Controller design and experiment for autothermal reforming of methanol in miniature reactor

In this paper, a miniature methanol fuel processor and its controller design is introduced for onboard hydrogen production. The hydrogen is generated via autothermal reforming of methanol. The control scheme consists of a hydrogen flow rate controller and a reforming temperature controller. To deal with uncertain system dynamics and external disturbance, an adaptive sliding mode control algorithm is adopted as the hydrogen flow rate controller for regulating hydrogen flow rate by manipulating methanol flow rate. Additionally, a high-gain observer is implemented to estimate the unmeasurable system state. The stability of closed-loop system is guaranteed by standard Lyapunov analysis. Furthermore, a variable ratio control law is employed as the reforming temperature controller to achieve steady reforming temperature by adjusting the reforming air flow rate. Finally, the effectiveness of the entire system is testified by experimental means.

Impact of broiler processing scalding and chilling profiles on carcass and breast meat yield

The effect of scalding and chilling procedures was evaluated on carcass and breast meat weight and yield in broilers. On 4 separate weeks (trials), broilers were subjected to feed withdrawal, weighed, and then stunned and bled in 4 sequential batches (n = 16 broilers/batch, 64 broilers/trial). In addition, breast skin was collected before scalding, after scalding, and after defeathering for proximate analysis. Each batch of 16 carcasses was subjected to either hard (60.0°C for 1.5 min) or soft (52.8°C for 3 min) immersion scalding. Following defeathering and evisceration, 8 carcasses/batch were air-chilled (0.5°C, 120 min, 86% RH) and 8 carcasses/batch were immersion water-chilled (water and ice 0.5°C, 40 min). Carcasses were reweighed individually following evisceration and following chilling. Breast meat was removed from the carcass and weighed within 4 h postmortem. There were significant (P < 0.05) differences among the trials for all weights and yields; however, postfeed withdrawal shackle weight and postscald-defeathered eviscerated weights did not differ between the scalding and chilling treatments. During air-chilling all carcasses lost weight, resulting in postchill carcass yield of 73.0% for soft-scalded and 71.3% for hard-scalded carcasses, a difference of 1.7%. During water-chilling all carcasses gained weight, resulting in heavier postchill carcass weights (2,031 g) than for air-chilled carcasses (1,899 g). Postchill carcass yields were correspondingly higher for water-chilled carcasses, 78.2% for soft-scalded and 76.1% for hard-scalded carcasses, a difference of 2.1%. Only in trials 1 and 4 was breast meat yield significantly lower for hard-scalded, air-chilled carcasses (16.1 and 17.5%) than the other treatments. Proximate analysis of skin sampled after scalding or defeathering did not differ significantly in moisture (P = 0.2530) or lipid (P = 0.6412) content compared with skin sampled before scalding. Skin protein content was significantly higher (P < 0.05) for prescald and soft-scalded skin samples than for hard-scalded or soft or hard-scalded skin samples after defeathering. The hard-scalding method used in this experiment did not result in increased skin lipid loss either before or after defeathering.

Sparse representation for classification of dolphin whistles by type

A compressive-sensing approach called Sparse Representation Classifier (SRC) is applied to the classification of bottlenose dolphin whistles by type. The SRC algorithm constructs a dictionary of whistles from the collection of training whistles. In the classification phase, an unknown whistle is represented sparsely by a linear combination of the training whistles and then the call class can be determined with an l1-norm optimization procedure. Experimental studies conducted in this research reveal the advantages and limitations of the proposed method against some existing techniques such as K-Nearest Neighbors and Support Vector Machines in distinguishing different vocalizations.

Hot-boning enhances cook yield of boneless skinless chicken thighs

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of postmortem deboning time on cook yield of boneless skinless chicken thighs. In experiment 1, chicken thigh meat was deboned at 0.75 (hot-bone), 2, and 24 h postmortem (PM) and trimmed to obtain mainly iliotibialis muscle. Samples were cooked directly from a frozen state. Cook yield of the muscle was significantly influenced by PM deboning time. Hot-boned thighs exhibited a 7% greater cook yield than the samples deboned at 24 h. In experiment 2, boneless skinless chicken thighs were deboned at 0.3, 2, and 24 h PM and cooked directly from a fresh, never-frozen state at 24 h PM. Cook yield of the hot-boned thighs was significantly higher than those of the 2 and 24 h deboned samples, which did not differ from each other. In experiment 3, whole legs (thigh + drumstick) were cut from the carcass backbone at 0.3 (hot-cut), 2, and 24 h PM. Thighs were separated from the legs (drumsticks) at either the same time the whole legs were removed from the carcasses or at 24 h PM. Intact thighs (bone in) were cooked fresh at 24 h PM. Color of fresh thigh muscles, cook yield, and Warner-Bratzler shear force of cooked samples were measured. Cook yield of the thighs cut from the backbone before chilling was significantly higher than those cut from the carcasses at 2 and 24 h PM, which did not differ from each other. The PM time at which intact thighs were separated from the leg (drumstick) did not influence cook yield. These results demonstrate that postmortem deboning time can significantly affect cook yield of boneless skinless chicken thigh products. Deboning chicken thighs after chilling reduces the cook yield. Differences in the cook yield of thighs may also result from the removal of whole chicken legs from the carcass backbone.

Measurement of water-holding capacity in raw and freeze-dried broiler breast meat with visible and near-infrared spectroscopy

The feasibility of using visible/near-infrared spectroscopy (vis/NIR) to segregate broiler breast fillets by water-holding capacity (WHC) was determined. Broiler breast fillets (n = 72) were selected from a commercial deboning line based on visual color assessment. Meat color (L*a*b*), pH (2 and 24 h), drip loss, and salt-induced water uptake were measured. Reflectance measurements were recorded from 400 to 2,500 nm in both raw and freeze-dried breast meat samples. Raw and freeze-dried samples had similar spectra in the visible region (400-750 nm), but the freeze-dried samples exhibited numerous bands in the NIR region (750-2,500 nm) corresponding to muscle proteins and lipids that were not observed in the NIR spectra of the raw samples. Linear discriminate analyses were used to classify fillets as high-WHC or low-WHC according to predicted meat quality characteristics. Using the visible spectra (400-750 nm), fillets could be correctly classified into high-WHC and low-WHC groups based on drip loss and salt-induced water uptake with 88 to 92% accuracy in raw samples and 79 to 86% accuracy in freeze-dried samples. Using the NIR spectra (750-2,500 nm), fillets could be correctly classified into high-WHC and low-WHC groups with 74 to 76% accuracy in raw samples and 85 to 86% accuracy in freeze-dried samples. Thus, freeze-drying enhanced the accuracy of WHC classification using the NIR portion of the spectra. Data from this study demonstrate the potential for utilizing vis/NIR spectroscopy as a method for classifying broiler breast meat according to WHC.

Post-Mortem Chemical Changes in Poultry Breast Meat Monitored With Visible-Near Infrared Spectroscopy

<p>Chicken meat undergoes significant chemical and structural changes with postmortem time that influence meat quality characteristics. The objective of this study was to measure the visible-near infrared (vis-NIR) spectral differences in broiler breast fillets at 0.5, 4, 24, and 120 h postmortem. Muscle samples were flash frozen and freeze-dried prior to spectra analysis. In the visible region of the spectra (400-700 nm) changes in myoglobin protein peaks were observed with postmortem time. Freeze-drying muscle samples provided additional information from the NIR region of the spectra (800-2500 nm) on muscle protein changes during postmortem aging. Alterations to the b-sheet and a-helix structures of myofibrillar proteins and changes in the amount of bound water were observed in the NIR region with postmortem aging. Data from this study demonstrate that changes in breast fillets with postmortem time that are related to meat quality traits are detectable using vis-NIR spectroscopy.</p>

An integrated analysis of SOCS1 down-regulation in HBV infection-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Persistent inflammation together with genetic/epigenetic aberrations is strongly associated with chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection-related hepatocarcinogenesis. Here, we investigated the alterations of the suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) family genes in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 116 patients with HCC were enrolled in this study. The methylation statuses of SOCS1-7 and CISH genes were quantitatively measured and clinicopathological significance of SOCS1 methylation was statistically analysed. The gene copy number variation was assayed by aCGH. Luciferase reporter assay and Western blot were used to detect the involvement of SOCS1 in p53 signalling. We found high frequencies of SOCS1 gene hypermethylation in both tumour (56.03%) and adjacent nontumour tissues (54.31%), but tumour tissues exhibited increased methylation intensity (24.01% vs 13.11%, P < 0.0001), particularly in patients with larger tumour size or cirrhosis background (P < 0.0001). In addition, the frequency and intensity of SOCS1 hypermethylation in tumour tissues were both significantly higher than those in nontumour tissues in male gender patients and in patients ≥45 years old (P = 0.0214 and P < 0.0001, P = 0.0232 and P < 0.0001, respectively). SOCS1 gene deletion was found in 8 of 25 aCGH assayed tumour specimens, which was associated with lower SOCS1 mRNA expression (P = 0.0448). Furthermore, ectopic SOCS1 overexpression could activate the p53 signalling pathway in HCC cell lines. Hypermethylation of SOCS2-7 and CISH genes was seldom found in HCC. Our results suggested that the gene loss and epigenetic silencing of SOCS1 were strongly associated with HBV-related HCC.

Ras homolog enriched in the brain is linked to retinal ganglion cell apoptosis after light injury in rats

Ras homolog enriched in the brain (Rheb) is a small GTPase of the Ras family. It has been confirmed that Rheb activation not only regulates cell growth and migration but also induces neuron apoptosis after toxic stimuli. However, the function of Rheb in the retina is still not fully understood. To find out whether Rheb was involved in retinal neuron death, the expression profile of Rheb in light-damaged retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of adult rats was investigated. Western blotting showed the expression of Rheb was significantly upregulated in the injured retina. Rheb was mainly detected in apoptotic RGCs by using double immunofluorescent staining. Active caspase-3 was upregulated and co-labeled with Rheb. Meanwhile, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) showed that Rheb-positive RGCs underwent apoptosis after light exposure, which suggested that Rheb might be relevant to RGC apoptosis following phototoxicity. Furthermore, Western blotting and immunofluorescence showed that the expression profiles of CyclinD1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) were parallel with that of Rheb in a time-space dependent manner. Based on this study, it is speculated that Rheb might play an important role in physiological and pathological process in light-induced retina damage, which might provide a potential therapeutic avenue of retinal degeneration.

[Clinical application of cyanoacrylates for prevention of cerebrospinal fluid leakage]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effectiveness of cyanoacrylates (Fuaile) for spinal subdural benign tumorectomy to prevent the cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

METHODS

Between January 2009 and March 2013, 35 patients underwent spinal subdural benign tumorectomy. Of 35 patients, Fuaile and gelatin sponge were used after stitch suture for a watertight closure of the dura in 19 cases (trial group), and only gelatin sponge was used after stitch suture in 16 cases (control group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, types of tumors, and sites of tumors between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The ratio of watertight closure, incision healing, and relative complications were compared between 2 groups.

RESULTS

All patients in 2 groups achieved watertight closure of the dura intraoperatively. There was no significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of dura incision, hospitalization time, total drainage volume, and drainage time between 2 groups (P > 0.05). Primary incision healing was obtained; no delayed healing, infection, or nerve compression occurred in all patients. At last follow-up, the ratios of successful watertight closure of trial and control groups were 89.5% (17/19) and 50.0% (8/16) respectively, showing significant difference (P=0.02). No delayed cerebrospinal fluid leakage or incision infection was found at 1 and 3 months after operation.

CONCLUSION

The application of cyanoacrylates for watertight closure of dura in spinal subdural benign tumorectomy is safe and effective.

[Analysis of malaria epidemic situation in Shantou City from 1992 to 2012]

OBJECTIVE

To understand the epidemic characteristics, regular pattern and trend of malaria in Shantou City, Guangdong Province.

METHODS

The historical data of malaria were collected and analyzed by the descriptive epidemiological methods in Shantou City from 1992 to 2012.

RESULTS

A total of 556 malaria cases were reported in Shantou City from 1992 to 2012, with the annually incidence of 0.056 cases per 10 thousand. After 2003, no secondary cases and local outbreak of malaria occurred. The ratio of male to female was 3.34: 1, and 82.73% of the patients were aged from 15 to 45 years. The peasants (including workers from the village) and factory workers most easily suffered from malaria with a proportion of 39.21% and 18.35%, respectively. Nevertheless there was an exception in some year.

CONCLUSION

There is still some reported cases of malaria each year in Shantou City, therefore, we should continue to strengthen the preventive and monitoring measures.

Optimisation of antioxidant peptide preparation from corn gluten meal

BACKGROUND

Corn gluten meal, containing approximately 600 g kg(-1) protein, is a main by-product of corn wet milling. The annual output of corn gluten meal in China is over 840 000 tons. However, it is difficult to utilise corn gluten meal in the food industry because of its low water solubility and amino acid imbalance. In the present study, corn gluten meal was hydrolysed by different proteases to produce hydrolysates with antioxidant activity in order to increase its value. The hydrolysis conditions were optimised by multiple linear regression and response surface methodology. Furthermore, the amino acid sequence of one corn peptide was determined.

RESULTS

The optimal conditions for alkaline protease hydrolysis were a pH of 9.5, an enzyme/substrate (E/S) ratio of 8 g per 100 g, a liquid/solid ratio of 25 mL g(-1) and a time of 75 min, while the optimal conditions for flavourzyme hydrolysis were a pH of 7, an E/S ratio of 4.2 g per 100 g and a time of 66 min. After gel filtration chromatography, fraction F2 exhibited the highest antioxidant activities. The amino acid sequence of a purified peptide in fraction F2 was determined as Gly-His-Lys-Pro-Ser (507.2 Da).

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that corn gluten meal hydrolysates and/or its isolated peptides are potent antioxidants.

Using local binary patterns as features for classification of dolphin calls

An image processing technique called Local Binary Patterns (LBP) has been explored for its ability to generate feature vectors for dolphin vocalization classification. The LBP operator eliminates the need for contour tracing, denoising, and other prior processing. In an experimental study of classifying dolphin whistle types, the performance of the LBP operation was compared with that of the popular contour-based Time-Frequency Parameters (TFP) approach. The preliminary experimental results illustrate that the LBP method produces more consistent classifier accuracy of dolphin whistle calls even when the contour shapes are complex and populated with impulsive clicks and anthropogenic harmonics.

Effects of the frame acquisition rate on the sensitivity of gastro-oesophageal reflux scintigraphy

OBJECTIVE

To compare the sensitivity of gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) scintigraphy at 5-s and 60-s frame acquisition rates.

METHODS

GOR scintigraphy of 50 subjects (1 month-20 years old, mean 42 months) were analysed concurrently using 5-s and 60-s acquisition frames. Reflux episodes were graded as low if activity was detected in the distal half of the oesophagus and high if activity was detected in its upper half or in the oral cavity. For comparison purposes, detected GOR in any number of 5-s frames corresponding to one 60-s frame was counted as one episode.

RESULTS

A total of 679 episodes of GOR to the upper oesophagus were counted using a 5-s acquisition technique. Only 183 of such episodes were detected on 60-s acquisition images. To the lower oesophagus, a total of 1749 GOR episodes were detected using a 5-s acquisition technique and only 1045 episodes using 60-s acquisition frames (these also included the high-level GOR on 5-s frames counted as low level on 60-s acquisition frames). 10 patients had high-level GOR episodes that were detected only using a 5-s acquisition technique, leading to a different diagnosis in these patients. No correlation between the number of reflux episodes and the gastric emptying rates was noted.

CONCLUSION

The 5-s frame acquisition technique is more sensitive than the 60-s frame acquisition technique for detecting both high- and low-level GOR.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Brief GOR episodes with a relatively low number of radioactive counts are frequently indistinguishable from intense background activity on 60-s acquisition frames.

Comparison of [123I]MIBG and [131I]MIBG for imaging of neuroblastoma and other neural crest tumors

Meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), an analog of the adrenergic neurotransmitter norepinephrine, has proven a valuable imaging agent for neuroendocrine and neural crest tumors. Over the past 3 decades, MIBG labeled with [131I] or [123I] has been used widely in imaging of neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma. Before September 2008 [131I]MIBG was approved as a diagnostic agent only in the US. Due to the excellent physical characteristics of [123I] for imaging with modern scintillation cameras, [123I]MIBG is theoretically more suitable than [131I]MIBG in detecting tumors. In practice, use of [123I]MIBG or [131I]MIBG for diagnostic studies depends on availability and local preference. This review compares [123I]MIBG with [131I]MIBG in imaging of neuroblastoma and other neural crest tumors and also the physical properties of relevant radioisotopes. Dosimetry and scanning protocols of [123I]MIBG and [131I]MIBG, along with their value in depicting disease extent, assessing treatment response and predicting survival are also compared. The performance of post-therapy high-activity [131I]MIBG scans in lesion detectability is also addressed.