Effect of contact lens surface properties on comfort,tear stability and ocular physiology

Aim

Retrospective analysis of different contact lens wearing groups suggests lens surface lubricity is the main factor influencing contact lens comfort. However, the examined commercially available contact lenses differ in material and design as well as surface properties. Hence this study isolates the contribution of lens surface properties using an ultra-thin coating technology.

Assessment of photovoltaic junction position using combined focused ion beam and electron beam‐induced current analysis of close space sublimation deposited CdTe solar cells

A major limitation of the cross‐section electron beam‐induced current method—the use of roughly fractured surfaces to provide the cross‐section—has been overcome with the use of focused ion beam microscope sample preparation. Using this method, it was possible to undertake a study of the relation between junction position and the corresponding external quantum efficiency (EQE) curves. For the case of cadmium telluride (CdTe) cells, it was demonstrated that the EQE curve shape that indicates a buried CdTe homojunction only arises if the junction is buried by more than 0.9 µm from the heterointerface. This highlights the limitations of interpreting EQE curve shape to determine junction position. It was also shown that extended postgrowth annealing degrades the cadmium sulfide by Kirkendall voiding, and this leads to efficiency loss. © 2014 The Authors. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study the effects of mechanical activation on Li–N–H systems with H and Li solid-state NMR

To gain insight into the effects of mechanical activation (MA) on the hydrogen desorption of the lithium amide (LiNH₂) and lithium hydride (LiH) mixture, LiNH₂ and LiH + LiNH₂ were mechanically activated by high-energy ball milling. The formed products were studied with in situ ¹H and ⁶Li nuclear magic angle spinning (MAS) magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy from ambient temperature to 180 °C. Up-field chemical shift was observed in ⁶Li MAS NMR spectra with increased milling time, indicating that average local electronic structure around Li nuclei was modified during MA. ¹H MAS NMR was used to dynamically probe ammonia release from the activated LiNH₂ at temperature as low as 50 °C. In the case of activated LiH + LiNH₂ mixtures, the ¹H MAS NMR results implied that MA enhanced the dehydrogenation reaction of LiNH₂ + LiH = Li₂NH + H₂.     

Enzyme-Assisted Extraction of Alginate from Beach Wrack Fucus vesiculosus

Beach wrack constitutes an unutilized, abundant renewable source of marine macro algae being rich in valuable biopolymers. This work investigates the revalorization of the brown algae Fucus vesiculosus collected from beach wrack as a source of alginate, the main polysaccharide in brown algae which constitutes a potential ingredient for the development of biopolymer films. Enzyme-assisted extraction has been investigated for cell disruption with commercial cellulase blends and proteases. The effect of enzyme type, enzyme activity, and extraction time on alginate yields, molecular weight distribution, functional groups, and purity has been studied.     

Machine Learning Approaches for Phase Identification Using Process Variables in Batch Processes

Specialty and fine chemicals are often manufactured in multipurpose batch production plants. Compared to continuous production, these plants offer increased flexibility at the cost of operational complexity. A recipe defines the sequence and process parameters of different batch phases that are needed to transform raw materials into the desired product. In some plants detailed information about the executed recipe is not always captured by data acquisition systems. Knowledge of these phases is essential for optimizing quality and throughput. State-of-the-art data-driven machine learning techniques can recognize recurrent patterns in noisy time series data, enabling automatic labeling of batch phases based on widely available sensor data. In this review paper, we provide an overview of several machine learning approaches that can be used in an industrial setting.     

Flow Field Investigations of Two-Stage Stirrer Configurations Combining Axially and Radially Conveying Turbines

In this study, the flow fields of two-stage impellers, consisting of combinations of different impeller types on one shaft, are investigated using stereo particle image velocimetry. Based on the results of torque measurements, diameters for different impellers are determined in order to achieve matching power input of the individual turbines. When implemented adequately, both selected impellers are able to contribute their respective characteristics, resulting in flow fields that differ significantly from those induced by single-stage impellers as well as two-stage setups consisting of identical impellers.     

Toxicity of fumonisin from Fusarium verticillioides culture material and moniliformin from Fusarium fujikuroi culture material when fed singly and in combination to growing barrows

The effects of fumonisin B1 (FB1) from Fasarium verticillioides culture material and moniliformin from Fusarum fujikuroi culture material on growing barrows were evaluated. Four groups of six barrows (three replicates of two each; mean body weight, 11.1 kg) were fed diets containing 0 mg of FB1 and 0 mg of moniliformin per kg of feed (control), 100 mg of FB1 per kg of feed, 100 mg of moniliformin per kg of feed, and 100 mg of FB1 plus 100 mg of moniliformin per kg of feed. Barrows were fed these diets for 28 days. Body weight gain, feed efficiency, serum biochemical analytes, and hematological values were adversely affected by the FB1 and the FB1-plus-moniliformin diets. The moniliformin diet decreased body weight gain. Two barrows in the moniliformin diet group died, and two barrows in the FB1-plus-moniliformin diet group died. All deaths occurred during the first 6 days of the study. Mild to moderate lesions were observed microscopically in heart and lung tissues of the groups fed moniliformin and FB1 plus moniliformin and in liver tissues of the groups fed FB1 and FB1 plus moniliformin. Except for the acute mortality associated with the two diets containing moniliformin. clinical disease induced by the combined feeding of these two mycotoxins appears to be additive or less than additive and due primarily to the toxic expression of FB1.     

Release of Bacteriocins from Nanofibers Prepared with Combinations of Poly(d,l-lactide) (PDLLA) and Poly(Ethylene Oxide) (PEO)

Plantaricin 423, produced by Lactobacillus plantarum, and bacteriocin ST4SA produced by Enterococcus mundtii, were electrospun into nanofibers prepared from different combinations of poly(d,l-lactide) (PDLLA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Both peptides were released from the nanofibers with a high initial burst and retained 88% of their original antimicrobial activity at 37 °C. Nanofibers have the potential to serve as carrier matrix for bacteriocins and open a new field in developing controlled antimicrobial delivery systems for various applications.     

Changes in scopoletin concentration in cassava chips from four varieties during storage

BACKGROUND: The use of the root crop cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is constrained by its rapid deterioration after harvesting. Chemical and spectroscopic examination earlier revealed the accumulation of the four hydroxycoumarins esculetin, esculin, scopolin and scopoletin derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway, during the time course of postharvest deterioration. In this investigation the scopoletin level in parenchymal samples of four cassava cultivars used in Benin, i.e. Kpaki kpika, Kpaki soan, Logoguesse kotorou and BEN 86052, was investigated by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Presence was shown in all four varieties with a mean in fresh roots between 4.1 and 11.1 mg kg^?1 dry weight. A strong increase in the content of scopoletin was noticed after a peeling and drying process (6 days) for chip production, the mean content reaching 242.5 mg kg^?1 dry weight in the cultivar BEN 86052. After 3 months of storage this had decreased to 0.7 mg kg^?1 dry weight. CONCLUSION: Strong accumulation of scopoletin in cassava roots used for chip production in Benin is followed by a decrease in its concentration. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry