Effect of different treatments on the quality of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis L.) viscera

The effects of different preservation times (cuttlefish auction), transformation factory treatments, different times of frozen storage at −20 °C and various defrosting temperatures were investigated with respect to the chemical changes of the viscera of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). During auction storage, pH and TCA (trichloroacetic acid)-soluble protein concentration decreased, whereas intracellular (cathepsins, total acid proteases and acid phosphatases) and extracellular (amylase, chymotrypsin, trypsin and total alkaline proteases) enzymatic activities increased. In cuttlefish transformation factories, pH value and TCA-soluble protein concentration increased. In transformation factory conditions, lipase and amylase levels varied, while other assayed enzymes were stable. Moreover, during transformation factory treatment, the molecular weight of proteins/peptides decreased and the oil composition evolution reflected hydrolysis of cuttlefish viscera. Thus, cuttlefish viscera fatty acid composition differed between fresh viscera and factory viscera. Despite changes in the fatty acid chain composition during factory transformation, the percentage of poly-unsaturated fatty acids remained high. Frozen storage implied major changes in viscera quality such as an increase in pH and a decrease in the quantity of high molecular weight protein. Moreover, the higher the defrosting temperature, the higher was the pH. During storage at −20 °C the quantities of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids decreased slightly.     

Molecular cloning, cDNA sequence analysis, and chromosomal localization of mouse Pkd2

The gene responsible for the second form of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, PKD2, has recently been identified. We now describe the cloning, genomic localization, cDNA sequence, and expression analysis of its murine homologue, Pkd2. The cloned cDNA sequence is 5134 bp long and is predicted to encode a 966-amino-acid integral membrane protein with six membrane-spanning domains and intracellular NH2 and COOH termini. Pkd2 is highly conserved with 91% identity and 98% similarity to polycystin-2 at the amino acid level. Pkd2 mRNA is widely expressed in mouse tissues. Pkd2 maps to mouse Chromosome 5 and is excluded as a candidate gene for previously mapped mouse mutations resulting in a polycystic kidney phenotype.     

Rheological behavior of cement pastes from MRI velocimetry

From MRI measurements, it is shown that in a flowing cement paste the thixotropic effects dominate over short time scales, while aging effects become significant over larger timescales. The steady state behavior, defined as flow properties in the intermediate period, exhibits a yielding behavior which differs from the prediction of usual yield stress models. The transition from the “solid” to the “liquid” regime is abrupt: the shear rate changes suddenly from zero to a finite value (critical shear rate) when the shear stress overcomes a critical value. These critical shear rates and shear stresses are independent of the flow conditions so that they may be considered as intrinsic material parameters. It was also shown that these results are consistent with usual macroscopic observations from conventional rheometry.     

Spectral analysis of electrograms during ventricular tachycardia in a canine model: relation with epicardial isochronal maps

The purpose of this study was to assess the capability of magnitude-squared coherence and bicoherence to differentiate monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT) and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PVT) in a canine model and to relate these results to the epicardial isochronal maps on a beat-to-beat basis. Unipolar electrograms were simultaneously recorded from the surface of both ventricles with a 127-lead sock electrode array in 12 open-chest anesthetized dogs. The sampling frequency was 500 Hz. Atrioventricular block was induced by formaldehyde injection into the atrioventricular node. The left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded for 60 minutes under ventricular pacing (140 beats/min). During reperfusion, 12 MVT episodes lasting more than 42 seconds were recorded. Left stellate ganglion stimulation induced five PVT episodes lasting more than 42 seconds. Each of these recordings was divided into seven segments of 3,072 points (6.144 seconds). After visual selection, 104 segments were extracted and classified as 73 MVT and 31 PVT segments. Magnitude-squared coherence was estimated as the cross-spectrum from two epicardial signals (on the right and left ventricles, respectively), normalized with the respective autopower spectrum. Bicoherence was estimated as the bispectrum normalized with the autopower spectrum. Magnitude-squared coherence correctly identified 96% of MVT and 81% of PVT segments for a total accuracy of 91%. Bicoherence estimated with the left ventricular lead correctly identified 100% of MVT and 77% of PVT segments with an accuracy of 93%. Beat-to-beat epicardial maps of MVT displayed a cluster of sites of origin close to the reperfusion area, while the sites of origin from beats during PVT were much more dispersed over both ventricles. A strong and significant correlation was found between the number of electrodes with the earliest epicardial activation and coherence (r = .76, P < .0001) and bicoherence (r = .68, P < .0001), respectively. A high and significant correlation was also found between both spectral estimators (r = .74, P < .0001). Coherence and bicoherence discriminated accurately between MVT and PVT. Coherence achieved better results compared with bicoherence. Coherence and bicoherence measurements showed a quantitative relation with the spatial dispersion of the sites of origin. Both spectral techniques seemed powerful enough to be used in the development of implantable devices.     

Coupling of thermoelectric modules with a photovoltaic panel for air pre‐heating and pre‐cooling application; an annual simulation

Thermoelectric (TE) modules are possible reversible pre‐cooling and pre‐heating devices for ventilation air in buildings. In this study, the opportunity of direct coupling of TE modules with photovoltaic (PV) cells is considered. This coupling is evaluated through a numerical simulation depending on the meteorological conditions of Chambéry, Alpine region in France, and on the cooling or heating use of the TE modules, through annual energy and exergy efficiencies. For the considered conditions, TE module performances are of the same order as the ones of the vapour compression heat pumps, with a TE coefficient of performance higher than 2 for low values of input DC current. The PV–TE coupling efficiency varies between 0.096 and 0.23 over the year, with an average value of 0.157. Evolutions of the exergy effectiveness of PV and TE elements follow the same trends as the corresponding energy efficiencies but with steeper variations for the coupling exergy yield that varies between 0.004 and 0.014, with an annual average value of 0.010. The direct PV–TE coupling does not seem to be a sustainable option for the summer cooling purpose particularly. A case study with indirect coupling under a warm climate is considered and shows that the use of TE devices could be efficient in housing to ensure summer thermal comfort, but the corresponding necessary PV area would induce a high investment. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of poly(2,5-Thienylene Vinylene) and its derivatives: Low band gap materials for photovoltaics

Poly-(2,5-Thienylene Vinylene) (PTV) derivatives have been synthesised via the “dithiocarbamate precursor route” in good yield and satisfactory molecular weight. Structural characterisations of the conjugated PTV polymers reveal an optical band gap around 1.8 eV. Organic field effect transistors and organic based photovoltaic devices were made with the plain PTV, via a precursor approach. More specifically, solar cells were produced using a blend of the precursor PTV polymer and PCBM (1-(3-methoxycarbonyl) propyl-1-phenyl [6,6] C₆₁) at various ratios, converted in situ in thin film. A promising power efficiency of 0.76% was achieved.     

Experimental determination of carrier-induced differential loss in 2-section GaInAsP/InP laser-waveguide

Measurements of threshold current density and external efficiency on broad-area laser-waveguide structure have led to the determination of the optical loss and differential loss d alpha /dN approximately=1.1-2.3 *10/sup -17/ cm/sup 2/ at lambda =1.53 mu m in a lambda /sub g/=1.30 mu m GaInAsP layer. This measurement will be useful for the design of tunable lasers.<>     

二段减压间歇精馏分离环氧环己烷的研究

对无溶剂法合成的环氧环己烷，针对环氧环己烷具有高度的光敏、热敏等不稳定特点，采用添加乙二醇-丁醚作为重组分进行二段减压间歇精馏的方法进行了分离纯化，环氧环己烷的纯度达99．5％，单程环氧环己烷的收率85％。实验优化了精馏的操作方式和操作条件，为新方法工业化的分离工艺部分的工程设计提供了基本依据。