As the number falls,alternatives to the Hagberg–Perten falling number method: A review

This review examines the application, limitations, and potential alternatives to the Hagberg–Perten falling number (FN) method used in the global wheat industry for detecting the risk of poor end-product quality mainly due to starch degradation by the enzyme α-amylase. By viscometry, the FN test indirectly detects the presence of α-amylase, the primary enzyme that digests starch. Elevated α-amylase results in low FN and damages wheat product quality resulting in cakes that fall, and sticky bread and noodles. Low FN can occur from preharvest sprouting (PHS) and late maturity α-amylase (LMA). Moist or rainy conditions before harvest cause PHS on the mother plant. Continuously cool or fluctuating temperatures during the grain filling stage cause LMA. Due to the expression of additional hydrolytic enzymes, PHS has a stronger negative impact than LMA. Wheat grain with low FN/high α-amylase results in serious losses for farmers, traders, millers, and bakers worldwide. Although blending of low FN grain with sound wheat may be used as a means of moving affected grain through the marketplace, care must be taken to avoid grain lots from falling below contract-specified FN. A large amount of sound wheat can be ruined if mixed with a small amount of sprouted wheat. The FN method is widely employed to detect α-amylase after harvest. However, it has several limitations, including sampling variability, high cost, labor intensiveness, the destructive nature of the test, and an inability to differentiate between LMA and PHS. Faster, cheaper, and more accurate alternatives could improve breeding for resistance to PHS and LMA and could preserve the value of wheat grain by avoiding inadvertent mixing of high- and low-FN grain by enabling testing at more stages of the value stream including at harvest, delivery, transport, storage, and milling. Alternatives to the FN method explored here include the Rapid Visco Analyzer, enzyme assays, immunoassays, near-infrared spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging.     

Broad-Spectral-Range Sustainability and Controllable Excitation of Hyperbolic Phonon Polaritons in α-MoO3

Hyperbolic phonon polaritons (HPhPs) in orthorhombic-phase molybdenum trioxide (α-MoO₃) show in-plane hyperbolicity, great wavelength compression, and ultralong lifetime, therefore holding great potential in nanophotonic applications. However, its polaritonic response in the far-infrared (FIR) range remains unexplored due to challenges in experimental characterization. Here, monochromated electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) is used to probe HPhPs in α-MoO₃ in both mid-infrared (MIR) and FIR frequencies and correlate their behaviors with microstructures and orientations. It is found that low structural symmetry leads to various phonon modes and multiple Reststrahlen bands (RBs) over a broad spectral range (over 70 meV) and in different directions (55–63 meV and 119–125 meV along the b-axis, 68–106 meV along the c-axis, and 101–121 meV along the a-axis). These HPhPs can be selectively excited by controlling the direction of swift electrons. These findings provide new opportunities in nanophotonic and optoelectronic applications, such as directed light propagation, hyperlenses, and heat transfer.     

Preparation and characterization of calcium phosphate cement with enhanced tissue adhesion for bone defect repair

Anti-washout and tissue adhesion properties are essential for the clinical application of injectable bone materials. In this study, we prepared calcium phosphate cement (CPC) with anti-washout and tissue adhesion properties and attempted to build covalent bonds between CPC and the amino groups in bone tissue under a self-regulating pH system in the CPC (acidic to basic). The results of push-out tests demonstrated that a significant enhancement (from 6.42 ± 0.76 N to 61.5 ± 4.09 N) in tissue adhesion was obtained with the addition of 6% (w/w) oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) in CPC. The FTIR, XRD, anti-washout test, XPS, pH test, and SEM results suggested that the synergistic effect of OSA-citric acid (CA) led to the formation of a three-dimensional gel network structure in the CPC, and the Schiff base reaction between aldehyde and amino groups induced adhesion between CPC and the bone tissue. Further, the addition of less OSA had no significant negative effect on the hydration properties of CPC. Our work aims to promote the development of injectable bone material in clinical applications.     

Partitioning of predominant lipophilic bioactives (squalene, α-tocopherol and β-sitosterol) during olive oil processing

The partitioning of predominant lipophilic olive bioactives (squalene, β-sitosterol and α-tocopherol) in olive oil processing was studied for the first time using common integrated olive milling plant. 7% of the oil and 5% of the squalene present in the olives was lost in the last pomace. β-sitosterol and α-tocopherol, which are mainly concentrated in the seed of the olive fruit, was recovered in virgin olive oil to a lesser extent (66%, 67%) while 10% were lost in last pomace. Thus, the loss of β-sitosterol and α-tocopherol was higher than that of squalene and oil, due to nonrecovered bound forms. 19% of the α-tocopherol and 21% of the β-sitosterol loss was unaccounted for, which can be attributed to degradation of α-tocopherol and incomplete recovery of sterols from the olive and pomace matrices. This study provides a basis for process development studies.     

氢型丝光沸石催化剂催化α-蒎烯合成α-松油醇

在相转移助剂苄基三乙基氯化铵(BTEAC)存在下,以氢型丝光沸石(HM)为催化剂,原料α-蒎烯经开环、重排及水合反应一步法合成了α-松油醇。研究了各种因素对α-蒎烯转化率及α-松油醇收率的影响,采用5因素4水平L16(45)进行了正交实验,得出最佳的工艺条件:反应温度80℃,w(BTEAC)=15%,m(HM)∶m(α-蒎烯)=0.6,反应时间40h,m(乙酸乙酯)∶m(α-蒎烯)=0.9。在此条件下,α-蒎烯转化率为75.2%,α-松油醇收率为42.0%。用气相色谱-质谱联用仪对反应产物进行分析,共鉴定出14种化合物,主要成分为α-松油醇、α-蒎烯、柠檬烯、桉叶油素、异松油烯、龙脑等。实验得到的α-松油醇具有光学活性,旋光值[α]=+61°,同时香气纯正,可用于制作香料。     

载体比表面积及孔径对Nb_2O_5/α-Al_2O_3催化剂酸性及反应性能的影响

采用浸渍法制备了Nb2O5/α-A l2O3催化剂(简称催化剂)并用于环氧乙烷水合制乙二醇的反应,通过控制α-A l2O3载体中致孔剂的含量来调变载体的孔径、孔分布及比表面积;采用吡啶吸附红外光谱、氨程序升温脱附法研究了载体的比表面积及孔径对催化剂酸性及反应性能的影响。实验结果表明,产物的选择性受扩散因素及催化剂酸性的影响,而催化剂的酸量、酸密度可以通过载体的孔径及比表面积的变化加以调控。比表面积较小及孔径较大的载体对催化剂催化环氧乙烷水合制乙二醇的反应较为有利。当载体的比表面积小于0.80m2/g、孔径为4.00~8.00μm时,在反应温度160℃、反应压力1.5M Pa、n(H2O)∶n(EO)=22、液态空速25h-1的条件下,环氧乙烷的转化率大于99.8%,乙二醇的选择性超过89.9%。     

脉冲噪声环境下宽带循环平稳信号DOA估计算法

针对传统二阶循环相关算法在脉冲噪声环境中的显著退化问题,本文以α稳定分布为噪声模型,提出基于分数低阶循环相关的波达方向(Direction of arrival,DOA)估计算法。利用分数低阶循环相关的相移特性,将宽带循环平稳信号的DOA估计问题转化为"中心频率"为ε的窄带问题,解决了宽带情况下DOA估计困难的问题。计算机仿真结果进一步验证了此算法的有效性,且性能优于传统SC-SSF(Spectral correlation signal subspacefitting)算法。     

Unusual W-shaped Galvanic Cell Model of ISCC of α-brass in Neutral Mattsson''''s Solution

Intergranular stress corrosion cracking(ISCC) of α-brass in neutral Mattsson's solutionwas found to be controlled by an unusual"W"-shaped galvanic cell whose cathode is thegrain boundary oxide film (G.B.0. film) andsurface film and the anode is fresh metal atthe cracked tip on both sides of the G.B.0.film. Redox reactions involved in the cellhave been proposed here. According to thismdel, initidtion of ISCC is caused by therupturing of surface film along grain boundaries,thus forming a galvanic cell. Propagation ofISCC resulted from alternate advances of G.B.0.film and dissolution on both sides of G.B.0.film caused by the effect of electrochemicalreaction. This work developed an effective approachto investigate the embrittlement process atthe tip of the crack, by increasing the lengthof the embrittlement region through constantstrain test and distinguishing the morphologyand the nature of the corrosion products byoptical microscopy and scanning electronmicroscopy (SEH).     

Preparation and Characterization of Alpha Gel Formed by Fatty Alcohol and Amino Acid Surfactants

α-Gel, as a specific lamellar liquid crystal structure, presents unique parameters and attracts broad interest. However, conventional formation of α-gel involves surfactants that have a long alkyl chain (more than 14 carbons), resulted in limited application into personal care products due to their low Krafft temperature. In this study, a simple way to generate α-gel was developed using sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, an amino-acid-based surfactant containing an alkyl chain with less than 12 carbons. The desired structure was analyzed and discussed. The method, when extended to other amino acid-based surfactants, gave positive results.     

Preparation and Characterization of K_n|Ga(H_2O)MW_(11)O_(39)|·xH_2O

In this paper the heteropoly complexes K_n[Ga(H_20)MW_(11)O_39)]·xH_20 [M=Cu(Ⅱ), Co(Ⅱ), Cr(Ⅲ),Fe(Ⅲ), Mn(Ⅳ)] have been prepared in this laboratory firstly. The products were characterized by chemicalanalysis, ionexchange, IR, UV and X-ray powder diffraction.