Heat denaturation of Brazil nut allergen Ber e 1 in relation to food processing

Ber e 1, a major allergen from Brazil nuts, is very stable to in vitro peptic digestion. As heat-induced denaturation may affect protein digestibility, the denaturation behaviour of Ber e 1 was investigated. The denaturation temperature of Ber e 1 varies from approximately 80–110 °C, depending on the pH. Upon heating above its denaturation temperature at pH 7.0, the protein partly forms insoluble aggregates and partly dissociates into its polypeptides, whereas heating at pH 5.0 does neither induce aggregation, nor dissociation of the protein. The denaturation temperature of approximately 110 °C at pH values corresponding to the general pH values of foods (pH 5–7) is very high and is expected to be even higher in Brazil nuts themselves. As a result, it is unlikely that heat processing causes the denaturation of all Ber e 1 present in food products. Consequently, the allergen is assumed to be consumed (mainly) in its native form, having a high stability towards pepsin digestion.     

THE INTERBASIN TRANSFER OF WATER: AN ISSUE OF EFFICIENCY AND EQUITY

ABSTRACT

Interbasin water transfers provide the option of redirecting water supplies to areas of high demand. Yet, water transfers may involve environmental damage or the loss of economic opportunity within the donor basin. It is essential, therefore, that a means for assessing potential impacts associated with proposed transfers and for accommodating damages be instituted to assure that water resources are being put to their highest and best use.

The following paper reviews recent experience in the United States with regard to interbasin transfers. It then presents a conceptual framework for assessing potential benefits and costs associated with water transfers and offers an approach for resolving conflicts that may allow for mutual benefit on the part of the affected parties.     

Design Guidelines for Polyethylene Pipe Interface Shear Resistance

Polyethylene pipes are commonly used in pipeline systems. Current methods used to determine the pipe pullout capacity do not consider the effects of diameter changes and cyclic movements that the pipelines may experience. Laboratory tests were performed to study the interface shearing resistance of polyethylene pipes under varying conditions. The tests were performed in a temperature-controlled room, where properties were investigated for thermal variations expected in the field. Two types of tests were performed: pull/push tests and cyclic tests. Test results indicated that reductions in pipe diameter affect the interface shear resistance that develops between the pipe and soil. As the pipe diameter gets smaller, the normal contact stresses at the interface decreases, causing a reduction in the interface shearing resistance directly proportional to the normal stress changes. Cyclic pipe movements also cause significant reduction in pipe pullout resistance. The test results indicated that the polyethylene pipe interface shear resistance can be significantly lower than the one determined using the current methods. This paper presents the test results, findings, and design recommendations for the pullout resistance of buried polyethylene pipes.     

Enhanced ionic conductivity and phase meta-stability of nano-sized thin film yttria-doped zirconia (YDZ)

Yttria-doped zirconia (YDZ) thin films with nanometric sized grains were prepared by reactive RF sputtering and their oxygen ion conductivities were systematically measured as a function of yttria doping with levels in the range 0.5–9.1 mol.% Y₂O₃. Enhanced oxygen ion conductivities, as derived from impedance spectra, were observed when compared with values reported for bulk YSZ. Furthermore, the peak conductivity for the YDZ films was observed to occur at considerably reduced yttria levels, i.e., at 6.5 mol.% Y₂O₃ (for T > ～400 °C) and at 3.2 mol.% Y₂O₃ (for T < ～300 °C) vs. 9 mol.% Y₂O₃ in bulk YSZ. Based on an analysis of the Raman spectra, these results are believed to result from the extended meta-stability of the cubic phase to reduced yttria levels at nanometric grain sizes.     

Electrothermoelastic modeling of MEMS gripper

The design of many thermal Microelectromechanical (MEMS) actuators is often based on finite element analysis, but lacks analytical insight. In this paper we report a novel electro-thermal microgripper and a comprehensive thermal modeling of a general 5 lineshape microbeam’s actuator using 1-D steady state heat equations. Because of the variety of microgripper fabrication technologies and their applications, different thermal boundary conditions are considered for lifted off and attached grippers. Parametric and nonparametric electrothermomechanical identification models for silicon on insulator microgripper, fabricated on 100 μm device layer, are obtained.     

A pilot project for migrating COBOL code to web services

This paper describes a pilot project conducted to test the feasibility of constructing web services from existing mainframe COBOL programs. The project involved the use of four tools. The first tool, COBAudit, was intended to identify candidates for web services. The second tool, COBStrip, served to extract only that portion of the code required to fulfill the service. The third tool, COBWrap, wrapped the code extracted from original code and converted it to an executable component. The fourth tool, COBLink, connected the wrapped component to the web by generating a WSDL interface from either the COBOL linkage section or the original map definition. The tools were applied to a legacy life insurance system with more than 20 million lines of COBOL code running under IMS on the IBM mainframe.     

Numerical prediction of failure paths at a roughened metal/polymer interface

Debonding of polymer–metal interfaces often involves both interfacial and cohesive failure. This paper extends the investigation of Yao and Qu presented in [Yao Q, Qu J. Interfacial versus cohesive failure on polymer–metal interfaces in electronic packaging – effects of interface roughness. J Electr Packag 2002;124;127–34] towards a numerical fracture mechanics model that is used to quantitatively predict the relation between cohesive and adhesive failure on a metal–polymer interface. As example, an epoxy–aluminum interface is investigated. The competition between adhesive and cohesive failure depending on surface roughness parameters will be studied. Understanding of these phenomena could enable the optimization of interface properties for different applications.     

建造自己的住宅 荷兰私人建造住宅实践综述

在谈论荷兰设计的时候,我们往往关注其先锋、前卫的一面,而很少注意其理性主义的一面,其实,荷兰在住宅方面的法律法规之严超过任何国家。不过．近年来,要求自由的呼声越来越强烈。二次世界大战后,大规模建设的需要使强调标准化的理性主义在住宅建设领域大行其道。住宅建设完全掌握在开发商、协会等手中,难免出现计划比较僵化和标准化至上等问题。这导致荷兰的许多城市特别是其郊区地段出现了许多功能单一、令人倍感乏味的街区。为了解决这困境,荷兰新城ALmere市当局决定在城市规划方面限制自己的权力。