Moisture conditioning of wood using a continuous microwave dryer

Lower moisture content in wood, preferably 5–6%, is desirable for many chemical modification reactions. Economically, it is not feasible to dry timber to such low moisture content by conventional drying without drying degrades. Microwave heating was evaluated and found to be effective in reducing the moisture content of radiata pine from 13% to 6% in a microwave cycle of two minutes. The energy consumption is about 55 kWh/m³. Moisture distribution profiles demonstrate very uniform drying across the sample thickness. The findings suggest that microwave heating can potentially be applied to condition wood in a very short period of time.     

Recycled Polyolefin Blends: Effect of Modified Natural Zeolite on their Properties and Morphology

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of treated natural zeolite on the flow behavior, morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties in recycled polyolefin blends. A model polymer blend consisting of 95 wt% polyolefines and 5 wt% polystyrene was studied. Compositions from this recycled blend and dehydrated zeolite in a narrow concentration range (0–5 wt%) were treated with maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene and initiator dicumyl peroxide. The compositions were characterized by capillary rheometry, wide-angle X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and mechanical tests. The results show a compatibilizing effect of treated zeolite expressed by increase of shear viscosity and improvement of interfacial interactions and impact strength. The results can open wide possibilities for utilization of treated zeolite in recycling of unsorted polymer wastes.     

Magnetic Damping Effects in Forced-Oscillation Vibrating-Wire Viscometers

Vibrating wire viscometers rely on the principle that the viscosity of the fluid surrounding the wire provides the dominant damping action on the motion of the wire. However, some residual damping is always present due to other effects such as internal friction of the wire (anelastic relaxation), losses through the wire supports, and magnetic damping. Magnetic damping is a physical mechanism that has received relatively less attention than internal friction in the context of viscometers. The phenomenon arises because the current induced by the motion of the wire contributes to the magnetic field in such a way as to oppose its own motion. For a test circuit using a 40 μm diameter tungsten wire in a 0.3 T magnetic field, surprisingly, the effect of magnetic damping was found to be of a similar order of magnitude to other non-viscous damping effects. The effect can be accounted for by including the internal impedance of the oscillating voltage source in the model and it disappears completely for a perfect oscillating current source.     

Sesamin modulation of lipid class and fatty acid profile in early juvenile teleost, Lates calcarifer, fed different dietary oils

Sesamin, a major sesame seed lignan, has diverse biological functions including the modulation of molecular actions in lipid metabolic pathways and reducing cholesterol levels. Vertebrates have different capacities to biosynthesize long-chain PUFA from dietary precursors and sesamin can enhance the biosynthesis of ALA to EPA and DHA in marine teleost. Early juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer, were fed for two weeks on diets rich in ALA or SDA derived from linseed or Echium plantagineum, respectively. Both diets contained phytosterols and less cholesterol compared with a standard fish oil-based diet. The growth rates were reduced in the animals receiving sesamin regardless of the dietary oil. However, the relative levels of n-3 LC-PUFA in total lipid, but not the phospholipid, increased in the whole body by up to 25% in animals fed on sesamin with ALA or SDA. Sesamin reduced the relative levels of triacylglycerols and increased polar lipid, and did not affect the relative composition of phospholipid subclasses or sterols. Sesamin is a potent modulator for LC-PUFA biosynthesis in animals, but probably will have more effective impact at advanced ages. By modulating certain lipid metabolic pathways, sesamin has probably disrupted the body growth and development of organs and tissues in early juvenile barramundi.     

Counting Fluorescent Dye Molecules on DNA Origami by Means of Photon Statistics

Obtaining quantitative information about molecular assemblies with high spatial and temporal resolution is a challenging task in fluorescence microscopy. Single‐molecule techniques build on the ability to count molecules one by one. Here, a method is presented that extends recent approaches to analyze the statistics of coincidently emitted photons to enable reliable counting of molecules in the range of 1–20. This method does not require photochemistry such as blinking or bleaching. DNA origami structures are labeled with up to 36 dye molecules as a new evaluation tool to characterize this counting by a photon statistics approach. Labeled DNA origami has a well‐defined labeling stoichiometry and ensures equal brightness for all dyes incorporated. Bias and precision of the estimating algorithm are determined, along with the minimal acquisition time required for robust estimation. Complexes containing up to 18 molecules can be investigated non‐invasively within 150 ms. The method might become a quantifying add‐on for confocal microscopes and could be especially powerful in combination with STED/RESOLFT‐type microscopy.     

Relation between Breast Cancer and High Glycemic Index or Glycemic Load: A Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

Breast cancer is the commonest form of cancer in women worldwide. It has been suggested that chronic hyperinsulinemia associated with insulin resistance plays a role in breast cancer etiology. To test the hyperinsulinemia hypothesis, a dietary pattern associated with a high glycemic index and glycemic load, both proxies for chronic hyperinsulinemia, should be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. A meta-analysis restricted to prospective cohort studies was undertaken using a random effects model with tests for statistical significance, publication bias and heterogeneity. The metric for analysis was the risk of breast cancer in the highest relative to the lowest glycemic index and glycemic load dietary pattern. A dietary pattern with a high glycemic index was associated with a summary relative risk (SRR) of 1.05 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.11), and a high glycemic load with a SRR of 1.06 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.13). Adjustments for body mass index [BMI], physical activity and other lifestyle factors did not influence the SRR, nor did menopausal status and estrogen receptor status of the tumor. In conclusion, the current evidence supports a modest association between a dietary pattern with high glycemic index or glycemic load and the risk of breast cancer.     

Investigation of the copper concentration on photocurrent collection of CuInSe2 solar cells

In this study, CuInSe₂ (CISe) thin films were prepared from thermally evaporated Cu/In precursors, having various Cu/In atomic ratio, under the same selenization conditions. The precursors were converted into CISe absorber by annealing in a quartz tube furnace in the selenium vapours at substrate temperature of 500 °C. We developed four CISe films with Cu/In atomic ratio of 0.81–1.19, denoted as Cu‐very rich, Cu‐rich, Cu‐poor, and Cu‐very poor CISe thin films respectively. The effects of Cu/In atomic ratio on grain size, surface morphology, micro‐structure and defect formation of the resulting CISe films were examined. It has been found that the photovoltaic properties were strongly related to Cu concentration, as well as carrier transport mechanism. Defects at the surface and in the bulk of CISe thin films were observed using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, XRD revealed that the CISe film surface had a preferred orientation along the (112) plane. The XRD intensity and full width at half maximum of the (112) plane of CISe varied according to the Cu/In atomic ratio. Our experimental results show that the Cu‐rich solar cell achieves conversion efficiency of 4.55% and exhibits an exceptional high short‐circuit current density. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.