Consumer Input for Developing Human Food Products Made with Sorghum Grain

Abstract: Because sorghum grain has important characteristics (for example, great antioxidant profile) for introduction into the regular human diet, producers and industry aim to develop successful products using sorghum as the base. The 1st step in developing products attractive for consumers is understanding consumer needs and expectations. Conjoint analysis determines attributes which may be important or unimportant for one product. In this study, focus groups and conjoint analysis were used to establish which attributes are helpful for promoting purchase intent of sorghum grain products. Once those characteristics were chosen, a national survey was conducted to confirm the selection. During the focus groups, the heath aspects of grain products seemed to be the most appealing for consumers, whereas conjoint analysis showed that sensory attributes were the principal drivers for purchase intent. Practical Application: The data presented in this study are essential for industry as a starting point for developing sorghum grain based food products. It is necessary to address consumers’ demands to ensure new products’ success in the market, and the present study clearly shows this consumers’ input.     

Structure–properties investigations in hydrophilic nanocomposites based on polyurethane/poly(2–hydroxyethyl methacrylate) semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks and nanofiller densil for biomedical application

Nanocomposites based on sequential semi–interpenetrating polymer networks (semi–IPNs) of crosslinked polyurethane and linear poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) filled with 1–15 wt % of nanofiller densil were prepared and investigated. Nanofiller densil used in an attempt to control the microphase separation of the polymer matrix by polymer–filler interactions. The morphology (SAXS, AFM), mechanical properties (stress–strain), thermal transitions (DSC) and polymer dynamics (DRS, TSDC) of the nanocomposites were investigated. Special attention has been paid to the raising of the hydration properties and the dynamics of water molecules in the nanocomposites in the perspective of biomedical applications. Nanoparticles were found to aggregate partially for higher than 3 and 5 wt % filler loading in semi–IPNs with 17 and 37 wt % PHEMA, respectively. The results show that the good hydration properties of the semi–IPN matrix are preserved in the nanocomposites, which in combination with results of thermal and dielectric techniques revealed also the existence of polymer–polymer and polymer–filler interactions. These interactions results also in the improvement of physical and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites in compare with the neat matrix. The improvement of mechanical properties in combination with hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of nanocomposites are promising for use these materials for biomedical application namely as surgical films for wound treatment and as material for producing the medical devises. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43122.     

Filler effect on formation and properties of interpenetrating polymer networks based on polyurethane and polyesteracrylate

The formation processes of unfilled and filled interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) and some of their physico-mechanical properties have been investigated. The IPN formation kinetics and the constituent network curing rates determine the rate and degree of microphase separation. This in turn determines the boundary layer composition and structure. Introduction of filler into the IPN during formation affects greatly the crosslinking reaction and the microphase segregation of homopolymers. It has been shown that the degree of phase segregation in filled IPNs differs from that in unfilled ones. All the fillers were found to shorten the time of internal stress appearance and to increase its value for IPNs with predominantly high-modulus component content. Some filled IPNs were shown to have greater thermodynamic stability than unfilled ones.     

光伏发电系统中前端DC/DC变换器的设计

按照光伏发电系统的要求确定了该系统中DC/DC变换器的拓扑--Boost电路,给出了该拓扑的工作原理和小信号模型.在此基础上,详细介绍了Boost的电路参数,驱动和保护电路以及控制回路的设计.最后给出了1 kW光伏发电系统中前端DC/DC变换器的实验波形,验证了设计的正确性.     

Oligomer Content of α-Pinene Secondary Organic Aerosol

The quantity, extraction efficiency, and molecular composition of non-volatile oligomeric species in SOA generated by the reaction of α-pinene with ozone were studied. Two different methods of determining the total particulate mass in the reaction chamber were compared and found to be in good agreement when changes in the partitioning of semi-volatile compounds to the particle phase during measurement were properly handled. Almost all of the non-volatile organic carbon formed by the reaction was collected and recovered by extraction with organic solvents; recoveries with water extraction were somewhat lower. The identities of compounds extracted by the various solvents were determined using electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ESI-FTICR) mass spectrometry. Over 80% of the peaks weighted by mass and intensity were the same in the spectra of samples obtained from different extraction solvents. Standard addition plots were used to determine the amounts of two commercially available monomer compounds in the SOA extracts. When the response factors for those compounds were applied to other monomers detected in the mass spectra, the weight percent of monomers was estimated to be slightly less than 50%, with the remaining mass (over 50%) assigned to oligomers. The oligomer content is sufficiently large that it should be taken into account when modeling the formation and properties of laboratory SOA.     

Laser-activated shape memory polymer microactuator for thrombus removal following ischemic stroke: preliminary in vitro analysis

Due to the narrow (3-h) treatment window for effective use of the thrombolytic drug recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA), there is a need to develop alternative treatments for ischemic stroke. We are developing an intravascular device for mechanical thrombus removal using shape memory polymer (SMP). We propose to deliver the SMP microactuator in its secondary straight rod form (length=4 cm, diameter=350 /spl mu/m) through a catheter distal to the vascular occlusion. The microactuator, which is mounted on the end of an optical fiber, is then transformed into its primary corkscrew shape by laser heating (diode laser, /spl lambda/=800 nm) above its soft-phase glass transition temperature (T/sub gs/=55/spl deg/C). Once deployed, the microactuator is retracted, and the captured thrombus is removed to restore blood flow. The SMP is doped with indocyanine green (ICG) dye to increase absorption of the laser light. Successful deployment of the microactuator depends on the optical properties of the ICG-doped SMP, as well as the optical coupling efficiency of the interface between the optical fiber and the SMP. Spectrophotometry, thermal imaging, and computer simulation aided the initial design effort and continue to be useful tools for optimization of the dye concentration and laser power. Thermomechanical testing was performed to characterize the elastic modulus of the SMP. We have demonstrated laser activation of the SMP microactuator in air at room temperature, suggesting this concept is a promising therapeutic alternative to rt-PA.     

Pseudomutagenesis. The persistent increase in the level of cellular variability induced by radiation and some other agents

Electron microscopic investigation of capillary endothelium cells in myocardium of irradiated rats revealed an unusual effect of persistent increase of probability of cell damage, similar in many relations to that described earlier for various unicellular species. New effect, unlike those traditionally studied, is characterised by non-stochastic nature, large number of the involved cells, reveals itself even after faint influences, and can be induced as well by agents other than radiation. The question is put on the probable commonness between these changes and the pseudomutagenesis which has the similar phenomenology.