The objectives and methodology of the EU-funded research project HYVOLUTION devoted to hydrogen production from biomass are reviewed. The main scientific objective of this project is the development of a novel two-stage bioprocess employing thermophilic and phototrophic bacteria, for the cost-effective production of pure hydrogen from multiple biomass feedstocks in small-scale, cost-effective indu

In this study, we compare two evolving techniques for obtaining high-resolution 3D anatomical data of a mouse specimen. On the one hand, we investigate cryotome-based planar epi-illumination imaging (cryo-imaging). On the other hand, we examine X-ray phase-contrast micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) using synchrotron radiation. Cryo-imaging is a technique in which an electron multiplying charge

We report on a gated tunnel diode (GTD) and its operation in a 60 GHz pulsed oscillator, also known as a wavelet generator. The wavelet generator operates with the aid of a reactive bias stabilizing network, which minimizes the DC power consumption. This allows for 60 GHz wavelets as short as 56 ps to be produced, with a corresponding energy consumption of 1.0 pJ, which is a factor of 3.6 lower as

Occupational exposure to particulate air pollution has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the risk to welders working today remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the cardiovascular effects of exposure to welding fumes.

Fibrillin-containing microfibrils are polymeric structures that are difficult to extract from connective tissues. Proteolytic digestion of tissues has been utilized to release microfibrils for study. Few of the molecules that connect microfibrils to other elements in the matrix have been identified. In this study, electron microscopic immunolocalization of anti-versican antibodies in tissues and i

In this paper, start-up of a plate reactor with an exothermic reaction is considered. Dynamic optimization is used to obtain start-up trajectories, while a feedback control system is designed for on-line control. The problem is challenging, since the process model is highly nonlinear, and subject to uncertainty. Limited bandwidth of the feedback control system requires that the optimization gives

Acylglutamate is a divalent anionic surfactant whose properties are affected by its degree of neutralization. In this study, we present phase maps for aqueous systems of the potassium (LGP) and triethanolamine salts (LGT) of N-lauroyl L-glutamic acid, at different degrees of neutralization. A cubic phase forming between the isotropic micellar and the hexagonal phase was detected in both LGP/water

Distributions of phylogenetically related protein domains (fold superfamilies), or FSFs, among the three Superkingdoms (trichotomy) are assessed. Very nearly 900 of the 1200 FSFs of the trichotomy are shared by two or three Superkingdoms. Parsimony analysis of FSF distributions suggests that the FSF complement of the last common ancestor to the trichotomy was more like that of modern eukaryotes th

Hydroxyl radicals formed from hydrogen peroxide during an inflammatory response are potent agents for cellular deterioration. The behaviour of implanted material in terms of its ability to sustain or stop free radical formation may be therefore very important. In vitro studies of titanium which is known to be biocompatible and osseointegrates into human bone were carried out. In our model studies,

The fractional dispersion model for natural rivers, extended by including a first order reaction term, contains four parameters. In order to estimate these parameters a fractional Laplace transform-based method is developed in this paper. Based on 76 dye test data measured in natural streams, the new parameter estimation method shows that the fractional dispersion operator parameter F is the contr

This article challenges the widespread view that DEGREE is a grammatical phenomenon characteristic of certain types of word classes and, instead, argues that DEGREE is pervasive in language and may be associated with most meanings. The main aim of the article is to discuss the results of a number of corpus investigations and experiments of DEGREE meanings in general and of the modification of DEGR

A series of heterogeneous latexes having stage ratios of 40:60 between the first and second stage polymers were prepared by emulsion polymerization. The first-stage polymers were non-polar S-BuA with Tgs ranging from + 100 °C to + 20 °C and the second stage polymer was polar MMA–BuA–MAA having a Tg of 20 °C. The latex particle morphologies were studied using TEM and the thermomechanical properties

Twelve populations of the epiphytic bryophyte Leucodon sciuroides from three major regions representing formerly glaciated and nonglaciated regions of Europe were screened for polymorphisms at 15 putative isozyme loci. The populations clustered into three distinct groups consisting of: (i) a single population from Crete, representing a cryptic unknown taxon; (ii) four Scandinavian populations and

For non-food uses starch generally is modified in order to obtain products with properties suitable for various applications. In the present work, starch and amylose were hydrophobically modified through reactions with long-chain alpha -alkyl epoxides (C-6 and C-12) in DMSO solution, in the presence of NaH as a catalyst. The molar substitution (MS) was calculated from NMR spectra. Derivatives with

AimOral mucositis is a common and debilitating side effect of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Our study investigated parents' and children's experiences of oral mucositis treatment and whether the parents' perceptions accurately reflected the children's views. MethodsWe analysed 71 questionnaires completed by the parents of children who had undergone haematopoietic stem cell transplantat

Eighteen out of 18 rheumatoid patients (at one centre of a two-centre 30 patient study previously reported) with a mean age of 56 years, and 72/72 operated joints were randomized to Avanta/Sutter or Swanson MCP prostheses and followed for 5 years. Both ulnar deviation and extension lag were improved already at 6 weeks and remained improved at 5 years. The Avanta prosthesis had a better range of mo