Experimental and Theoretical Substantiation of Device Performance in Soy Milk Production for Animal Feed

The article presents a device to obtain soybean milk, Tofu soybean curd, a soy protein base for feed preparation for farm animals and poultry as a product of soybean grain processing. The device combines a number of technological operations, such as grinding the grain of legumes to obtain fine grinding, the extraction of soy protein into the emulsion and the separation of the protein emulsion into two homogeneous fractions: a liquid protein base (soy milk) and undissolved residue – Okara. The kinematics of the movement of soybean grain in a soaked form over the abrasive surface of a cone with curved grooves applied is considered, a final formula for the speed of movement of the grain is obtained. The volumetric and mass productivity of the grain chopper is determined theoretically and experimentally depending on the main factors affecting the process

Spatial changes in alpine treeline vegetation patterns along hiking trails in Glacier National Park, Montana

Sequential aerial photography was used to identify effects of hiking trails on the spatial distribution of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) habitat at alpine treeline. Vegetation change over a 46 year period was compared along trails relative to areas without trails, at five study sites in the McDonald Creek drainage of Glacier National Park. Paired trail and nontrail test areas (22-35 ha each) were selected to be as identical as possible in all respects except for the presence of a hiking trail. Measured characteristics (number of patches, patch area, and edge density) were based on a morphological classification of subalpine fir vegetation (krummholz and patch forest) from black-and-white aerial photography. Results suggest that the number of small, discrete krummholz stands has increased at sites where trails are present relative to sites without trails. Terrestrial photography expanded the time scale considered, and supports the conclusion that fragmentation of krummholz is more evident along trails compared to areas without trails. However, other measures of change in krummholz and patch forest do not suggest a noticeable effect of trails over the area (278-ha total) studied

Draft Genome Sequencing of Three Glutaraldehyde-Tolerant Bacteria from Produced Water from Hydraulic Fracturing

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of three glutaraldehyde-resistant isolates from produced water from hydraulic fracturing operations. The three strains were identified as sp. strain G11, sp. strain G15, and sp. strain G16. The genome sequences of these isolates will provide insights into biocide resistance in hydraulic fracturing operations

Validation of a death assay for Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae (L3) using propidium iodide in a rat model (Rattus norvegicus)

Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a pathogenic nematode and the cause of neuroangiostrongyliasis, an eosinophilic meningitis more commonly known as rat lungworm disease. Transmission is thought to be primarily due to ingestion of infective third stage larvae (L3) in gastropods, on produce, or in contaminated water. The gold standard to determine the effects of physical and chemical treatments on the infectivity of A. cantonensis L3 larvae is to infect rodents with treated L3 larvae and monitor for infection, but animal studies are laborious and expensive and also raise ethical concerns. This study demonstrates propidium iodide (PI) to be a reliable marker of parasite death and loss of infective potential without adversely affecting the development and future reproduction of live A. cantonensis larvae. PI staining allows evaluation of the efficacy of test substances in vitro, an improvement upon the use of lack of motility as an indicator of death. Some potential applications of this assay include determining the effectiveness of various anthelmintics, vegetable washes, electromagnetic radiation and other treatments intended to kill larvae in the prevention and treatment of neuroangiostrongyliasis

Superhydrophobic paper in the development of disposable labware and lab-on-paper devices

Traditionally in superhydrophobic surfaces history, the focus has frequently settled on the use of complex processing methodologies using nonbiodegradable and costly materials. In light of recent events on lab-on-paper emergence, there are now some efforts for the production of superhydrophobic paper but still with little development and confined to the fabrication of flat devices. This work gives a new look at the range of possible applications of bioinspired superhydrophobic paper-based substrates, obtained using a straightforward surface modification with poly(hydroxybutyrate). As an end-of-proof of the possibility to create lab-on-chip portable devices, the patterning of superhydrophobic paper with different wettable shapes is shown with low-cost approaches. Furthermore, we suggest the use of superhydrophobic paper as an extremely low-cost material to design essential nonplanar lab apparatus, including reservoirs for liquid storage and manipulation, funnels, tips for pipettes, or accordion-shaped substrates for liquid transport or mixing. Such devices take the advantage of the self-cleaning and extremely water resistance properties of the surfaces as well as the actions that may be done with paper such as cut, glue, write, fold, warp, or burn. The obtained substrates showed lower propensity to adsorb proteins than the original paper, kept superhydrophobic character upon ethylene oxide sterilization and are disposable, suggesting that the developing devices could be especially adequate for use in contact with biological and hazardous materials

Cognitive rehabilitation, self-management, psychotherapeutic and caregiver support interventions in progressive neurodegenerative conditions: a scoping review

BACKGROUND: Despite their potentially significant impact, cognitive disability may be overlooked in a number of progressive neurodegenerative conditions, as other difficulties dominate the clinical picture. OBJECTIVE: We examined the extent, nature and range of the research evidence relating to cognitive rehabilitation, self-management, psychotherapeutic and caregiver support interventions in Parkinsonian disorders, multiple sclerosis (MS), frontotemporal dementias (FTD), motor neuron disease and Huntington’s disease. METHODS: Scoping review based on searches of MEDLINE and CINAHL up to 15 March 2016. RESULTS: We included 140 eligible papers. Over half of the studies, and almost all the randomised controlled trials, related to MS, while a number of single case studies described interventions for people with FTD. CR interventions addressed functional ability, communication and interaction, behaviour or memory. The majority of psychotherapy interventions involved cognitive behavioural therapy for depression or anxiety. Self-management interventions were mainly available for people with MS. There were few reports of interventions specific to caregivers. Numerous methodological challenges were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The limited range of studies for all conditions except MS suggests a need firstly to synthesise systematically the available evidence across conditions and secondly to develop well-designed studies to provide evidence about the effectiveness of CR and other psychological interventions