Fractionation of transgenic corn for recovery of recombinant enzymes

Two germ-separation methods, dry-milling and density separation by flotation, were evaluated for recovering recombinant β-glucuronidase (rGUS) that accumulated primarily in the germ of transgenic corn. The dry-milling process consisted of (i) seed tempering, (ii) degerming with a horizontal-drum degermer/dehuller, (iii) particle size fractionation with standard sieves, (iv) germ and endosperm separation by roller milling and sifting, and (v) removal of hulls by aspiration. Sieves nos. 5, 6, and 7 retained the majority of germ, and subfractions from these sieves were pooled as a germ-rich fraction. Mass balances showed that the germ-rich fraction, which constituted 17% of the total dry-milled corn weight, contained 49% of rGUS activity and 64% of the total recoverable oil. Germ fractionation by flotation was tested as a proof-of-concept method aimed at separating corn fractions based on their difference in specific gravity (sp gr). The process consisted of impact-grinding of corn kernels followed by density separation using 1.15 or 1.3 specific gravity sodium nitrate solution. The oil-containing germ fraction floated, whereas the heavier endosperm fraction sedimented. The flotation method was simpler and resulted in higher enzyme recovery, that is, the germ-rich fraction was 20% (w/w) of the initial corn weight, and accounted for 80% of rGUS activity and 77% of total oil. The sodium nitrate solution did not have an adverse effect on the enzyme activity.     

Noise analysis of robot manipulator using neural networks

Due to a lot of robot manipulators application in industry, low noise degree is very important criteria for robot manipulator's joints. In this paper, joint noise problem of a robot manipulator with five joints is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The investigation is consisted of two steps. First step is to analyze the noise of joints using a hardware and software. The hardware is a part of noise sensors. The second step; according to experimental results, some neural networks are employed for finding robust neural noise analyzer. Five types of neural networks are used to compare each other. From the results, it is noted that the proposed RBFNN gives the best results for analyzing joint noise of the robot manipulator.     

Approximate periodic solutions for the Helmholtz-Duffing equation

Approximate periodic solutions for the Helmholtz-Duffing oscillator are obtained in this paper. He’s Energy Balance Method (HEBM) and He’s Frequency Amplitude Formulation (HFAF) are adopted as the solution methods. Oscillation natural frequencies are analytically analyzed. Error analysis is carried out and accuracy of the solution methods is evaluated.     

Dielectric properties of sol-gel derived Ta2O5 thin films

The dielectric constant and the dielectric loss of tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅) thin films, produced by sol-gel spin-coated process on Corning glass substrates, have been investigated in the frequency range of 20-10⁵ Hz and the temperature range of 183-403 K, using ohmic Al electrodes. The frequency and temperature dependence of relaxation time has also been determined. The capacitance and loss factor were found to decrease with increasing frequency and increase with increasing temperature. The activation energy values were evaluated and a good agreement between the activation energy values obtained from capacitance and dielectric loss factor measurements were observed.     

Investigation of Al-O-Al sites in an Na-aluminosilicate glass

This paper reports the presence of Al- O- Al linkages in an aluminosilicate glass where Si/Al = 1 by using 2D¹⁷O triple quantum MAS NMR technique (3Q MASNMR). The experiments were performed at external magnetic fields of 8.4 and 14.4T. Despite¹⁷OMAS NMR spectra of the sample in both fields do not give much information about the different kinds of linkages in the sample, 3Q MAS NMR spectrum shows clear evidence that there are some amounts of Al-O-Al linkages in the sample giving two completely resolved peaks. These two peaks were attributed to the Si-O-Al and Al-O-Al linkages on the basis of their chemical shifts and, quadrupolar coupling constants which are quite sensitive to the local structure.     

Effects of annealing on the structural and magnetic properties of flame spray pyrolyzed MnFe2O4 nanoparticles

In this study, manganese ferrite (MnFe₂O₄) nanoparticles were produced through flame spray pyrolysis (FSP). To investigate the effects of heat treatment, the nanoparticles were annealed between 400 and 650°C for 4 h in air in a comparative manner. The structural, chemical, morphological, and magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), respectively. The XRD results showed that the nanoparticles synthesized by the FSP method exhibited the MnFe₂O₄ spinel ferrite structure. The annealing process led to the decomposition of MnFe₂O₄ into various phases. According to the morphological analysis, the as-synthesized particles were hemispherical–cubic in shape and had an average particle size of less than 100 nm. In addition, the chemical bond structures of the nanoparticles were confirmed in detail by XPS elemental analysis. The highest saturation magnetization was recorded as 33.50 emu/g for the as-produced nanoparticles. The saturation magnetization of the nanoparticles decreased with increasing annealing temperature, while coercivity increased.     

Experimental and MD simulation study on the physical and mechanical properties of organically modified montmorillonite clay and compatibilized linear low density polyethylene nanocomposites

Understanding the interfacial interactions plays a key role in controlling mechanical and physical properties of polymer/clay nanocomposites (PCNs). In this work, the surface interactions between constituents of experimentally prepared PCNs which are the pristine linear low density polyethylene (PE) chains, PE compatibilizers, montmorillonite clay surface layer, and surfactants were studied quantitatively by employing molecular dynamics simulation technique. The interaction energy between the polymer and the clay was found to be inversely proportional with the volume of the surfactant which decreases the electrostatic interactions between the compatibilizer and the hydrophilic clay surface. However, the van der Waals (vdW) interactions between alkyl tails of surfactants and the PE chains increase with the tail length of the surfactants. The most attractive interaction was between the surfactant's head group and the clay surface. We showed that there existed fine balance between the electrostatic and vdW type forces on the stability and the enhanced properties of the PE–organoclay nanocomposites. Calculated interaction energies were then correlated to the experimentally measured mechanical properties. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45817.     

Active Packaging Applications for Food

The traditional role of food packaging is continuing to evolve in response to changing market needs. Current drivers such as consumer's demand for safer, “healthier,” and higher‐quality foods, ideally with a long shelf‐life; the demand for convenient and transparent packaging, and the preference for more sustainable packaging materials, have led to the development of new packaging technologies, such as active packaging (AP). As defined in the European regulation (EC) No 450/2009, AP systems are designed to “deliberately incorporate components that would release or absorb substances into or from the packaged food or the environment surrounding the food.” Active packaging materials are thereby “intended to extend the shelf‐life or to maintain or improve the condition of packaged food.” Although extensive research on AP technologies is being undertaken, many of these technologies have not yet been implemented successfully in commercial food packaging systems. Broad communication of their benefits in food product applications will facilitate the successful development and market introduction. In this review, an overview of AP technologies, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant or carbon dioxide‐releasing systems, and systems absorbing oxygen, moisture or ethylene, is provided, and, in particular, scientific publications illustrating the benefits of such technologies for specific food products are reviewed. Furthermore, the challenges in applying such AP technologies to food systems and the anticipated direction of future developments are discussed. This review will provide food and packaging scientists with a thorough understanding of the benefits of AP technologies when applied to specific foods and hence can assist in accelerating commercial adoption.     

Investigation of Lu effect on YBa2Cu3O7−δ superconducting compounds

This study reports the effect of Lu addition on the microstructural and superconducting properties of YBa₂Lu_xCu₃O_7?δ (Y123) superconducting samples with x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron dispersive X-ray (EDX), electrical resistivity and transport critical current density (J_c) measurements. The samples prepared by the liquid ammonium nitrate and derivatives are exposed to various annealing time (20, 40 and 60 h) and temperature (950, 960 and 970 °C), and the best ambient for the sample fabrication is determined to be 970 °C for 20 h. Zero resistivity transition temperatures (T_c), critical current densities (J_c), variation of transition temperatures, hole-carrier concentration, grain size, lattice parameter, surface morphology, element distribution, crystallinity and resistivity (at room temperature) values of the bulk superconducting samples prepared at 970 °C for 20 h are compared with each other. T_c and J_c values of the samples are inferred from the dc resistivity and the critical current measurements, respectively. The results show that the T_c value of the pure sample is about 90.6 K while the sample doped with 0.1 wt% Lu has the maximum T_c value (92.5 K). However, beyond x = 0.1, the T_c value is observed to decrease toward to 83.5 K with increment in the Lu addition. Similarly, the J_c values measured are found to reduce from 142 to 76 A/cm² with the addition. Moreover, XRD measurements show that both pure and Lu-doped samples exhibit the polycrystalline superconducting phase with the changing intensity of diffraction lines and contain Y123 and Y211 phase, confirming the incorporation of Lu atoms into the crystalline structure of the samples studied. At the same time, comparing of the XRD patterns of samples, the intensity ratio of the characteristic (110) and (013) peaks on the sample doped with 0.1 wt% Lu is more than that on the other samples prepared. Additionally, SEM images display that the sample doped with 0.1 wt% Lu obtains the best crystallinity, grain connectivity and largest grain size whereas the worst surface morphology is observed for the maximum doped sample (x = 0.7). Further, EDX results demonstrate that the Lu atoms doped are successfully introduced into the microstructure of the Y123 samples studied and the maximum Cu element level is observed for the sample doped with 0.1 wt%, explaining that why this sample obtains the best superconducting properties compared to others. According to all the results obtained, it is concluded that the 0.1 wt% Lu addition into the Y123 system improves the microstructural and superconducting properties of the samples studied.