Effect of preparation method on the glycaemic index of novel potato clones

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the effects of cooling and reheating on the glycaemic index (GI) of novel potato clones (selections) differed depending on selection and whether cooling altered starch absorption in vivo. We conducted 3 experiments using 4 novel potato clones in healthy subjects. Experiment 1: the GI of 4 selections each prepared in 3 ways (freshly boiled, cooled, or cooled and reheated) was measured in 2 groups of 10 subjects (each group tested 2 selections). Experiment 2 (n=10): two selections from Experiment 1 were re-tested one year later, by a different subject group. Experiment 3 (n=10): two selections from Experiment 1 were tested by subjects from Experiment 2 to assess the rate and extent of starch absorption using the second-meal effect and the breath hydrogen method, respectively. Experiment 1 demonstrated a selection×treatment interaction for GI (p=0.024); cooling reduced the GI of two selections by 40-50% (p<0.05) but reduced GI of the other 2 by only 8-10% (ns). Experiment 2 confirmed the selection×treatment interaction (p=0.018) seen in Experiment 1. Experiment 3: cooling reduced the GI by an average of 37% (p<0.05) but only increased starch malabsorption in vivo from 3% to 5% (p=0.021); there was no significant second-meal effect. It is concluded that the effect of cooling on the GI of potatoes may vary from 0-50% depending on selection. However, the mechanism for the effect is not clear: the 2% increase in starch malabsorption seen upon cooling potatoes was not nearly enough to account for the 37% reduction in GI.     

Single-walled carbon nanotube thermopile for broadband light detection

We designed a thermopile based on a PN doping profile engineered in a suspended film of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Using estimates of the film local Seebeck coefficients, the SWNT thermopile was optimized in situ through depositions of potassium dopants. The overall performances of the thermopile were found to be comparable to state-of-the-art SWNT bolometers. The device is characterized at room temperature by a time response of 36 ms, typical of thermal detectors, and an optimum spectral detectivity of 2 × 10(6) cm Hz(1/2)/W in the visible and near-infrared. This paper presents the first thermopile made of a suspended SWNT film and paves the way to new applications such as broadband light (including THz) detection and thermoelectric power generation.     

Magnetite/CdTe magnetic-fluorescent composite nanosystem for magnetic separation and bio-imaging

A new synthesis protocol is described to obtain a CdTe decorated magnetite bifunctional nanosystem via dodecylamine (DDA) as cross linker. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and fluorescence microscopy are used to characterize the constitution, size, composition and physical properties of these superparamagnetic-fluorescent nanoparticles. These CdTe decorated magnetite nanoparticles were then functionalized with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody to specifically target cells expressing this receptor. The EGFR is a transmembrane glycoprotein and is expressed on tumor cells from different tissue origins including human leukemic cell line Molt-4 cells. The magnetite-CdTe composite nanosystem is shown to perform excellently for specific selection, magnetic separation and fluorescent detection of EGFR positive Molt-4 cells from a mixed population. Flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy results show that this composite nanosystem has great potential in antibody functionalized magnetic separation and imaging of cells using cell surface receptor antibody.     

PVDF/PMMA blend pyroelectric thin films

This paper will present a complete manufacturing process for obtaining pyroelectric thin film sensors composed of a blend of PVDF and PMMA polymers. These sensors comprise a stack of metallic (Ti/Pt) electrodes around an active pyroelectric layer and are able to detect a temperature variation through the pyroelectric effect. Deposition is achieved with solution using a spin-coating and hot plate drying method. Addition of PMMA is a technique for promoting the crystallization of PVDF in the β phase, with one of the PVDF polymer chain conformations producing a ferroelectric behaviour. Analysis of the role of the solvent evaporation rate has been carried out with FTIR and indicates that low temperature evaporation (below 70 °C) leads to the presence of β phase in the material. Polarization curve measurement also indicates the ferroelectric behaviour of deposited layers. Finally a thermal transient response indicates a pyroelectric coefficient of 20 μC m⁻² K⁻¹ which is close to the bulk material value (27 μC m⁻² K⁻¹).     

Automatic segmentation of intracochlear anatomy in conventional CT

Cochlear implant surgery is a procedure performed to treat profound hearing loss. Clinical results suggest that implanting the electrode in the scala tympani, one of the two principal cavities inside the cochlea, may result in better hearing restoration. Segmentation of intracochlear cavities could thus aid the surgeon to choose the point of entry and angle of approach that maximize the likelihood of successful implant insertion, which may lead to more substantial hearing restoration. However, because the membrane that separates the intracochlear cavities is too thin to be seen in conventional in vivo imaging, traditional segmentation techniques are inadequate. In this paper, we circumvent this problem by creating an active shape model with micro CT (μCT) scans of the cochlea acquired ex vivo. We then use this model to segment conventional CT scans. The model is fitted to the partial information available in the conventional scans and used to estimate the position of structures not visible in these images. Quantitative evaluation of our method, made possible by the set of μCTs, results in Dice similarity coefficients averaging 0.75. Mean and maximum surface errors average 0.21 and 0.80 mm.     

Status of the Closed-Cycle Dilution Refrigerator Development for Space Astrophysics

The closed-cycle dilution refrigerator for space applications is an on-going development to improve the performance of the open-cycle dilution refrigerator successfully used on the Planck mission. This solution has been considered in various projects in X-ray and far-infrared space instruments for astrophysics (ATHENA, SPICA) and in advanced studies for future CMB polarization surveys (COrE). It is shown that for sub-Kelvin applications, this refrigerator is fully competitive with some ADR-based solutions. Compared to ADR, the main advantages are (1) a stable cooling power adapted to long uninterrupted sky surveys (2) a low mass of the coldest stages (3) the absence of magnetic field. We present the current status of the development and discuss the options for the \(^{3}\) He compressor.     

钢纤维和有机纤维混凝土开口板开裂后的弯曲性能

对36块纤维混凝土开口板的抗弯性能进行试验研究,分析不同掺量的钢纤维和高性能结构型合成长纤维对混凝土开口板的荷载-挠度伞曲线、荷载-裂缝口扩展宽度全曲线及挠度-裂缝口扩展宽度全曲线的影响.通过对倚载-挠度伞曲线进行计算,研究不同纤维种类、纤维掺景下纤维混凝土开口板在不同跨中挠度下的变形能,同时对其韧性进行分析.结果表明...     

Determination of the base plate stiffness and strength of steel storage racks

This paper addresses the problem of determining the stiffness and strength of steel storage rack base plate assemblies. Base plate assemblies are usually bolted to an upright and to a concrete floor, and they are used to provide resistance against the flexural buckling of the upright and/or the overall down-aisle buckling of the frame. The semi-rigid stiffness is usually determined by means of a test of two pre-loaded uprights connected to a concrete block in a dual-actuator set-up. Guidance for conducting the test is provided in the European Standard EN 15512. However, several aspects of the test need clarification, notably the test set-up and the transducer arrangement for measuring the rotations of the base plate. This paper provides recommendations for how best to conduct the test, and proposes an alternative test method to that given in the EN 15512 Specification.The paper also identifies the contributions to the deformations of base plate assemblies, including the deformations of the supporting floor, the base plate assembly itself and the upright, and proposes simple expressions for calculating the stiffness associated with each contributing deformation where applicable. Furthermore, the paper proposes a deformation criterion for determining the ultimate design moment for base plate tests which do not attain a peak moment.     

Isolation and characterization of tyramine-producing Enterococcus faecium strains from red wine

Enterococcus faecium strains were isolated from red wines undergoing malolactic fermentation and identified by comparison of their 16S rDNA gene sequences with those included in the GenEMBL Databases. The tyrosine decarboxylase gene was identified in all the strains analysed by PCR using gene-specific primers and the ability to produce tyramine in a synthetic media was analysed by RP-HPLC. Survival of an E. faecium strain was also evaluated in microvinification assays using two different musts with different ethanol concentrations (10% and 12% (v/v)). Tyramine production was monitored during the vinification trials. Our results suggest that E. faecium strains isolated from wine are able to produce tyramine and tolerate wine conditions following a pre-acidic stress.     

Investigation of conventional membrane and tangential flow ultrafiltration artifacts and their application to the characterization of freshwater colloids

Artifacts associated with the fractionation of colloids in a freshwater sample were investigated for conventional membrane filtration (0.45 microm cutoff), and two tangential flow ultrafiltration cartridges (0.1 microm cutoff and 3000 MW cutoff). Membrane clogging during conventional filtration removed some colloids smaller than 0.1 microm in diameter, much smaller than the nominal size of the filter. For certain constituents (e.g., Fe), filter clogging had a significant effect on filtrate concentrations, while artifacts associated with tangential flow ultrafiltration using a 0.1 microm cutoff were minimal. Artifacts occurred during tangential flow ultrafiltration with a 3000 MW cutoff, but did not deviate from predicted changes in concentration based on a standard permeation model. Comparison of filtrate concentrations for membrane filtration (at 1.0 and 0.45 microm) and tangential flow ultrafiltration (at 0.1 microm) for a large number of samples from Connecticut rivers shows that significant and consistent differences exist between their separation characteristics. Results for organic carbon, Fe, Mn, Al, Cu, and Pb demonstrate the magnitude of the effects of the fractionation technique on filtrate element concentration, show variability by element and flow condition, and highlight the importance of larger colloids to freshwater metal speciation. One implication of the research is that tangential flow ultrafiltration with large size cutoff membranes (e.g., approximately 0.1 microm) may be superior to conventional filtration with filters in the same size discrimination range, and potentially more appropriate for the fractionation of natural water samples.