Unbalanced magnetic pull induced by arbitrary eccentric motion of cage rotor in transient operation. Part 1: Analytical model

Eccentric rotor motion of an electric motor induces an unbalanced magnetic pull. This eccentricity force may couple the electromagnetic system with the flexural vibration modes of the shaft. This paper presents an analytic model for this eccentricity force allowing an arbitrary rotor motion and transient operation. The general equations were simplified for the constant flux and steady-state operation. These simplified equations correspond well to the results presented earlier.     

Effect of laccase and transglutaminase on the textural and water-binding properties of cooked chicken breast meat gels

The effects of laccase and transglutaminase (TG) on the firmness and weight loss of cooked chicken meat homogenate gels were investigated at laboratory scale. The salt, trisodium pyrophosphate and meat contents were also used as variables. Laccase decreased firmness and increased weight loss of phosphate-free, low-meat (65%) and low-salt (1%) gels, although it modified myosin and troponin T and reacted with isolated myofibrils. By applying both low-salt (1%) and low-phosphate (0.17%) amounts, gel firmness decreased and weight loss increased (p<0.05) greatly. A high dosage of TG significantly improved (p<0.05) the strength of phosphate-free, low-meat and low-salt homogenate gels compared to the corresponding no-enzyme controls. TG improved gel firmness of the low-meat homogenate to the level of the homogenate containing 75% meat. Weight loss was increased significantly (p<0.05) in all cases when the high-TG dosage was used. Enzymes were not capable of improving either texture or water-holding capacity in the low-salt–low-phosphate system. The firmness and cooking loss of the chicken meat products containing different amounts of meat, salt and TG were investigated at pilot scale. Under the conditions and dosages used, TG was capable of improving (p<0.05) firmness of the products without a significant reduction in water-holding capacity.     

Structural mechanisms leading to improved water retention in acid milk gels by use of transglutaminase

Water retention in transglutaminase (TG)-treated acid milk gels was studied and linked with the gel formation dynamics. Heat-treated skim milk with and without pre-treatment by TG was acidified at 20 °C, 30 °C and 40 °C at constant glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) level to obtain different acidification rates. Formation dynamics and structural properties of acid-induced gels were followed by rheological and near-infrared light backscattering measurements as well as microscopy. TG-treated gels showed decreased tan δ values all through the acidification, which was pronounced around the gelation point. Backscattered light intensity was lowered in TG-treated gels compared to the controls indicating that TG-treated gels were comprised of smaller aggregates. Water holding capacity (WHC) was measured by using centrifugation at selected pH points (pH 5.2, 5.0, 4.8 and 4.6) during acidification. Both acidification temperature and TG treatment had significant effects on the water retention properties of the gels. Spontaneous syneresis observed at high acidification temperatures (≥30 °C) was prevented upon TG-treatment. WHC of TG-treated gels was significantly higher compared to the control gels at all pH points. TG-treated milk gels showed a homogeneous network formed of smaller aggregate and pore sizes at the gelation point and did not show any large-scale re-organisation thereafter. Transglutaminase is likely to act as a fixative of the protein network at an early stage of gelation and thereby limiting network rearrangements that take place in acid milk gels formed at high acidification temperatures leading to contraction and subsequent wheying off.     

Properties of condensed spin-aligned atomic hydrogen from variational calculations

The optimal Jastrow-type ground-state wave function of spin-aligned atomic hydrogen is calculated using the pair potential of Kolos and Wolniewicz. The optimization is performed by solving the Euler equation in the hypernetted chain approximation. Accurate energies as well as pair-distribution functions are obtained. The Bose-Einstein condensate fraction is evaluated from the one-particle momentum distribution. The pair distribution function is also used to obtain stability criteria for the system and minimal values for the aligning magnetic field are calculated at low densities. The resulting values of the minimal aligning fields are considerably higher than those obtained previously.     

Gas-Sensing Properties of Nanocrystalline WO3 Films Made by Advanced Reactive Gas Deposition

Nanocrystalline WO₃ films were produced by advanced reactive gas deposition onto alumina substrates. The as-deposited films had a tetragonal crystal structure and a mean grain size of around 6 nm, as found by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Sintering at a temperature τ_s > 770 K yielded monoclinic films. We investigated the gas-sensing properties of films sintered up to 870 K. After an initial "activation" at τ_s= 750 K, the nanocrystalline WO₃ films showed excellent gas-sensing properties, even at room temperature, on exposure to low concentrations of H₂S in air. As little as 10 ppm of H₂S made the conductance increase by a factor of about 10³ within 10 min. The initial properties could be restored by heating the films to 530 K for 1 min.     

Detecting harmful gases using fluctuation-enhanced sensing with Taguchi sensors

Sensing techniques are often required to not only be versatile and portable, but also to be able to enhance sensor information. This paper describes and demonstrates a new approach to chemical signal analysis that we call fluctuation-enhanced sensing. It utilizes the entire bandwidth of the sensor signal in contrast to more conventional approaches that rely on the dc response. The new principle holds prospects for significantly reducing the necessary number of sensors in artificial noses and tongues, and it can provide improved sensitivity.     

Laccase-aided protein modification: Effects on the structural properties of acidified sodium caseinate gels

Trametes hirsuta laccase (EC 1.10.32) alone was not able to cross-link proteins effectively unless high dosages were used. Incorporation of ferulic acid enhanced the formation of intermolecular cross-links. Cross-linking was more effective when the reaction was carried out at 45 °C rather than at room temperature. Size exclusion chromatography showed that ferulic acid monomers disappeared from the solution in the presence of laccase. Force at rupture point of the caseinate gels treated with laccase without ferulic acid was not significantly different from the control, while stronger gels were achieved when ferulic acid was present. Rheological measurements showed that laccase treatment together with ferulic acid resulted in higher G′ values than the control. Gels were analyzed with confocal laser scanning microscope. A finer network was observed when the enzyme was used together with ferulic acid. Slight proteolytic activity resulted in a negative effect on the gel firmness and microstructure when laccase was used without ferulic acid.     

IR-wavelength optical shutter based on ITO/VO2/ITO thin film stack

Two thin film IR-shutter structures based on ITO-VO₂-ITO and ITO-VO₂ thin film stacks were designed. Thin film structures of the shutters were optimized at the wavelength of 1550 nm. The switch operation of the components was based on the metal-insulator transition phenomenon of VO₂. Shutter components were current controlled and the metal-insulator transition was induced by Joule heating effect. All the thin films were deposited by using pulsed laser deposition. Crystal structure, morphology, and optical characteristics of the produced components were studied. Components with three-layer structure were found to suffer from significant internal strain, which was relaxed by post-annealing the components in the furnace. The maximum change of the optical transmittance measured at the wavelength of 1550 nm from the three-layer components during the switch cycle was 26.5%. The corresponding value measured from two-layer component??s structure was 34.2%. The maximum modulation of the transmittance of the three-layer component was reached at the wavelength of 1250 nm, which was 34%.