INFLUENCE OF SOIL NUTRIENT LEVELS ON HARVEST YIELD AND MALTING QUALITY OF BREWING BARLEY

Four levels of N, P and K nutrition (poor, moderate, satisfactory and high) and all their possible combinations with 64 treatments in two replications (128 plots) were studied in a long term field trial on barley yield and malting quality. A standard East-European spring barley “Opal” (bred in Czechoslovakia) was grown in 1986, 13th year of the agricultural experiment, involving various crops in previous years, on a calcareous loamy chernozem soil. The optimum fertility levels for yield enhancement resulted in the poorest malting quality: low modification and extract but long saccharification time and high protein. To solve this problem the brewing industry will have to apply the well-known technological methods available since growers are not likely to give up their fertilizers. Applying soil and plant analysis data, having knowledge about both soil and plant optimum values, the danger of the excessive use of fertilizers can be realized and decreased.     

On the Effect of Particle Alignment in the DMA

The Differential Mobility Analyzer (DMA) is designed to measure particle mobility diameter, which for spherical particles is equal to particle volume equivalent diameter. In contrast, the mobility diameter of aspherical particles is a function of the particle shape and orientation. The magnitude of the DMA electric fields is such that it can cause aspherical particles to align preferentially in a specific orientation. The same electric field and the sheath flow rate ( q _sh ) define the particle mobility diameter. But, the fact that particle orientation depends on the electric field makes the dynamic shape factor and hence the mobility diameter depend on q _sh . Here, we describe an operating procedure that relies on a tandem DMA system, in which the second DMA is operated at a number of q _sh , to obtain information about particle shape by measuring the effect of particle alignment on the particle mobility diameter. We show how the relationship between the mobility diameter and q _sh can even be used to physically separate particles according to their shapes. In addition we explore the use of simultaneous measurements of particle alignment and particle vacuum aerodynamic diameters to gain further information on particle shape and account for particle alignment in the calculations of dynamic shape factor. We first test this approach on doublets and compact triplets of PSL spheres, for which the orientation dependent dynamic shape factors are known. We then investigate applications on a number of polydisperse particle systems of various shapes.     

Synthesis and intercalation of silver nanoparticles in kaolinite/DMSO complexes

Ag nanoparticles were synthesized in the interlamellar space of a layered kaolinite. Disaggregation of the lamellae of the nonswelling kaolinite was achieved by the intercalation of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The kaolinite was suspended in aqueous AgNO₃ solution and the adsorbed Ag⁺ ions were reduced on the surface of kaolinite lamellae with NaBH₄ or UV light irradiation. The silver nanoparticles formed were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We studied the effects of the two reduction methods on the size and the size distribution of Ag nanoparticles and how clay mineral structure is altered as a consequence of particle formation. It was established that the size of Ag nanoparticles depends on both silver content and the reduction method. Photoreduction of silver led to the formation of relatively large Ag nanoparticles (diameter 8–14 nm).     

State stabilization for gate-model quantum computers

Quantum Information Processing - Historically, the information efficiency of the secret key in quantum key distribution (QKD) schemes based on binary signal formats was limited to 1 bit/particle....     

The behavioural response of migratory sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) to potential damage-released larval and migratory chemical alarm cues

We investigated the presence of damage-released alarm cues and the reactions they may cause in landlocked migratory sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) using semi-natural laboratory conditions during the day. In two separate experiments, migratory sea lampreys were exposed to stimuli prepared from the skinless carcasses and skin tissue of larval sea lamprey and from the skin tissue and muscle tissue of migratory sea lamprey. Migratory female sea lamprey swam significantly longer after being exposed to the stimulus prepared from the skinless carcass of larval sea lamprey. No significant changes were seen in the behaviour of the migratory female lamprey in response to larval skin extract or in the behaviour of male sea lamprey to any experimental extract in the larval extract experiment. In the second experiment that utilised migratory lamprey stimuli, neither male and nor female migratory sea lamprey showed a significant difference in their behavioural response among different treatments and controls. Our findings indicate that adult female sea lamprey respond strongly to damage-released alarm cues from larval sea lamprey; hence, the latter holds promise for sea lamprey behavioural manipulations for control purposes during the day. Further research is needed to examine responses to damage-released alarm cues at night, when migratory sea lampreys are more active.     

Theoretical investigation of catalytic HCO3 hydrogenation in aqueous solutions

Density functional theory along with a dielectric continuum solvation model has been applied to identify possible reaction intermediates for the catalytic hydrogenation of HCO₃⁻ anion into HCO₂⁻ that occurs in aqueous solutions in the presence of water-soluble ruthenium complexes. Bicarbonate ion is shown to coordinate to a Ru-dihydride species, which then undergoes a protonation process that yields a CO₂ complex. The CH bond formation is found to take place via CO₂ insertion into a RuH bond and the direct elimination of the formate product is shown to be an energetically favored step, which is assisted by the water medium. We find that water is directly involved in the reaction as a protonating/deprotonating agent and also acts as a coordinating ligand.     

A treatise on order in engineering design research

Engineering design research shows a rather fragmented, if not a chaotic, picture. But does it have a hidden order? Can we explore it, or should we impose a reasoning model? This paper looks for the answer in the purpose of engineering design. It is destined to sustain human existence and well being by virtual creation of artifacts and services for the society. To this end, the engineering design discipline should provide a proper body of knowledge. The design knowledge obtained by empirical exploration and/or rational comprehension should be transformed for practical/pragmatic deployment. It was assumed that this purposely streaming of design knowledge gives a unique rationale for engineering design research. Based on this, a framework of reasoning was constructed, including source, channel, and sink categories of knowledge and research of engineering design, respectively. Within each category, research domains, trajectories, and approaches were identified. The semantic relationships of domains, trajectories, and approaches form a hierarchical structure. The proposed framework enables a grounded argumentation about the order of engineering design research, as well as about the articulation of the engineering design knowledge.     

Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry, a tool for on-line monitoring of acrylamide formation in the headspace of maillard reaction systems and processed food

The formation of acrylamide was measured in real time during thermal treatment (120-170 degrees C) of potato as well as in Maillard model systems composed of asparagine and reducing sugars, such as fructose and glucose. This was achieved by on-line monitoring of acrylamide released into the headspace of the samples using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS). Unambiguous identification of acrylamide by PTR-MS was accomplished by gas chromatography coupled simultaneously to electron-impact MS and PTR-MS. The PTR-MS ion signal at m/z 72 was shown to be exclusively due to protonated acrylamide obtained without fragmentation. In model Maillard systems, the formation of acrylamide from asparagine was favored with increasing temperature and preferably in the presence of fructose. Maximum signal intensities in the headspace were obtained after approximately 2 min at 170 degrees C, whereas 6-7 min was required at 150 degrees C. Similarly, the level of acrylamide released into the headspace during thermal treatment of potato was positively correlated to temperature.     

Characterization and lime treatment of olive mill wastewater

Seventeen olive mill wastewater (OMW) samples were characterized. For characterization of the samples, amount of total, fixed, volatile, suspended, volatile-suspended solids, COD, oil-grease, polyphenol, volatile phenol, nitrogen and reducing sugar were determined. Effects of lime treatment on the waste samples were investigated. Reduction of contents of the samples treated with the lime was described. The effect of the addition of lime on an artificial phenolic mixture was also examined.