Physicochemical characterisation of corn extrudates prepared with varying levels of beetroot (Beta vulgaris) at different extrusion temperatures

This study examines the effect of beetroot powder (BRP) incorporation (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) at different extrusion temperatures (125, 150 and 175 °C) on the physicochemical, antioxidant and sensory properties of corn grit (CG) extrudates. BRP showed higher values of total phenolic content (TPC = 9095 μg GAE g^?1) and free radical inhibition (ABTS = 6.5 μm trolox mg^?1 and DPPH = 7.9 μm trolox mg^?1) than CG (1346 μg GAE g^?1, 1.5 μm trolox mg^?1 and 2.2 μm trolox mg^?1, respectively). Pasting viscosity (peak, breakdown and final) decreased, while pasting temperature of CG increased with the level of BRP incorporation. Analyses of the extrudates showed an increase in redness, bulk density, hardness, TPC, free radical inhibition, total dietary fibre (TDF) and a decrease in water absorption index (WAI), water solubility index (WSI), expansion ratio and oil uptake with the increase in the level of BRP incorporation. On the other hand, higher extrusion temperature increased porosity, WAI, WSI, oil uptake but decreased redness, bulk density, hardness and TPC.     

Corn grain-processing method interacts with calcium salts of palm fatty acids supplementation on milk production and energy balance of early-lactation cows grazing tropical pasture

The objective of our study was to investigate the associative effects of feeding Ca salts of palm fatty acids (FA) and corn grain-processing method on production, nutrient digestibility, energy balance, and carryover effects of early-lactation dairy cows grazing a tropical pasture. Treatment diets were offered from 3 to 16 wk postpartum (treatment period), in which all cows grazed elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum L. Cameroon) and treatments were added to a concentrate supplement. Treatments were flint corn grain-processing method either as fine ground (FGC) or steam-flaked (SFC) associated with Ca salts of palm FA supplementation either not supplemented or supplemented (CSPO). From 17 to 40 wk postpartum (carryover period) all cows received a common diet fed as total mixed ration. During the treatment period, a tendency for an interaction between CSPO and corn grain-processing method were observed for milk yield, milk fat yield, and energy-corrected milk (ECM), as CSPO caused them to increased to a greater extent in the FGC diet compared with the SFC diet. Furthermore, a tendency for an interaction between CSPO and corn grain-processing method was observed for body weight change, because CSPO increased body weight loss in the FGC diet but not in the SFC diet. The CSPO increased milk yield, milk fat yield, 3.5% fat-corrected milk, ECM, and cumulative milk yield compared with not supplemented. Also, CSPO increased energy intake, milk energy output, and energy partitioning toward milk, whereas reduced energy was allocated to body reserves. The SFC increased milk yield, ECM, milk protein yield, milk casein yield, and cumulative milk yield, and decreased milk urea N compared with FGC. The SFC compared with FGC also increased body condition score and body weight change, and increased energy partitioning toward body reserves. During the carryover period, an interaction between CSPO and corn grain-processing method was observed for milk yield, which occurred because CSPO maintained higher milk yield in the FGC diet but not in the SFC diet. Therefore, in the carryover period, the additive effect between SFC and CSPO that occurred in the treatment period was not maintained throughout the carryover period. However, CSPO increased yields of milk fat, protein, casein as well as fat-corrected milk and ECM. In conclusion, corn grain-processing method interacts with CSPO supplementation on production responses and carryover effects of grazing cows. When CSPO was fed in the FGC diet, milk production increased to a greater extent than when fed in the SFC diet, but also caused greater mobilization of reserves at early lactation. This suggests an interaction between fat supplementation and corn grain-processing method on energy partitioning of dairy cows. Also, both supplementation with CSPO and SFC were effective strategies to increase energy intake and yields of milk and milk solids. The carryover effect on milk production was greater for CSPO supplementation than corn grain-processing method, whereas feeding SFC diets had lower mobilization of reserves and less body weight and body condition score variation throughout lactation.     

Optimization of parameters for cerium（III） biosorption onto biowaste materials of animal and plant origin using 5-level Box-Behnken design：Equilibrium,kinetic, thermodynamic and regeneration studies

Response surface methodology （RSM） employing 5-level Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the biosorption of cerium（III） onto biowaste materials of animal and plant origin viz. prawn carapace （PC） and corn style （CS）. Various process parameters viz. pH （A：3.0-9.0）, biomass dosage （B：0.05-0.35 g/L）, initial metal concentration （C：50-350 mg/L）, contact time （D：2-6 h） and temperature （E：20-60 ℃ were chosen for optimization. A log transformation was suggested by the Box-Cox plot in the present case. A low p-value of〈0.0001 validated the significance of the model. Maximum Ce（III） uptake of 218.3 mg/g for PC and 180.2 mg/g for CS was noted under optimum conditions. Among the equilibrium isotherms, Freundlich model was found to be the best fitted one suggesting a heterogeneous mode of biosorption on PC whereas Langmuir model showed the best fit suggesting homogeneous mode of cerium biosorption on CS. This was further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. Kinetic studies showed better applicability of pseudo-first order model suggesting physisorption as phenomena underlying the process. Film-diffusion was suggested by the non-linearity of the Boyd plot. Thermodynamic studies showed that the process was endothermic and spontaneous. FTIR analysis confirmed a major involvement of the participation of amide, amines, ketones and primary alcohol groups during Ce（III） biosorption. EDAX analysis confirmed the major participation of carbon group during Ce（III） biosorption. This was the first report on parameter optimization of Ce（III） biosorption onto biowaste materials using 5-level Box-Behnken experimental design which might be helpful for the recovery of Ce（III） from aqueous environment.     

Architecture Takes Time

Though condensed between the stages of design and completion, the conventional process of designing a building is time consuming, involving various stakeholders, planning processes and a wide team of consultants and contractors. What happens, though, if the time period of an architect's involvement is expanded? How might a more process-orientated approach shift the role of the architect? Tobias Armborst, Daniel D'Oca and Georgeen Theodore , principals of Interboro Partners in New York, describe how they have developed projects that have sought opportunities in expanding the timescale and remit of traditional practice.     

Fab-Union: A Collective Online to Offline Robotic Design Platform

Official architectural education in China remains very traditional and has yet to engage with the digital age. To counter this, Shanghai-based Fab-Union was set up in 2014 to establish a cross-disciplinary community – now over 10,000 strong – that is driving the emergence of digital crafts in the country. Here, its founder Philip Yuan and lead designer Hao Meng describe Fab-Union's online design platform, its offline collective design space, and its robotic factory that functions as an open research facility and fabrication workshop.     

医药工业洁净厂房固体制剂车间暖通节能设计分析

本文以北京某大型药厂新建固体制剂车间设计方案为例,对各常用的节能手段应用的可行性进行了分析。     

基于气候特征的夏热冬冷地区被动式建筑节能设计策略——以武汉市为例

气候是建筑的本源,也是建筑节能的本源。建筑节能以自然气候特征为基础,在建筑的规划和方案设计阶段,对建筑的能源消耗在源头开始堵截。以我国地域广阔的夏热冬冷地区的武汉市为例,探究该地区被动式(或气候适应性)建筑节能设计策略,为建筑的绿色节能发展提供借鉴。     

夏热冬冷地区住宅供暖问题刍议

夏热冬冷地区住宅供暖关乎人民健康,惠及民生,是我国实现小康目标的重要环节。集中供暖是供暖技术的一种形式,但若在夏热冬冷地区全面推广集中供暖,既无条件,也不现实,供暖技术应该多元化。提出了改进房间空调器、改善围护结构保温等技术措施,以及基于水源热泵的能源总线系统和热电联产耦合热泵的高能效集中供暖系统;指出了节能、转移和利用可再生能源等解决供暖能源的途径。