This study provides insights into novel combinations of hydrothermal modifications and mineral enrichment by demonstrating the versatility of this environmentally more benign approach compared to other common chemical starch modifications like crosslinking. Heat-moisture treatment (HMT) (15 % moisture, 100 °C) of native potato starch (NPS) affords granular products that gelatinise at lower temperatures, hold more water as gel, and are more susceptible to enzymatic digestion. Prior mineral enrichment of NPS with sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium ions yielded significant changes in pasting curves, with monovalent cations increasing peak viscosity, while divalent cations decrease peak viscosity through ionic crosslinking of phosphate groups, allowing further fine tuning of swelling behaviour. Both short and long HMT (4 h and 16 h) triggered partial disruption of crystallinity and an increase in particle size without visible surface damage as evidenced by X-ray diffraction, laser diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. These novel products may find applications where a thickening agent is needed, and high levels of target minerals are desirable like sport nutrition. The viscosity behaviour, available energy and essential minerals may be beneficial to the formulation and nutritional value of energy gels, while adhering to clean-label requirements of today`s food industry.
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Objective. After laryngectomy, the breathing resistance of heat and moisture exchangers may limit exercise capacity. Breathing gas analysis during cardiopulmonary exercise testing is not possible using regular masks. This study tested the feasibility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing with a heat and moisture exchanger in situ, using an in-house designed connector. Additionally, we explored the effect of different heat and moisture exchanger resistances on exercise capacity in this group. Methods. Ten participants underwent two cardiopulmonary exercise tests using their daily life heat and moisture exchanger (0.3 hPa or 0.6 hPa) and one specifically developed for activity (0.15 hPa). Heat and moisture exchanger order was randomised and blinded.Results. All participants completed both tests. No (serious) adverse events occurred. Only four subjects reached a respiratory exchange ratio of more than 1.1 in at least one test. Maximum exercise levels using heat and moisture exchangers with different resistances did not differ. Conclusion. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in laryngectomees with a heat and moisture exchanger is feasible; however, the protocol does not seem appropriate to reach this group's maximal exercise capacity. Lowering heat and moisture exchanger resistance does not increase exercise capacity in this sample.
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BACKGROUND: Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) stones are the major byproduct of the cherry industry and the efficient management of this biowaste can lead to achieving the food processing sustainability aimed at by the modern food industry. Despite its significant content of lipids, the valorization of cherry stone waste as feedstock for lipid extraction appears to be limited due to the high moisture content. This study explores the primary factors that affect the yield of lipid extraction using Soxhlet, Randall and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction methods, with a particular emphasis on yield optimization for green extraction technologies (scCO2). RESULTS: The investigation revealed an increased lipid extraction yield for scCO2 from 7.4 for dry crushed stones to 20.6 g per 100 g dry weight when the cherry kernels are separated. The high initial moisture content affected all three extraction methods, but mostly impacted the scCO2 extraction, resulting in the co-extraction of an aqueous phase. Lipid and aqueous yield could be manipulated by time, temperature and pressure. However, no observable influence on the composition of fatty acid methyl esters was detected. CONCLUSION: Numerous approaches are shown to enhance the lipid yield from cherry stone waste, depending on the desired outcome. When dealing with wet samples, Randall extraction proves to be the most effective method. On the other hand, scCO2 extraction presents distinct advantages, such as the extraction of food-grade lipids and the co-extraction of a unique aqueous phase, which comes at the expense of a reduced lipid yield. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
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This study introduces a detailed method for analyzing the buckling behavior of laminated composite structures strengthened with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). We propose a multi-scale analysis that combines analytical and computational techniques to assess the mechanical performance of MWCNT-reinforced composites under combined moisture, temperature, and mechanical stress conditions. The Halpin-Tsai equations are used to calculate the overall stiffness properties of the nano-enhanced matrix, considering factors like MWCNT clustering, alignment, and curvature. Additionally, we incorporate the nanoscopic, size-dependent features of MWCNTs into our model. The Chamis micromechanical formulas are applied to determine the individual elastic properties of the nanocomposite layers, considering the impacts of temperature and moisture. We then explore how variables such as MWCNT content and size, along with temperature and moisture levels, influence the critical buckling load of MWCNT-based laminated composite beams and plates using our multi-scale model. Our results are successfully compared with existing experimental and theoretical data to validate our approach. The developed method offers significant insights for the design and optimization of MWCNT-reinforced composites, potentially benefiting various engineering fields, including aerospace and automotive industries.
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Fish and vegetable protein sources are relatively underutilized for human consumption in comparison to meat, dairy and egg protein sources. Only part of the available fish proteins is used: fish is to small for human consumption and fish has a high proportion of by-products, up to 50% of fish weight is not used. This project aims to develop products and processes for creating healthy high valued consumer products based upon vegetable proteins and fish/crustacean proteins from by-products or from neglected fish. Three innovative processes are developed:1) Iso-electric solubilization and precipitation of fish/crustacean proteins from by-products,2) Networked vegetable/fish protein textures based upon low moisture extrusion processes3) Fibrous vegetable/fish protein textures produced with high moisture extrusion processes.Two innovative processes are applied:1) Food products with water-oil-water emulsions with isolated fish proteins2) Food products with sous-vide prepared fish fillets in semi industrial context.Different consumer product prototypes will be developed like fish nuggets, fish flakes and fish crackers.The Nuprotex project created successfully two new processes. Hanzehogeschool developed the process for fish protein isolation based upon iso electric solubilization and precipitation. With this process it was possible to recover about 15% weight of additional proteins from fish by-products. Please be aware that the yield of fish fillets from the fish is only about 30% of fish weight. So this is an important increase in food grade proteins! These Isolated Fish Proteins are successfully converted into several consumer prototype products like multiple emulsions for savory liquid products and fish cake/cracker applications. A sous-vide cooking process for fish fillets was developed with respect to microbial safety. It was shown that a microbial safe route could be developed, however further research is necessary to confirm these preliminary results.DIL has developed successfully an high moisture extrusion process for isolated fish proteins, grinded fish by products and vegetable proteins. This semi-finished product is successfully applied by for developing deep fried fish nuggets and fish burgers. DIL produced fish pellets which are suitable for applications as fish feed as is demonstrated in actual trials. Further research must demonstrate the quality of the feed product in actual growth experiments with fish.This project has clearly demonstrated that it is possible to produce with fish by-products added value consumer products. A possible increase of food-grade fish protein of about 15% on fresh weight base of processed fish is possible.
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Permanent grassland soils can act as a sink for carbon and may therefore positively contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. We compared young (5–15 years since latest grassland renewal) with old (>20 years since latest grassland renewal) permanent grassland soils in terms of carbon stock, carbon sequestration, drought tolerance and flood resistance. The research was carried out on marine clay soil at 10 dairy farms with young and old permanent grassland. As hypothesized, the carbon stock was larger in old grassland (62 Mg C ha−1) topsoil (0–10 cm) than in young grassland topsoil (51 Mg C ha−1). The carbon sequestration rate was greater in young (on average 3.0 Mg C ha−1 year−1) compared with old grassland (1.6 Mg C ha−1 year−1) and determined by initial carbon stock. Regarding potential drought tolerance, we found larger soil moisture and soil organic matter (SOM) contents in old compared with young grassland topsoils. As hypothesized, the old grassland soils were more resistant to heavy rainfall as measured by water infiltration rate and macroporosity (at 20 cm depth) in comparison with the young grassland soils. In contrast to our hypothesis we did not find a difference in rooting between young and old permanent grassland, probably due to large variability in root biomass and root tip density. We conclude that old grasslands at dairy farms on clay soil can contribute more to the ecosystem services climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation than young grasslands. This study shows that under real farm conditions on a clay topsoil, carbon stock increases with grassland age and even after 30 years carbon saturation has not been reached. Further study is warranted to determine by how much extending grassland age can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
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Even though mango productivity in Ethiopia is low due to moisture stress, there is no report on how such constraint could alleviate using Cocoon water-saving technology. Cocoon is small water reservoir technology which uses for plant growth in dry season. The objectives of this study were to introduce and evaluate effectiveness of water-saving techniques on mango seedlings survival and growth in Mihitsab-Azmati watershed, northern Ethiopia. In this experiment, five treatments of water-saving techniques with mango seedlings were evaluated. These were: Cocoon sprayed by tricel (T1), Cocoon painted by used engine oil (T2), Cocoon without tricel and oil (T3), manually irrigated seedlings (T4) and mango seedlings planted during rainy season (T5). The survival and growth performance of mango seedlings were recorded at six months and one-year after transplanting. Data on plant survival, height, number of leaves per plant, shoot length, stem diameter and crown width were subjected to analysis of variance and t-test. There were significant differences in the treatment effects on mango seedlings transplanted survival, plant height, number of leaves per plant, shoot length, stem diameter and crown width measured at six months and one-year after transplanting. The lowest survival rate (20 %) was found during both data collection time in T5. Six months after transplanting, the highest growth parameters were measured from T1 whereas the lowest was from T5. However, one-year after transplanting, the highest growth parameters were measured from T3. Plant heights increments between the two measurement periods for T3, T2, T1, T4 and T5 were 45.1, 38.5, 24.8, 9.8 and 7.0 cm, respectively; indicating that T3 performed better than the other treatments. The t-test on mean differences between the same growth parameter measured at 12 and six months after transplanting also showed significant differences. The Cocoon water-saving technology was superior in improving mango seedlings survival and growth in the study area. This study generalized that Cocoon seems promising, sustainable and highly scalable with mango seedlings at large-scale in the study area conditions. However, this technology should not be assumed to perform uniformly well in all environmental conditions and with all tree species before demonstrated on a pilot study.
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Poster en begeleidende audio uit de guided tour van het Open Atelier van CoE Groen op 7 december 2023 over het project RhoC bulkdichtheidsmeter. De bulkdichtheid van de bodem wordt steeds belangrijker als bodemparameter. De bulkdichtheid kun je alleen meten door ongestoorde ringmonsters te nemen op verschillende dieptes in een profielkuil en deze in het lab te analyseren. Dit is specialistisch en tijdrovend werk. Een andere meting die wel snel is en vaak wordt gebruikt om verdichte grondlagen op te sporen, is met een penetrometer. Deze meet niet de bulkdichtheid maar de indringingsweerstand van de grond. Dit is niet om te rekenen naar bulkdichtheid en de indringingsweerstand is bovendien zeer gevoelig voor natte en droge omstandigheden, waardoor de metingen soms onbetrouwbaar zijn. Als mogelijke oplossing voor deze uitdaging om de bulkdichtheid te meten, wordt een sensor ontwikkeld die de bodembulkdichtheid van een volledig bodemprofiel meet.
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Cultural heritage buildings and sites are threatened by the effects of climate change, especially in coastal zones. Risks not only include floods and submersion, but also less visible risks such as effects of moisture levels or, alternatively, drought. At the same time, it is important to involve people in the care of heritage buildings and sites, to stimulate them to cherish, admire, and to enrich their lives with the heritage locations, buildings and stories.This paper aims to contribute to our knowledge on the application of valuation approaches. The topic of heritage and sustainability calls for an approach that encompasses a broad range of values. Theoretically, this paper relies on the approach of ‘Design for Values’. This approach starts with the identification of the values that are aspired to in a design project. These values are connected to norms, which describe how the identified value can be reached. On a more technical or concrete level, requirements are noted down, which specify the precise conditions a design must fulfill. In this way, a ‘value hierarchy’ can be outlined, which forms a guide for the designing process. In a value hierarchy, the levels are connected in two ways: downward by ‘specification’, and upwards, by the phrase ‘for the sake of’. After the design is finalized, a verification step is needed to ascertain if the aspired values indeed have been achieved in the design.The empirical case study for this paper is provided by the investigations of the Wisloujcsie Fortress and surrounding area at the SOS-workshop in Gdansk in October 2022. In our investigation of the site several problems and challenges came to light, which we summarized in a SWOT-analysis. For sustainable development of the area and the conservation of cultural and natural heritage we identified values connected to heritage, water, public access, and social values, see figure 1. In the paper, we will further elaborate on the norms and requirements that follow from each of these values. Also, we want to reflect on a preliminary verification step. We conclude that to produce designs that successfully achieve the climate and sustainability goals of the SOS-Climate Waterfront project, a ‘model valuation framework’ could be a useful guide for the design process. The first elements of such a framework are presented in our paper. Applying such a valuation framework stimulates ethical reflection during the design process and evaluation of the result. It thereby strengthens the connections between sustainability goals and urban design.
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Recent years have seen a global rise in the failure of tailings dams. Studies investigating the causes of slope failure often recognise high intensity rainfall events to significantly contribute to liquefaction, erosion and overtopping. This study aims to investigate the influence of alternative physical and geohydrological processes that, under tension saturation conditions, contribute to slope instability in tailings dams. It has been suggested that the generation of transient pressure wave mechanisms by high intensity rainfall events, surface ponding and wetting front advancement result in the formation of an induced pressure head that triggers the mobilization of pre-event water. In order to quantify these physical processes, this study included the analysis of rapid transmission conditions in a silica fines mix, with similar physical and hydraulic characteristics as platinum tailings. A tall leak-proof soil column, containing the soil sample compacted to in-situ dry bulk density, was fitted with seven observation ports. Each port consisted of a pore air pressure probe, a mini tensiometer and a time domain reflectometry probe. After set-up and initial stabilisation, three separate artificial high intensity rainfall events were applied to the surface. Monitoring of hydraulic state variables was recorded at thirty second intervals by automatic logging, thereby enabling the analysis of measured outcomes. Observations showed instant spikes in pore air pressure ahead of the wetting front, as well as a number of delayed responses. The interpretation of lab results led to the conclusion that pressure diffusion mechanisms throughout the porous medium, could result in the rapid release and mobilisation of previously stagnant antecedent moisture, thereby enabling phreatic levels to rising rapidly and in excess to the amount of surface infiltration. Also, since an increase in pore water pressure is likely to cause a reduction in shear strength, it is suggested that these physical and geohydrological processes could have an adverse impact on the stability of tailings dams.
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