Influence of pressing parameters on dimensional stability and density of compressed beech wood

European beech (Fagus sylvatica) wood specimens were subjected to thermo-mechanical densification, and the influence of pressing parameters on dimensional stability, mean density and density profiles was evaluated. The specimens with two initial moisture contents, 18% and the fibre saturation point, were compressed by 20 and 40% at temperatures of 160, 180, 200, and 220 °C for several times, specified in the Methods, ranging from 6 to 12 min. Dimensional changes were observed immediately after the removal from the hot press and subsequent conditioning (20 °C, 65% relative humidity). The properties of the compressed beech wood were influenced by all the pressing parameters. This influence, however, varied based on the factor and property. The analysis showed as most appropriate: an initial moisture content ranging from 17 to 20%, a pressing temperature?≥?180 °C and pressing time?≥?10 min for the given thickness. As for the compression degree, it is necessary to consider the purpose of compression and the wood properties required.     

Mdm31 protein mediates sensitivity to potassium ionophores but does not regulate mitochondrial morphology or phospholipid trafficking in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Mdm31p is an inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) protein with unknown function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mutants lacking Mdm31p contain only a few giant spherical mitochondria with disorganized internal structure, altered phospholipid composition and disturbed ion homeostasis, accompanied by increased resistance to the electroneutral K⁺/H⁺ ionophore nigericin. These phenotypes are interpreted as resulting from diverse roles of Mdm31p, presumably in linking mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to the machinery involved in segregation of mitochondria, in mediating cation transport across IMM and in phospholipid shuttling between mitochondrial membranes. To investigate which of the roles of Mdm31p are conserved in ascomycetous yeasts, we analysed the Mdm31p orthologue in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Our results demonstrate that, similarly to its S. cerevisiae counterpart, SpMdm31 is a mitochondrial protein and its absence results in increased resistance to nigericin. However, in contrast to S. cerevisiae, Sz. pombe cells lacking SpMdm31 are also less sensitive to the electrogenic K⁺ ionophore valinomycin. Moreover, mitochondria of the fission yeast mdm31Δ mutant display no changes in morphology or phospholipid composition. Therefore, in terms of function, the two orthologous proteins appear to have considerably diverged between these two evolutionarily distant yeast species, possibly sharing only their participation in ion homeostasis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A stochastic frontier approach to study the relationship between gastrointestinal nematode infections and technical efficiency of dairy farms

The impact of gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections in dairy farming has traditionally been assessed using partial productivity indicators. But such approaches ignore the impact of infection on the performance of the whole farm. In this study, efficiency analysis was used to study the association of the GI nematode Ostertagia ostertagi on the technical efficiency of dairy farms. Five years of accountancy data were linked to GI nematode infection data gained from a longitudinal parasitic monitoring campaign. The level of exposure to GI nematodes was based on bulk-tank milk ELISA tests, which measure the antibodies to O. ostertagi and was expressed as an optical density ratio (ODR). Two unbalanced data panels were created for the period 2006 to 2010. The first data panel contained 198 observations from the Belgian Farm Accountancy Data Network (Brussels, Belgium) and the second contained 622 observations from the Boerenbond Flemish farmers' union (Leuven, Belgium) accountancy system (Tiber Farm Accounting System). We used the stochastic frontier analysis approach and defined inefficiency effect models specified with the Cobb-Douglas and transcendental logarithmic (Translog) functional form. To assess the efficiency scores, milk production was considered as the main output variable. Six input variables were used: concentrates, roughage, pasture, number of dairy cows, animal health costs, and labor. The ODR of each individual farm served as an explanatory variable of inefficiency. An increase in the level of exposure to GI nematodes was associated with a decrease in technical efficiency. Exposure to GI nematodes constrains the productivity of pasture, health, and labor but does not cause inefficiency in the use of concentrates, roughage, and dairy cows. Lowering the level of infection in the interquartile range (0.271 ODR) was associated with an average milk production increase of 27, 19, and 9 L/cow per year for Farm Accountancy Data Network farms and 63, 49, and 23 L/cow per year for Tiber Farm Accounting System farms in the low- (0–90), medium- (90–95), and high- (95–99) efficiency score groups, respectively. The potential milk increase associated with reducing the level of infection was higher for highly efficient farms (6.7% of the total possible milk increase when becoming fully technically efficient) than for less efficient farms (3.8% of the total possible milk increase when becoming fully technically efficient).     

Effect of plasma sizing on basalt fibers adhesion with wood-working resins

European Journal of Wood and Wood Products - Basalt fabric with manufacturer-made silane sizing was additionally treated by propane-butane enriched atmospheric pressure nitrogen plasma for 15 and...     

Effect of pre-drying and par-frying conditions on the crispness of French fries

An experimental design was used to study the effect of pre-drying (to 10, 15 and 20% weight loss) and par-frying conditions (160, 170 and 180 °C) on the crispness of French fries. Par-frying time was adjusted with a software program to obtain equal moisture content and internal texture for all samples. Crispness was evaluated with a sensory panel. Furthermore, samples were analysed with a texture analyser and with confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM). Par-frying at 180 °C resulted in a crispier product than at 160 and 170 °C. Pre-drying to 20% weight loss lead to blisters and reduced crispness in comparison with pre-drying to 10 and 15% weight loss. Instrumental texture measurements showed a good correlation with sensory crispness. Large differences in cell structure, such as blisters, could be observed with CSLM. CSLM was useful to explain results from the instrumental and sensory texture evaluation.     

STRIPPING OF AMMONIA FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF AMINO ACIDS AND INORGANIC IONS

The stripping of ammonia from aqueous solutions of amino acids and strong electrolytes has been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The experiments have been carried out in an isothermal stirred semibatch stripper. A good agreement between experimental data and model predictions has been obtained for all the examined operating conditions. The model accounts for all dissociation equilibria while it assumes ideal behavior for the liquid phase. It does not include any adjustable parameter, and so it can be readily extended to various systems of practical interest, such as those involved in the treatment of side-streams arising in the production of amino acids     

Towards a global historical emission inventory for selected PCB congeners--a mass balance approach. 1. Global production and consumption

Information on the historical global production and consumption of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is urgently needed for estimating PCB fluxes to the environment and for interpreting global contamination patterns by these pollutants. This study presents the methodology, principal uncertainties and selected results from an inventory, aiming to quantify the global production and consumption of total PCBs as well as 22 PCB congeners. The available data on the historical production of PCBs and the chemical composition of various technical mixtures have been compiled from the literature. For some producers with less detailed information, the production of individual PCB constituents has been estimated to derive a global estimate for individual homologues and selected congeners. Information on imports, exports and consumption, as well as restrictions on production and imports, has further been compiled for individual countries. These data, along with assumptions on the trade between countries and regions, have been utilised to derive an estimate of the global historical consumption pattern. Although there are substantial uncertainties involved in these estimates, important aspects governing the large scale temporal and spatial patterns are most likely captured in these estimates. In particular, the information on imports and exports for the principal users of PCBs around the time of peak production is considered to be fairly reliable. The estimates account for a reported historical global production of approximately 1.3 million t PCBs, more than 70% of which are tri-, tetra- and pentachlorinated biphenyls. The results further suggest that almost 97% of the global historical use of PCBs have occurred in the Northern Hemisphere.