The effect of irradiation on technological properties and protein solubility of broiler chicken meat

During investigations on the effects of irradiation of chicken meat it was found that a 5 kGy dose of gamma ⁶⁰Co radiation brings about a statistically significant (P<0.05) increase in free water content, and fall in water holding capacity and water retention capacity, in breast muscles of broiler chickens. The cause of deterioration of hydration properties in meat is a decrease in solubility of the protein fractions after irradiation. The relative protein extractability Y (in 0.1M phosphate buffer+1.1M KI) fell in a linear manner with increase in the radiation dose D according to the equation Y=98.494–0.838 D. The changes in sarcoplasmic fraction extractability Y in 0.03M phosphate buffer are described by the equation Y=101.615–0.515 D, and those of myofibrillar fraction by Y=100.377–1.628 D. Electrophoresis of the protein fraction (soluble in phosphate buffer+1.1M KI) on polyacrylamide gel (with SDS) indicated that the lowest extractability, as compared with untreated samples, was shown by myosin. Other protein solubilities were only slightly altered by the 5 and 10 kGy doses.     

Hydraulic conductivity and pore sizes of nonwoven filter fabrics

This paper presents a method of determination of hydraulic conductivity and equivalent pore size of nonwoven synthetic filter fabrics. Piwowar's relationship for hydraulic conductivity, checked by Piwowar for glass and basalt fibres is given, and, on the basis of the transformation of Hagen-Poiseuille's formula, values of the empirical coefficients present in these formulae, the investigations on hydraulic conductivity and pore size of nine nonwoven filter fabrics were carried out. The numerical values of these coefficients and, after their substitution, the simplified formulae obtained for hydraulic conductivity and equivalent pore size of nonwoven synthetic filter fabrics are given.     

System of programs for analysis of three-dimensional shear wall structures

The paper presents a system of programs for calculating stresses and displacements in three-dimensional shear wall structures with uniform properties throughout the height. The analysis is carried out on the basis of the continuous connection method. The system allows for considering lateral and vertical loads, arbitrarily located in the plan and arbitrarily distributed along the height. The system is user-oriented and inexpensive in operation. Two numerical examples are given in the paper.     

Shape optimization of thin-walled pressure vessel end closures

In this paper the problem of shape optimization of thin-walled pressure vessel heads is investigated. Shape of a meridian which minimizes the functional containing a depth and capacity of a vessel closure is sought. The meridian is approximated either by the convex Bézier polynomial or by functions with free parameters. Domes consisting of both two- and one-arc are considered. The optimal solutions are obtained using the simulated annealing algorithm.     

Viable Stabilising Non-Taylor Monetary Policies for an Open Economy

We extend Krawczyk and Kim (Macroecon Dyn 13(1):46–80, 1999) and apply a viability approach to a small-open economy where the exchange rate works as an additional monetary policy transmission channel. A continuous-time version of the model presented in Batini and Haldane (In: Monetary policy rules. National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, pp. 157–202, 1999a) is used. The model comprises the IS equation, a supply curve and the interest parity condition. We modify the third equation to capture an impact of a domestic interest-rate hike on the speedy appreciation of local currency. We calibrate this modified model using available literature results and apply specialised software (VIKAASA) to compute the open-economy viability kernel that is a set of economic states, from which the central bank can control the economy so that it remains within a nominal constraint set. We then analyse the kernel topology and show a few stablising policies that keep the economy within the constraint set. We also discuss the robustness of such polices to shocks and parameter uncertainty and observe that viability-based policies come from models, which do not require explicit weights on the variables of interest of a central bank. We also contend that in general, viability-based policies are less likely to do damage, if the policy-maker is wrong about some aspects of the environment.     

Alternative Local Melting-Solidification of Suspended Nanoparticles for Heterostructure Formation Enabled by Pulsed Laser Irradiation

Phase formation by pulsed laser irradiation of suspended nanoparticles has recently been introduced as a promising synthesis technique for heterostructures. The main challenge still lingers regarding the exact mechanism of particle formation due to the non-equilibrium kinetic by-products resulting from the localized alternative, fast, high-temperature nature of the process. Here, the authors analyze the bond breaking/formation of copper or copper (II) interfaces with ethanol during the absorption of pulses for Cu-CuO-Cu₂O formation applicable as an electrocatalyst in ethanol oxidation fuel cells. This study includes but is not limited to, a comprehensive discussion of the interaction between nano-laser pulses and suspension for practical control of the synthesis process. The observed exponential and logarithmic changes in the content of heterostructures for the CuO-ethanol and Cu-ethanol samples irradiated with different fluences are interpreted as the dominant role of physical and chemical reactions, respectively, during the pulsed laser irradiation of suspensions synthesis. It is also shown that the local interface between dissociated ethanol and the molten sphere is responsible for the oxidative/reductive interactions resulting in the formation of catalytic-augmented Cu³⁺ by-product, thanks to the reactive bond force field molecular dynamics studies confirmed by ab-initio calculations and experimental observations.     

Detection of hydrogen using graphene

Irradiation dynamics of a single graphene sheet bombarded by hydrogen atoms is studied in the incident energy range of 0.1 to 200 eV. Results for reflection, transmission, and adsorption probabilities, as well as effects of a single adsorbed atom to the electronic properties of graphene, are obtained by the quantum-classical Monte Carlo molecular dynamics within a self-consistent-charge-density functional tight binding formalism We compare these results with those, distinctly different, obtained by the classical molecular dynamics.PACS: 61.80.Az, 61.48.Gh, 61.80.Jh, 34.50.Dy.     

The influence of organobentonite clay on CO2 laser grooving of nylon 6 composites

The popular polycaprolactam (polyamide PA6), commonly referred to as nylon 6, widely used as a construction plastic, is not a typical material for micromachining by CO₂ laser vaporization. In this paper, we describe investigations of the pulsed CO₂ laser grooving of both the chemically pure and the organobentonite clay modified nylon 6. Our results indicate that doping of nylon 6 with nanoparticles of organophilized bentonite significantly improves the grooving ability, predictability of the process, and its quality. In order to determine the nature of the changes in the depth and width of the grooves as a function of the laser process parameters, theoretical modeling of the laser grooving of nylon was carried out. The basic parameters of the laser grooving process versus laser beam intensity, pulse repetition rate, scanning speed of the material and various compositions of the organophilized bentonite dopant are presented. Additionally, an example of a three-dimensional engraving/milling of tested materials as well as the impact of doping on the channel profile are examined. The modification of nylon 6 by appropriate doping with bentonite clay radically improves the quality of micromachining with a CO₂ laser.