Controlled exogenous enzyme imbibition and activation in whole chickpea seed enzyme reactor (SER)

Chickpeas are of excellent quality (protein, vitamins, minerals, unsaturated fatty acids) and very low in phytoestrogen, making them a potentially promising source for vegetarian-based infant formula (VBIF). However, their high starch and fiber concentration could hinder their utilization for infants. To overcome this natural shortcoming, a solid-state "enzymation" (SSE) process was developed in which imbibition of exogenous enzyme facilitates hydrolysis within the intact chickpea seed. The process was termed seed enzyme reactor (SER). Liquid imbibition data of dry chickpeas during soaking were fitted with the Weibull distribution model. The derived Weibull shape parameter, β, value (0.77 ± 0.11) indicated that the imbibition mechanism followed Fickian diffusion. Imbibition occurred through the coat and external layers. The process was tested using green fluorescent protein (GFP) as an exogenous marker, and involved soaking, thermal treatment, peeling, microwave partial drying, rehydration in enzyme solution, and SSE at an adjusted pH, time, and temperature. Amylases, or a combination of amylases and cellulases, resulted in significant carbohydrate hydrolysis (23% and 47% of the available starch, respectively). In addition, chickpea initial raffinose and stachyose concentration was significantly reduced (91% and 92%, respectively). The process could serve as a proof of concept, requiring additional development and optimization to become a full industrial application.     

Bending creep performance of modified timber

The present study is a supplement to Epmeier and Kliger (2005), which investigated the effect of three different modification methods (acetylation, modification with methylated melamine resin and heat treatment in vegetable oil) on four material properties (density, modulus of elasticity (MOE), creep deflection and relative creep) and their inter-relations. In this study, another modification method (furfurylation) and four additional material parameters (“relative stiffness”, i.e. MOE/density, moisture content, change in moisture content and anti-creep efficiency) and their correlations are included. In addition, the creep curves were analysed to assess the development of bending creep performance. The properties were assessed by experimental work on 132 specimens of Scots pine sapwood with dimensions of 45×70×1100 mm³. It was found that modification leads to significant changes in material properties. Furfurylation increases density and reduces creep deflection, relative creep and moisture content. Modified timber tends to deflect and creep significantly less than untreated timber. However, the extent of reduction in relative creep appears not to be related to the extent of reduction in creep deflection. Initial deflection and/or modulus of elasticity are suitable for predicting the creep deflection of untreated and modified timber.     

Coordinated motion planning for two independent robots

We present anO(n ²) algorithm for planning a coordinated collision-free motion of two independent robot systems of certain kinds, each having two degrees of freedom, which move in the plane amidst polygonal obstacles having a total ofn corners. We exemplify our technique in the case of two planar Stanford arms, but also discuss the case of two discs or convex translating objects. The algorithm improves previous algorithms for this kind of problems, and can be extended to a fairly simple general technique for obtaining efficient coordinated motion planning algorithms.     

Effects of frequent hemodialysis on blood pressure: Results from the randomized frequent hemodialysis network trials

Hypertension is a common complication of chronic kidney disease and persists among most patients with end‐stage renal disease despite the provision of conventional thrice weekly hemodialysis (HD). We analyzed the effects of frequent HD on blood pressure in the randomized controlled Frequent Hemodialysis Network trials. The daily trial randomized 245 patients to 12 months of 6× (“frequent”) vs. 3× (“conventional”) weekly in‐center hemodialysis; the nocturnal trial randomized 87 patients to 12 months of 6× weekly nocturnal HD vs. 3× weekly predominantly home‐based hemodialysis. In the daily trial, compared with 3× weekly HD, 2 months of frequent HD lowered predialysis systolic blood pressure by ?7.7 mmHg [95% confidence interval (CI): ?11.9 to ?3.5] and diastolic blood pressure by ?3.9 mmHg [95% CI: ?6.5 to ?1.3]. In the nocturnal trial, compared with 3× weekly HD, 2 months of frequent HD lowered systolic blood pressure by ?7.3 mmHg [95% CI: ?14.2 to ?0.3] and diastolic blood pressure by ?4.2 mmHg [95% CI: ?8.3 to ?0.1]. In both trials, blood pressure treatment effects were sustained until month 12. Frequent HD resulted in significantly fewer antihypertensive medications (daily: ?0.36 medications [95% CI: ?0.65 to ?0.08]; nocturnal: ?0.44 mediations [95% CI: ?0.89 to ?0.03]). In the daily trial, the relative risk per dialysis session for intradialytic hypotension was lower with 6×/week HD but given the higher number of sessions per week, there was a higher relative risk for intradialytic hypotensive requiring saline administration. In summary, frequent HD reduces blood pressure and the number of prescribed antihypertensive medications.     

Solar Carboreduction of Alumina Under Vacuum

A preliminary study on carboreduction of alumina under vacuum, which was necessary before the solar reactor design, has been performed using an induction heater equipped with a graphite susceptor as the sample holder surrounded by a ceramic tube serving as the metal vapor deposit site. The primary objective was to study the forward and backward reactions as a function of temperature and CO partial pressure. It was concluded that at reaction temperatures above 1600°C and at an average CO partial pressure below 0.2 mbar, the amount of residual by-products in the graphite crucible was negligible, whereas tests with an average CO partial pressure of 2.6 mbar required temperatures above 1800°C to convert the stoichiometric reactants pellets fully. It was concluded that pure aluminum can be found only at deposit sites with temperatures below 600–700°C in tests with temperature and pressure suitable to prevent the volatile suboxide formation in the forward reaction. Based on these results, the solar reactor was designed with a sharp temperature drop from the hot to the cold area. The results of solar tests with different levels of CO partial pressure and temperature conditions reveal that the alumina to aluminum conversion is about 90% for reaction temperatures above the minimum temperature required for full conversion as predicted by the thermodynamic calculations at the appropriate pressure. However, at lower temperatures, a significant amount of solid Al₄C₃, Al₄CO₄, and volatile Al₂O can be formed in the forward reaction, leading to an increase of the residual by-product in the reactant holder as well as lower purity of the aluminum product and an increase of the alumina content in the deposits at the cold reactor’s zone. The observed nanocrystalline and amorphous morphology of the deposits caused by fast cooling in the cold zone will also be discussed.     

Pulsed Laser Induced Decomposition of Energetic Polymers: Comparison of ultraviolet (355 nm) and infrared (9.3 μm) initiation

Irradiation of the energetic polymer GAP (glycidyl azido polymer) by a high power pulsed UV laser leads to its rapid decomposition. A large amount of solid and gaseous material is released, and in the presence of an inert gas, a shock wave develops. Comparison with an inert polymer indicates that the energy released by the exothermicity of the decomposition reaction contributes significantly to the shock formative energy. The energy released in the micro-explosion can be estimated from the analysis of the shock front propagation velocity. It is found that irradiation of polymers in which GAP is diluted by an inert polymer, may lead to a higher shock intensity than irradiation of neat GAP. Possible causes for this apparent inconsistency (which is not observed upon initiation by a pulsed infrared laser) are discussed.