The chromatographic separation of carbohydrate mixtures

The separation performance of a semicontinuous counter-current chromatographic refiner (SCCR7), consisting of twelve 5.4 cm id x 75cm long columns packed with calcium charged cross-linked polysytrene resin (KORELA VO7C), was optimised. An industrial barley syrup was used containing 42% fructose, 52% glucose and 6% maltose and oligosaccharides. The effects of temperature, flow rates and concentration on the distribution coefficients were evaluated and quantified by deriving general relationships. The effects of flow rates, feed composition and concentration on the separation performance of the SCCR7 were identified and general relationships between them and the switch time, which was found to be the controlling parameter, were developed. Fructose rich (FRP) and glucose rich (GRP) product purities of 99.9% were obtained at 18.6% w/v feed concentrations. When a 66% w/v feed concentration was used and product splitting technique was employed, the throughput was 32.1 kg sugar solids/m3 resin/hr. The GRP contained less than 4.5% fructose, the FRP was over 95% pure, and the respective concentrations were 22.56 and 11.29% w/v. Over 94% of the glucose and 95.78% of the fructose in the feed were recovered in the GRP and FRP respectively. By recycling the dilute product split fractions, the GRP and FRP concentrations were increased to 25.4 and 12.96% w/v; the FRP was 90.2% pure and the GRP contained 6.69% w/v fructose. A theoretical link between batch and semicontinuous chromatographic equipments has been determined. A computer simulation was developed predicting successfully the purging concentration profiles at `pseudo-equilibrium', and also certain system design parameters. An important further aspect of the work has been to study the behaviour of chromatographic bioreactor-separators. Such batch systems of 5.4cm id and lengths varying between 30 and 230cm, were used to investigate the effect of scaling up on the conversion of sucrose into dextran and fructose in the presence of the dextransucrase enzyme. Conversions of over 80% were achieved at 4 hr sucrose residence times. The crude dextransucrase was purified using centrifugation, ultrafiltration and cross-flow microfiltration techniques. Better enzyme stability was obtained by first separating the non-solid impurities using cross-flow microfiltration, and then removing the cells from the enzyme immediately before use by continuous centrifugation

LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMMES FOR SENIORS AT THE OPEN CARE CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY (KAPI) IN SYROS, GREECE: PREDISPOSITION, EXPECTATIONS, MOTIVATION, LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THE DECISIVE ROLE OF CULTURE

The main goal of this survey is to explore lifelong learning in the third age in the island community of Syros in the hope that the findings will provide data that may be useful in creating educational programme structures. Lifelong learning taking place with a group of senior citizens at the KAPI  in the Municipality of Syros-Ermoupoli will be explored, along with the potential of implementing comprehensive active learning programmes specific to the third age. The topics examined include the idiosyncrasy of the KAPI members, their needs for active ageing, their expectations and motivations, the objects of knowledge they seek and the limitations they set. The principal findings showed that Syros is a fertile field for creating pilot structures for informal education in the third age. The members of the Syros KAPI hope to see such programmes launch with less reticence than expected, but on condition that the present hierarchy of family and social priorities is not radically upset. The elderly are open to the idea of participating in learning programmes, they select specific objects of knowledge and desire to channel the skills they acquire to the local community, which is open to volunteerism. It is noteworthy that in relation to the open-ended questions regarding learning objects, the KAPI members took the initiative to propose cultural education programmes as part of their training. They also believe that the non-formal learning will improve their social image and health and will allow them to become more functional members of the local community.  Article visualizations

The chromatographic separation of carbohydrate mixtures

The separation performance of a semicontinuous counter-current chromatographic refiner (SCCR7), consisting of twelve 5.4 cm id x 75cm long columns packed with calcium charged cross-linked polysytrene resin (KORELA VO7C), was optimised. An industrial barley syrup was used containing 42% fructose, 52% glucose and 6% maltose and oligosaccharides. The effects of temperature, flow rates and concentration on the distribution coefficients were evaluated and quantified by deriving general relationships. The effects of flow rates, feed composition and concentration on the separation performance of the SCCR7 were identified and general relationships between them and the switch time, which was found to be the controlling parameter, were developed. Fructose rich (FRP) and glucose rich (GRP) product purities of 99.9% were obtained at 18.6% w/v feed concentrations. When a 66% w/v feed concentration was used and product splitting technique was employed, the throughput was 32.1 kg sugar solids/m3 resin/hr. The GRP contained less than 4.5% fructose, the FRP was over 95% pure, and the respective concentrations were 22.56 and 11.29% w/v. Over 94% of the glucose and 95.78% of the fructose in the feed were recovered in the GRP and FRP respectively. By recycling the dilute product split fractions, the GRP and FRP concentrations were increased to 25.4 and 12.96% w/v; the FRP was 90.2% pure and the GRP contained 6.69% w/v fructose. A theoretical link between batch and semicontinuous chromatographic equipments has been determined. A computer simulation was developed predicting successfully the purging concentration profiles at `pseudo-equilibrium', and also certain system design parameters. An important further aspect of the work has been to study the behaviour of chromatographic bioreactor-separators. Such batch systems of 5.4cm id and lengths varying between 30 and 230cm, were used to investigate the effect of scaling up on the conversion of sucrose into dextran and fructose in the presence of the dextransucrase enzyme. Conversions of over 80% were achieved at 4 hr sucrose residence times. The crude dextransucrase was purified using centrifugation, ultrafiltration and cross-flow microfiltration techniques. Better enzyme stability was obtained by first separating the non-solid impurities using cross-flow microfiltration, and then removing the cells from the enzyme immediately before use by continuous centrifugation

An Integrated Software Application for the Ancient Coptic Language

Coptic language was an important period of the Egyptian language, coinciding with a period of social and cultural changes. Coptic is also associated with the Greek language, as its alphabet is used for the transcription of Coptic. Despite the fact that the Coptic element is strong in Greece, the theoretical background is rather weak. For this reason, it is considered necessary to create a software tool that aims to help in the translation of Coptic into Greek and at the same time to overcome various obstacles that the researcher may encounter while processing the various corpora or artifacts, such as processing issuer, diacritics etc. This tool consists of a database, a search engine and an interface

Morphology and oxidation kinetics of SiO2 layers on silicon

The morphology, density and thickness of SiO2 layers grown on silicon are determined by neutron reflectivity. The validity of different oxidation models is examined using the neutron reflectivity determined thickness for different growth times and temperatures in conjunction with those available in the literature on ellipsometry data. Two of the oxidation models fit all the data sets very well without the incorporation of a fast initial growth. All the data sets give energy of diffusion of 2.1 ± 0.1 eV and the chemical reaction activation energy of 1.86 ± 0.08 eV

Development of Wireless embedded system using ZigBEE protocol to avoid white Gaussian noise and 50 Hz Power line noise in ECG and Pressure Blood signals

Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Pressure blood is a main source for doctors to diagnose the health condition and pathology of heart. The magnitudes of ECG signals are usually approximate 1mV. The Electrocardiogram signals are affected by environment noises. The mostly sources of these errors are the power line of 50HZ. In this paper we present an advance develop of Wireless pads using embedded system and ZigBEE protocol to avoid white Gaussian noise and 50 Hz Power line noise from ECG and Pressure Blood measurements signals. The user-doctor can acquire from the internet in real time the electrocardiograph and the pressure blood of patient. On system can be connected Bio-instrumentations via RS 232 protocol. Finally all information can be imported in BioBench Software. © 2008 IEEE

Effect of temperature on the emission characteristics of liquid metal alloy ion sources

Emission characteristics of liquid metal alloy ion sources (LMAIS) were investigated with respect to temperature. The behaviour of LMAIS were found to be normal with respect to temperature dependence. The LMAIS investigated were Co36Nd64 and Au77Ge14Si9 and results were explained in terms of abnormal behaviour of the surface tension of alloys

Temperature dependence of the electric characteristics of liquid metal alloy ion sources

In spite of the fact that a great deal of research has been carried out on liquid metal ion sources, surprisingly few results exist on the temperature dependence of their electric characteristics. In this article we study two liquid metal alloy ion sources (LMAISs), namely Co36Nd64 and Au77Ge14Si9. While the results of the former alloy were as expected, the latter displayed an entirely different dependence of its electric characteristics on temperature. The unusual results of the Au77Ge14Si9 LMAIS are explained in terms of the abnormal behaviour of its surface tension coefficient with temperature