Powder coating of veneered particle board surfaces by hot pressing

The powder coating of veneered particle boards by the sequence electrostatic powder application – powder curing via hot pressing is studied in order to create high gloss surfaces. To obtain an appealing aspect, veneer sheets were glued by heat and pressure on top of particle boards and the resulting surfaces were used as carrier substrates for powder coat finishing. Prior to the powder coating, the veneered particle board surfaces were pre-treated by sanding to obtain good uniformity and the boards were stored in a climate chamber at controlled temperature and humidity conditions to adjust an appropriate electrical surface resistance. Characterization of surface texture was done by 3D microscopy. The surface electrical resistance was measured for the six veneers before and after their application on the particle board surface. A transparent powder top-coat was applied electrostatically onto the veneered particle board surface. Curing of the powder was done using a heated press at 130 °C for 8 min and a smooth, glossy coating was obtained on the veneered surfaces. By applying different amounts of powder the coating thickness could be varied and the optimum amount of powder was determined for each veneer type.     

Sex differences in jealousy: Evolutionary mechanism or artifact of measurement?

Two studies are presented that challenge the evidentiary basis for the existence of evolved sex differences in jealousy. In opposition to the evolutionary view, Study 1 demonstrated that a sex difference in jealousy resulting from sexual versus emotional infidelity is observed only when judgments are recorded using a forced-choice response format. On all other measures, no sex differences were found, both men and women reported greater jealousy in response to sexual infidelity. A second study revealed that the sex difference on the forced-choice measure disappeared under conditions of cognitive constraint. These findings suggest that the sex difference used to support the evolutionary view of jealousy likely represents a measurement artifact resulting from a format-induced effortful decision strategy and not an automatic, sex-specific response shaped by evolution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing Pedagogy in Bioengineering Classrooms: Quantifying Elements of the “How People Learn” Model Using the VaNTH Observation System (VOS)

One goal of the VaNTH Engineering Research Center is to estimate the effects of the “value added” to bioengineering student learning as a result of “How People Learn” (HPL) framework interventions. A necessary step in that process is to assess pedagogical differences in both lecture‐based and HPL‐oriented courses. Data from 28 bioengineering courses, over five semesters, were analyzed using a newly developed HPL Index. This index, developed from the Classroom Interaction Observation portion of the VaNTH Observation System, reports levels of HPL‐inspired pedagogy, traditional pedagogy, and classroom organization within a class using codes for different types of faculty and student interactions assigned by an observer in real time. Results confirm the HPL Index's ability to distinguish pedagogical practices based on HPL principles and pedagogical practices based on traditional, non‐HPL pedagogy.     

Declining gonadal function in elderly men

Ageing in men is accompanied by a progressive decline of gonadal function with, in particular, a decline of total and free testosterone (T) plasma levels resulting in a significant proportion of elderly men over age 60 years presenting with subnormal T levels compared with the levels in young adults. A great interindividual variation in T levels is observed in elderly men, a variability explained in part by physiological variables and differences in life style, while associated acute or chronic diseases may accentuate the age-related decline of T levels. The progressive decrease of plasma T levels has been shown to result from both primary testicular changes and altered neuroendocrine regulation of Leydig cell function. At present, little is known about the clinical relevance of the relative hypoandrogenism of elderly men and there is an urgent need for more longitudinal studies, which may clarify a possible role of decreased T levels in the modulation of the clinical consequences of ageing in men. In view of the lack of relevant controlled clinical trials having careful assessment of the risks and benefits of androgen replacement therapy in elderly men, this treatment should be reserved for selected patients with clinically and biochemically manifest hypogonadism, after careful screening for contraindications.     

The Release Rate of Indomethacin from Solid Dispersions with Eudragite

The coprecipitates were prepared by a solvent technique using Eudragit E as carrier and indomethacin as a model drug.

X-Ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wettability tests were employed to investigate the physical state of the studied formulations. Up to 50% of indomethacin can be dispersed in an amorphous state in Eudragit E.

The influence of the pH on the in vitro release of solid dispersions has been evaluated. Because of the good solubility of Eudragit E at pH 1.2 a fast dissolution rate of the drug was observed while a marked delay was noticed at pH 7.5 where the polymer is only permeable to water. At pH 5.8 the kinetics of drug release can be modulated by the drug/polymer ratio. The dissolution rate of the drug can be increased by decreasing its amount in the coevaporate.     

Progress on large area n‐type silicon solar cells with front laser doping and a rear emitter

We report on the progress of imec's n‐type passivated emitter, rear totally diffused rear junction silicon solar cells. Selective laser doping has been introduced in the flow, allowing the implementation of a shallow diffused front surface field and a reduction of the recombination current in the contact area. Simplifications have been implemented towards a more industrial annealing sequence, by replacing expensive forming gas annealing steps with a belt furnace annealing. By applying these improvements, together with an advanced texturing process and emitter passivation by atomic layer deposition of Al₂O₃, 22.5% efficient cells (three busbars) have been realized on commercial 156 · 156 mm² Czochralski‐Si. This result has been independently confirmed by ISE CalLab. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of coffee physical structure on volatile release

The mechanisms of volatile release from soluble coffee powders with different roasting degrees were studied. The presence of volatiles in the headspace during coffee humidification was analyzed by gas chromatography. Small amounts of volatiles were observed at low water activities (a_w), independently from the roasting degree; as the a_w increased headspace volatiles rose and then decreased as the moisture further increased. The changes in a_w and volatiles went along with the changes of coffee structure from a free-flowing powder to a sticky viscous fluid. The mechanism of volatiles release was controlled by both kinetic and thermodynamic factors. The former prevailed at low a_w in glassy systems; while the latter became important at high a_w when, due to increased mobility, equilibrium conditions were approached. Modified state diagrams were used to predict the critical temperature and a_w at which structural collapse and volatile release occurred. As far as equilibrium condition was achieved, coffee volatiles were partially re-adsorbed in the liquid phase.     

In vitro fermentation characteristics of diets with different forage/concentrate ratios: comparison of rumen and faecal inocula

BACKGROUND: The aim of this trial was to evaluate the replacement of rumen fluid with faeces as inoculum in studying the in vitro fermentation characteristics of diets for ruminants using the in vitro gas production technique. Six iso‐protein diets with different forage/concentrate ratios were incubated with rumen fluid (RI) or faeces (FI) collected from sheep. RESULTS: Most of the fermentation parameters were influenced by diet and inoculum (P < 0.01). With both inocula, organic matter degradability (dOM), cumulative gas production (OMCV) and maximum fermentation rate (R_max) increased as the amount of concentrate in the diet increased. R_max was lower with FI vs RI (P < 0.01); dOM was higher with FI vs RI and the diet × inoculum interaction was significant. As expected, with both inocula, R_max increased as the neutral detergent fibre content of the diet decreased. Significant correlations were obtained using both inocula between OMCV/dOM and gas/volatile fatty acid (VFA), while the correlation VFA/dOM was significant only with FI. The microbial biomass yield calculated by stoichiometric analysis for all diets was higher with FI vs RI. With FI the organic matter used for microbial growth showed an overall decreasing trend as the amount of concentrate in the diet increased. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that both faeces and rumen fluid from sheep have the potential to be used as inoculum for the in vitro gas production technique. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Intracellular localization of dietary and naked DNA in intestinal tissue of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. using in situ hybridization

There is a continuing interest in the fate of DNA from genetically modified organisms (GMO) in the food chain including the uptake of DNA by intestinal cells from dietary sources containing GM feed ingredients. The objective of this study was to elucidate the uptake and persistence of foreign DNA in the intestinal tract of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. using in situ hybridization (ISH) that enables the intracellular localization of the DNA, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to verify the ISH results qualitatively. Two salmon intestinal models were employed for the investigations; intestinal tissues were sampled in two models namely (a) in vivo from salmon-fed diets containing 30% GM soybeans or 30% nonGM (nGM) soybeans, and (b) ex vivo from intestinal sleeves incubated using different concentrations of PCR-amplified test DNAs (211 and 305 bp) designed from the 35S promoter/plant DNA junction of the RoundupReady soybean (RRS) genome. Additionally, for the incubation study, the effect of a mucolytic agent dithiothreitol (DTT) and a permeability enhancer sodium deoxycholate (SDA) on DNA uptake were investigated. Both treatments were found to enhance DNA uptake ex vivo. Dietary DNA and PCR-amplified DNA could be visualized by ISH in the salmon intestine with more frequently observed signals in the ex vivo model compared to the in vivo model. All results could be verified by PCR. Dietary DNA was localized in the cell vacuolar system and in lamina propria of the mid intestine. Thus, based on the investigated DNA fragment lengths, this study shows that foreign DNA, can be taken up by Atlantic salmon intestinal tissue.