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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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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Thermal comfort is determined by the combined effect of the six thermal comfort parameters: temperature, air moisture content, thermal radiation, air relative velocity, personal activity and clothing level as formulated by Fanger through his double heat balance equations. In conventional air conditioning systems, air temperature is the parameter that is normally controlled whilst others are assumed to have values within the specified ranges at the design stage. In Fanger’s double heat balance equation, thermal radiation factor appears as the mean radiant temperature (MRT), however, its impact on thermal comfort is often ignored. This paper discusses the impacts of the thermal radiation field which takes the forms of mean radiant temperature and radiation asymmetry on thermal comfort, building energy consumption and air-conditioning control. Several conditions and applications in which the effects of mean radiant temperature and radiation asymmetry cannot be ignored are discussed. Several misinterpretations that arise from the formula relating mean radiant temperature and the operative temperature are highlighted, coupled with a discussion on the lack of reliable and affordable devices that measure this parameter. The usefulness of the concept of the operative temperature as a measure of combined effect of mean radiant and air temperatures on occupant’s thermal comfort is critically questioned, especially in relation to the control strategy based on this derived parameter. Examples of systems which deliver comfort using thermal radiation are presented. Finally, the paper presents various options that need to be considered in the efforts to mitigate the impacts of the thermal radiant field on the occupants’ thermal comfort and building energy consumption.
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Dairy products are known for their relatively low impact on the environment per unit of nutritional value. The carbon footprint of cheese from the Netherlands has been reduced in recent years by minimizing energy and water consumption. However,there are other options for further improving the sustainability of cheese production. The dairy research team at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences is revealing new possibilities.
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Soil organic carbon (SOC) prediction from remote sensing is often hindered by disturbing factors at the soil surface, such as photosynthetic active and non–photosynthetic active vegetation, variation in soil moisture or surface roughness. With the increasing amount of freely available satellite data, recent studies have focused on stabilizing the soil reflectance by building reflectance composites using time series of images. Although composite imagery has demonstrated its potential in SOC prediction, it is still not well established if the resulting composite spectra mirror the reflectance fingerprint of the optimal conditions to predict topsoil properties (i.e. a smooth, dry and bare soil).
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