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Effects of glycerol and sorbitol on optical, mechanical, and gas barrier properties of potato peel-based films
No full textPotato peel is a by-product of potato-based food production and seen as a zero- or negative-value waste of which millions of tons are produced every year. Previous studies showed that potato peel is a potential material for film development when plasticized with 10% to 50% glycerol (w/w potato peel). To further investigate potato peel as a film-forming material, potato peel-based films containing the plasticizer sorbitol were prepared and investigated on their physicochemical properties in addition to films containing glycerol. Due to sufficient producibility and handling of casted films in preliminary trials, potato peel-based films containing 50%, 60%, or 70% glycerol (w/w potato peel) and films containing 90%, 100%, or 110% sorbitol (w/w potato peel) were prepared in this study. Generally, with increasing plasticizer concentration, water vapor and oxygen permeability of the films increased. Films containing glycerol showed higher water vapor and oxygen permeabilities than films containing sorbitol. Young's modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break decreased with increasing sorbitol concentration, whereas no significant effect of plasticizer content on elongation at break was shown in films containing glycerol. Due to crystallization of films containing sorbitol as a plasticizer, potato peel-based films containing 50% glycerol (w/w) were identified as the most promising films, characterized by a water vapor transmission rate of 268 g 100 μm m−2 d−1 and an oxygen permeability of 4 cm3 100 μm m−2 d−1 bar−1. Therefore, potato peel-based cast films in this study showed comparable tensile properties with those of potato starch-based films, comparable water vapor barrier with those of whey protein-based films, and comparable oxygen barrier with those of polyamide films
Characterization of Clostridium tyrobutyricum Strains Using Three Different Typing Techniques
Get PDFClostridium tyrobutyricum is well known as one of the main causative agents of severe cheese spoilage. The metabolism of this anaerobic bacterium during ripening leads to textural and sensory defects in cheese and consequential loss of product value. The potential to induce cheese spoilage, however, may vary among different strains of the same species. Therefore, a better understanding of the intra-species diversity of C. tyrobutyricum may be of practical relevance for the dairy industry. In the present study, we compared the ability of three typing techniques to differentiate 95 C. tyrobutyricum strains on the subspecies level: (1) repetitive element palindromic PCR (rep-PCR) fingerprinting combined with conventional agarose gel electrophoresis, (2) hexaplex-PCR followed by an automated capillary electrophoresis and (3) matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) typing. MALDI-TOF MS fingerprinting provided only moderate reproducibility and low discriminatory power. Both PCR-based methods were highly
reproducible and discriminative, with hexaplex-PCR fingerprinting being slightly more discriminative than rep-PCR typing. Overall, a high intra-species diversity was observed among the tested strains,
indicating that further investigations on the strain level may be of interest
Using AutomationML and graph-based design languages for automatic generation of digital twins of cyber-physical systems
No full textIterative Retrieval and Block Coding in Autoassociative and Heteroassociative Memory
No full textNeural associative memories (NAM) are perceptron-like single-layer networks with fast synaptic learning typically storing discrete associations between pairs of neural activity patterns. Gripon and Berrou (2011) investigated NAM employing block coding, a particular sparse coding method, and reported a significant increase in storage capacity. Here we verify and extend their results for both heteroassociative and recurrent autoassociative networks. For this we provide a new analysis of iterative retrieval in finite autoassociative and heteroassociative networks that allows estimating storage capacity for random and block patterns. Furthermore, we have implemented various retrieval algorithms for block coding and compared them in simulations to our theoretical results and previous simulation data. In good agreement of theory and experiments, we find that finite networks employing block coding can store significantly more memory patterns. However, due to the reduced information per block pattern, it is not possible to significantly increase stored information per synapse. Asymptotically, the information retrieval capacity converges to the known limits C=ln2≈0.69 and C=(ln2)/4≈0.17 also for block coding. We have also implemented very large recurrent networks up to n=2·106 neurons, showing that maximal capacity C≈0.2 bit per synapse occurs for finite networks having a size n≈105 similar to cortical macrocolumns
mRNA expression of ageing-associated genes in calorie reduction is subject to donor variability and can be induced by calorie restriction mimetics
No full textBackground: Finding ways to a healthier ageing are increasingly becoming the focus of geriatric research. One way to accomplish this could be calorie restriction, as this is known to positively influence the ageing of model organisms. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of calorie reduction (F. X. Mayr therapy) and of the calorie restriction mimetics resveratrol and spermidine on the expression of ageing-associated genes. Methods: mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 18 participants taking part in an F. X. Mayr therapy was analysed. The PBMCs of one additional participant were treated ex vivo with spermidine or resveratrol. mRNA expression of SIRT1, SIRT3, FOXO3 and SOD2 was determined for these two calorie restriction mimetics. For the F. X. Mayr therapy samples, mRNA of XPA was analysed additionally. Results: mRNA expression of the ageing� associated genes showed a distinct donor variation during F. X. Mayr therapy, with a significant increase in mRNA expression of SIRT1. Expression of XPA was similar to SIRT1, with a significant correlation at the last time point tested.
Spermidine treatment of PBMCs resulted in a significantly increased expression of all genes tested, whereas resveratrol treatment caused a significant increase of SIRT3, FOXO3 and SOD2 mRNA expression. Conclusions: By increasing SIRT1 and XPA mRNA expression, calorie reduction in the form of F. X. Mayr therapy could contribute to a
healthier ageing; however, the donor variability observed showed that not everyone benefited from this. Calorie restriction mimetics may be an option for promote healthier ageing for those who do not benefit from calorie reduction
Entwicklung eines neuen Bioindikatorsystems zur Prüfung der Hygienewirkung von Geschirrspülverfahren unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von englumigem Spülgut
Get PDFDie Aufbereitung von Spülgut aus hygienisch sensiblen Bereichen stellt Einrichtungen wie z. B. Kindertagesstätten und Pflegeheime vor Herausforderungen. In Einrichtungen, in denen Menschen mit noch nicht vollständig ausgebildeter oder eingeschränkter Immunabwehr untergebracht sind, ist die Gewährleistung von hygienisch einwandfreiem Spülgut zur Vermeidung der Übertragung von Krankheitserregern sicherzustellen. Der Einsatz von Haushaltsgeschirrspülern in hygienisch sensiblen Bereichen wird von Überwachungsbehörden daher kritisch betrachtet.
Mittels eines neuentwickelten Bioindikatorsystems soll die hygienische Aufbereitung von v. a. englumigem Spülgut in Geschirrspülmaschinen in diesen Einrichtungen untersucht werden
Nachhaltige, biobasierte Verpackungskonzepte
No full textDas Ziel des EU-Projektes BIOnTop (Grant Agreement Number GA 837761) ist die Entwicklung nachhaltigerer Verpackungskonzepte für unterschiedliche Anwendungen in der Life Sciences Industrie. Dabei werden verschiedene Rohstoffe zum Entwickeln biobasierter Packstoffe, deren Beschichtungen und die Evaluierung des Verwertens in den kommenden Jahren von 21 Expertenteams erforscht. Aus Polymilchsäure hergestellte Kunststofffolien werden durch neue Beschichtungstechnologien optimiert und sollen vergleichbare Barriere- als auch Verarbeitungseigenschaften aufweisen als herkömmliche erdölbasierte Kunststoffe
Auswirkungen der Corona-Krise
No full textWie wird die Zeit nach Corona? Stürzen wir tatsächlich in einen wirtschaftlichen Abgrund? Der Südfinder sprach exklusiv mit Wirtschaftsprofessor Wilfried Funk von der Hochschule Albstadt-Sigmaringen. Professor Funk: Gerade unsere Unternehmen brauchen dringend Hilfe
Akzeptanz der Systemintegration von Elektrofahrzeuge
No full textDie Elektromobilität wird aktuell als eine der Schlüsseltechnologien zur Dekarbonisierung des Verkehrssektors angesehen. Allerdings kann eine Integration von Elektrofahrzeugen in den Stromsektor nur gelingen, wenn notwendige digitale Technologien implementiert und von den Nutzern akzeptiert werden
Bio-Based Packaging: Materials, Modifications, Industrial Applications and Sustainability
Get PDFEnvironmental impacts and consumer concerns have necessitated the study of bio-based materials as alternatives to petrochemicals for packaging applications. The purpose of this review is to summarize synthetic and non-synthetic materials feasible for packaging and textile applications, routes of upscaling, (industrial) applications, evaluation of sustainability, and end-of-life options. The outlined bio-based materials include polylactic acid, polyethylene furanoate, polybutylene succinate, and non-synthetically produced polymers such as polyhydrodyalkanoate, cellulose, starch, proteins, lipids, and waxes. Further emphasis is placed on modification techniques (coating and surface modification), biocomposites, multilayers, and additives used to adjust properties especially for barriers to gas and moisture and to tune their biodegradability. Overall, this review provides a holistic view of bio-based packaging material including processing, and an evaluation of the sustainability of and options for recycling. Thus, this review contributes to increasing the knowledge of available sustainable bio-based packaging material and enhancing the transfer of scientific results into applications