Multicolor nanofiber based organic light-emitting transistors

Self-assembled, molecular crystalline nanofibers form microscale light-emitters for future nanophotonic applications. Such organic nanofibers exhibit many interesting optoelectronic properties, including polarized photo- and electroluminescence, waveguiding, and emission color tunability. Surface-grown nanofibers from two different molecules are implemented in an organic field-effect transistor platform by a double roll-printing scheme. Roll-printing multiple types of nanofibers onto the same device provides a fast and simple alternative to multilayer devices. The combination of nanofibers made from para-hexaphenylene and 5,5′-di-4-biphenyl-2,2′-bithiophene results in a nanofiber based organic light-emitting transistor (OLET) which emits both blue and green light. A comparison of measured electrical transport and electroluminescence (EL) properties results in a correlation between the threshold voltage for transport and the onset voltage for EL emission.     

Detection of mastitis in dairy cattle by use of mixture models for repeated somatic cell scores: a Bayesian approach via Gibbs sampling

The distribution of somatic cell scores could be regarded as a mixture of at least two components depending on a cow's udder health status. A heteroscedastic two-component Bayesian normal mixture model with random effects was developed and implemented via Gibbs sampling. The model was evaluated using datasets consisting of simulated somatic cell score records. Somatic cell score was simulated as a mixture representing two alternative udder health statuses ("healthy" or "diseased"). Animals were assigned randomly to the two components according to the probability of group membership (Pm). Random effects (additive genetic and permanent environment), when included, had identical distributions across mixture components. Posterior probabilities of putative mastitis were estimated for all observations, and model adequacy was evaluated using measures of sensitivity, specificity, and posterior probability of misclassification. Fitting different residual variances in the two mixture components caused some bias in estimation of parameters. When the components were difficult to disentangle, so were their residual variances, causing bias in estimation of Pm and of location parameters of the two underlying distributions. When all variance components were identical across mixture components, the mixture model analyses returned parameter estimates essentially without bias and with a high degree of precision. Including random effects in the model increased the probability of correct classification substantially. No sizable differences in probability of correct classification were found between models in which a single cow effect (ignoring relationships) was fitted and models where this effect was split into genetic and permanent environmental components, utilizing relationship information. When genetic and permanent environmental effects were fitted, the between-replicate variance of estimates of posterior means was smaller because the model accounted for random genetic drift.     

Thermodynamic analysis of synthetic hydrocarbon fuel production in pressurized solid oxide electrolysis cells

A promising way to store wind and solar electricity is by electrolysis of H₂O and CO₂ using solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) to produce synthetic hydrocarbon fuels that can be used in existing fuel infrastructure. Pressurized operation decreases the cell internal resistance and enables improved system efficiency, potentially lowering the fuel production cost significantly. In this paper, we present a thermodynamic analysis of synthetic methane and dimethyl ether (DME) production using pressurized SOECs, in order to determine feasible operating conditions for producing the desired hydrocarbon fuel and avoiding damage to the cells. The main parameters of cell operating temperature, pressure, inlet gas composition and reactant utilization are varied to examine how they influence cell thermoneutral and reversible potentials, in situ formation of methane and carbon at the Ni–YSZ electrode, and outlet gas composition. For methane production, low temperature and high pressure operation could improve the system efficiency, but might lead to a higher capital cost. For DME production, high pressure SOEC operation necessitates higher operating temperature in order to avoid carbon formation at higher reactant utilization. Optimal operating conditions are dependent on the total system design.     

Catalytic steam reforming of bio-oil

Hydrogen and synthesis gas can be produced in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way through steam reforming (SR) of bio-oil and this review presents the state-of-the-art of SR of bio-oil and model compounds hereof. The possible reactions, which can occur in the SR process and the influence of operating conditions will be presented along with the catalysts and processes investigated in the literature.     

The occurrence of noncoagulating milk and the association of bovine milk coagulation properties with genetic variants of the caseins in 3 Scandinavian dairy breeds

Substantial variation in milk coagulation properties has been observed among dairy cows. Consequently, raw milk from individual cows and breeds exhibits distinct coagulation capacities that potentially affect the technological properties and milk processing into cheese. This variation is largely influenced by protein composition, which is in turn affected by underlying genetic polymorphisms in the major milk proteins. In this study, we conducted a large screening on 3 major Scandinavian breeds to resolve the variation in milk coagulation traits and the frequency of milk with impaired coagulation properties (noncoagulation). In total, individual coagulation properties were measured on morning milk collected from 1,299 Danish Holstein (DH), Danish Jersey (DJ), and Swedish Red (SR) cows. The 3 breeds demonstrated notable interbreed differences in coagulation properties, with DJ cows exhibiting superior coagulation compared with the other 2 breeds. In addition, milk samples from 2% of DH and 16% of SR cows were classified as noncoagulating. Furthermore, the cows were genotyped for major genetic variants in the α_S1- (CSN1S1), β- (CSN2), and κ-casein (CSN3) genes, revealing distinct differences in variant frequencies among breeds. Allele I of CSN2, which had not formerly been screened in such a high number of cows in these Scandinavian breeds, showed a frequency around 7% in DH and DJ, but was not detected in SR. Genetic polymorphisms were significantly associated with curd firming rate and rennet coagulation time. Thus, CSN1S1 C, CSN2 B, and CSN3 B positively affected milk coagulation, whereas CSN2 A², in particular, had a negative effect. In addition to the influence of individual casein genes, the effects of CSN1S1-CSN2-CSN3 composite genotypes were also examined, and revealed strong associations in all breeds, which more or less reflected the single gene results. Overall, milk coagulation is under the influence of additive genetic variation. Optimal milk for future cheese production can be ensured by monitoring the frequency of unfavorable variants and thus preventing an increase in the number of cows producing milk with impaired coagulation. Selective breeding for variants associated with superior milk coagulation can potentially increase raw milk quality and cheese yield in all 3 Scandinavian breeds.     

Detection of tropomyosin and determination of proteins in crustacean oils

Tropomyosin is known to be the main allergen in crustaceans and the objective of this study was to investigate if this protein could be detected in commercial crustacean oils from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and the zooplankton Calanus finmarchicus. We also examined the possibility of determining the protein content in the oils by direct amino acid analysis. Western blotting showed that a commercial antibody against shrimp tropomyosin cross-reacted with a protein of similar size in Antarctic krill and C. finmarchicus. The protein tentatively identified as tropomyosin, was also detected in krill oil products, but not in oils from C. finmarchicus. The acetone–heptane method used for extracting proteins in the oils is however not optimal. Other extraction methods should therefore be considered when investigating the presence of allergenic proteins in oils. Direct amino acid analysis on oils should be further explored as a method for determining the total amount of proteins present.     

The composition of bovine milk lipids: January 1995 to December 2000

Data from recent publications on bovine milk lipids are presented and discussed. This includes extraction of lipids, triacylglycerols, phospholipids, other complex lipids, sterols, isoflavones, and fatty acids. Improved gas-liquid and high performance liquid chromatography were used. Data on the trans and cis isomers of fatty acid and of conjugated linoleic acids are given, and the analyses are described. Papers about the lipids in milks and dairy products from the United States are few; where with the exception of trans-fatty acid isomers and conjugated linoleic acids, almost no research has been reported.     

Effect of food ingredients on glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion in STC-1 and HuTu-80 cells

This study aims at identifying food ingredients that have potential to enhance satiety and therefore potentially can be used for preventing and treating obesity. To do so, effects of thirteen food ingredients on the secretion of gut satiety hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in enteroendocrine STC-1 and HuTu-80 cells were investigated. First, the effects of food ingredients on cell viability were investigated. This was done to determine if the individual ingredient affected cell viability, and in case so, to determine the ingredient concentration below which, the cell viability was unaffected. Enzyme-treated whey protein, palmitic acid, stearic acid, green tea extract, and hesperidin did not affect GLP-1 secretion. Functional soy protein, fractionated functional soy protein, acetylated monoglyceride, N-oleoylethanolamine, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, hesperetin, rosemary extract, and kale extract increased GLP-1 secretion in at least one cell line. However, the effects of the eight potent ingredients on GLP-1 secretion need to be further investigated in vivo.