氛围因素和组织过程因素）、对象因素（设备可靠性低和设备管理松懈）及情境因素（作业环境因素和非作业环境因素）。灰色关联分析表明：电网安全事故的致因因素可以分为红色危险因素（r≥0.8）、橙色警备因素（0.7≤r＜0.8）和黄色警告因素（r＜0.7）,其中,组织氛围因素、认知因素和行为因素是电网安全事故的关键致因因素。在此基础上提出电网安全事故管理的政策建议,以期推动中国电网安全发展进程。     

Molecular Mechanisms of Fetal Tendon Regeneration Versus Adult Fibrous Repair

Tendinopathies are painful, disabling conditions that afflict 25% of the adult human population. Filling an unmet need for realistic large-animal models, we here present an ovine model of tendon injury for the comparative study of adult scarring repair and fetal regeneration. Complete regeneration of the fetal tendon within 28 days is demonstrated, while adult tendon defects remained macroscopically and histologically evident five months post-injury. In addition to a comprehensive histological assessment, proteome analyses of secretomes were performed. Confirming histological data, a specific and pronounced inflammation accompanied by activation of neutrophils in adult tendon defects was observed, corroborated by the significant up-regulation of pro-inflammatory factors, neutrophil attracting chemokines, the release of potentially tissue-damaging antimicrobial and extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes, and a response to oxidative stress. In contrast, secreted proteins of injured fetal tendons included proteins initiating the resolution of inflammation or promoting functional extracellular matrix production. These results demonstrate the power and relevance of our novel ovine fetal tendon regeneration model, which thus promises to accelerate research in the field. First insights from the model already support our molecular understanding of successful fetal tendon healing processes and may guide improved therapeutic strategies.     

纳米MOFs及其衍生物在超级电容器中的研究进展

金属有机框架（MOFs）材料因其大的比表面积、可调控的孔道结构和丰富的活性位点引起了国内外学者们的广泛关注。近年来MOFs基材料广泛应用于能量储存与转化领域,但大多数MOFs基材料的低稳定性和低导电性等缺陷限制了其实际应用。通过对MOFs基材料进行改性,如采用共轭度高的有机配体以增加MOFs材料的稳定性,或MOFs衍生物以提高其氧化还原活性位点和导电性,从而达到提高MOFs基电极材料的电化学性能。主要介绍了原始MOFs及其衍生材料如碳材料、金属氧化物、金属硫化物、金属氢氧化物和金属磷化物等在超级电容器电极材料中的最新研究进展。研究表明,多金属MOFs材料或多金属MOFs衍生物有利于提高电极材料的电化学性能,而导电MOFs材料或MOFs衍生物中的碳材料有利于提高电极材料的导电性。最后对MOFs基电极材料在电化学储能领域中的研究做出了展望,指出MOFs基材料的形貌、组分和导电性是未来研究的发展方向。     

Trans FA and solid fat contents of margarines marketed in Turkey

Trans FA (TFA), solid fat contents (SFC), and slip melting points of 12 different tub and stick margarines marketed in Turkey were examined in this study. No trans isomers were found in four margarines, which suggests they were formulated from interesterified or blended fats and oils. The products with no TFA generally had more short-chain saturated FA, which suggests coconut oil-based oil components. TFA content of the other 10 products varied from 7.7 to 37.8%. Compared to the products formulated in North America, Turkish margarines contain more TFA and have higher SFC.