70 research outputs found
Preparation of Citric Acid-Locust Bean Gum (CA-LBG) for the Disintegrating Agent of Tablet Dosage Forms
No full textPurpose: Analyze the effect of HCl concentration 0.24 mol as a synthesis catalyst on the viscosity of CA-LBG and determine the effect of the application of CA-LBG as a disintegrating agent on the physical quality of tablets. Methods: Citric acid-locust bean gum (CA-LBG) was synthesized from citric acid (CA) and locust bean gum (LBG) using hydrochloric acid (HCl) and ultraviolet irradiation (UV 254 nm, 100 min). The CA-LBG was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), esterification efficiency, solubility, and viscosity. The tablet formulation used CA-LBG with a concentration variation of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12. Preparation of tablets by direct compression uses a spray dray lactose (SDL) as a filler with a tablet weight of 200 mg. Results: Synthesis conditions using 0.24 mol HCl to produce CA-LBG 9.48 cP. The presence of CA-LBG as a disintegrating agent has variation effects to thickness, break force, tensile strength, and friability according to the concentration used. In the formulation process, increasing the concentration of CA-LBG in the tablet mass decreased the flow rate and increased compressibility. Conclusion: The increase in the concentration of CA-LBG in tablets accelerated the disintegration of tablets without the influence of other tablet parameters. The CA-LBG disintegration activity through repulsion between CA-LBG deformations on the tablet when wetted with disintegration medium. The repulsion force occurs due to the character of CA-LBG which has low solubility and low viscosity. Graphical Abstract: Figure not available: see fulltext. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
Effects of xanthan-locust bean gum mixtures on the physicochemical properties and oxidative stability of whey protein stabilised oil-in-water emulsions
No full textThe effects of xanthan gum (XG)-locust bean gum (LBG) mixtures (0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 and 0.5 wt%) on the physicochemical properties of whey protein isolate (WPI) stabilized oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions containing 20% v/v menhaden oil was investigated. The apparent viscosity of the emulsions containing XG/LBG mixtures was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the emulsions containing either XG or LBG alone at higher concentrations of XG/LBG mixtures. Locust bean gum showed the greatest phase separation, followed by XG. Microstructure images showed depletion flocculation at lower biopolymer concentrations, and thus let led to an increase in creaming in stability and apparent viscosity of the emulsions. Addition of 0.15, 0.2 and 0.5 wt% XG/LBG mixtures greatly decreased the creaming of the emulsions. The rate of lipid oxidation for 8-week storage was significantly lower (p <0.05) in emulsions containing XG/LBG mixtures than in emulsions containing either of the biopolymer alone
Sustainable change in marine transportation : the climate impact of the LNG and LBG value chain for Gasum Oy
No full textThe author works at Gasum. For this report making some corporate confidential material was used to get results, which are not appropriate for public view. Formal contract of agreed terms of confidential data handling and publishing between Gasum and University Centre of the Westfjords can be found in Appendix A.Climate change and global warming are impacting greatly on all aspects of modern society. There is considerable regulation for global maritime logistics on fuel emissions, and this makes industry operators look for cleaner engines and applicable fuel solutions. International maritime industry is being forced to change and is going through a period of transition from conventional marine fuels to an increasing choice of alternative fuels (DNV GL, 2019). Some of these are already available, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG). On the environmental side, switching to LNG means a reduction of approximately 20% in greenhouse gas emissions, complete removal of sulfur oxides (SOx) and particles (PM), and a reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions of up to 85% compared to conventional fuels (thinkstep, 2019). Obtaining LNG and by proportionally adding renewable liquefied biogas (LBG) in the mix has much potential for the total reduction of greenhouse gases (DNV GL - Maritime, 2018).
When utilizing LNG as a maritime fuel, it is important to identify all sources contributing to greenhouse gases from LNG well-to-wake emissions and more specifically methane (CH4) emissions, since methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas (GIE and MARCOGAS, 2019). A comprehensive approach enables gas and maritime industries to efficiently allocate best ways of working, and how and where to apply corrective actions. This research contributed to the gas industry’s comprehensive approach by studying and mapping the energy company Gasum’s value chain CH4 emissions within its LNG and LBG production and supply chain. Gasum is a Nordic gas and energy company owned by the state of Finland. Gasum promotes the transition to cleaner energy and circular economy solutions for both maritime and road transportation (Gasum Oy, 2020). The research was compiled together with Gasum’s existing data and data evaluated based on literature. The study describes two value chains, their CH4 emissions sources, and ways of mitigating the emissions. This increased understanding of the impact of the processes on the whole value chain emissions will further support Gasum when improving its processes and communicating the impacts of its products
Software Architecture for Location-Based Games Designed for Social Interaction in Public Space
No full textLocation-based games (LBGs) are becoming increasingly more popular, especially those that focus on social interaction in public space. They have been successful to various extents at bringing players together to interact in public space; yet there is lack of knowledge and consensus on how to design these games from a technical perspective. This paper proposes a software architecture that stems from a cross-game analysis of representative games of this genre, in which 6 core architectural components are identified: Augmentation, Navigation, Interaction, State Progression, Participation, and Administration. These components support the game experience of players by enabling orientation and navigation of the players’ own physical environment, their interaction with the game and other people, the traditional game-like experience, management of the entire game ecosystem, and the ability to allow players to fuel game play. An LBG prototype, Secrets of the South, is presented as proof of concept for this software architecture and its key components. This prototype shows that the identified components are pivotal to the gameplay of LBGs for natural interactions in public space and shows how practitioners can be guided in their preparation whilst maintaining their freedom to technically implement this architecture according to the given structure.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.System Engineerin
Liquid biogas as a fuel for shipping : Possibilities and challenges in the Baltic Sea
No full textSyftet med denna uppsats är att bidra till en bättre förståelse för LBG:s förutsättningar inom sjöfarten genom att kartlägga vilka möjligheter och hinder som finns för att använda LBG som bränsle i Östersjöområdet. Studien består av en analytisk kartläggning som baseras i en litteraturstudie och kompletteras av en intervjustudie med branschaktörer. Uppsatsen använder en kombinerad PESTLE/SWOT-metodik, där en kartläggning har utförts med hjälp av en PESTLE-analys för att identifiera områden och faktorer. Faktorerna har därefter analyserats genom en SWOT-analys för att svara på rapportens formulerade huvudfrågeställning. Resultatet visar att potentialen för LBG inom sjöfartsbranschen är stor, särskilt då den huvudsakliga infrastrukturen för bränslet finns på plats med anledning av LNG:s framväxt i Östersjöområdet. Den volymmässiga avsättningspotentialen för bränslen är också stor inom sjöfarten, och LBG har unika styrkor jämfört med LNG och i sjöfarten redan etablerade bränslen. LBG:s styrkor ligger i linje med de målsättningar som finns kring omställning till förnybara bränslen i transportsektorn, samt de strategier och mål som finns om att reducera koldioxidutsläpp på global och europeisk nivå. Intervjuade rederier menar att de ser utvecklingen mot LBG som ett naturligt steg för sin LNG-drivna flotta och att testverksamhet pågår med inblandning av LBG i LNG-drivna fartyg. Tre faktorer identifierades som särskilda viktiga för utvecklingen mot LBG i sjöfartsbranschen i Östersjön. En av dessa berör produktionskapaciteten av LBG, där sjöfartsbranschens stora energibehov medför att endast en begränsad inblandning av LBG är möjlig i dagsläget. Ett annat identifierat fokusområde består i LBG-kostnad för sjöfarten, där den hårda konkurrenssituationen inom branschen negativt påverkar rederiers möjligheter att bekosta inblandning av LBG. Förutsättningarna påverkas också av att fartygsbränslen för kommersiell sjöfart är skattefria och att andra potentiella branscher för LBG medger möjlighet till skattemässiga subventioner. I uppsatsen skissas det på förslag för hur man kan avhjälpa dessa hinder och bättre utnyttja LBG:s styrkor som fartygsbränsle i Östersjöområdet.The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of LBG's conditions in the shipping sector by mapping out the opportunities and barriers of using LBG as fuel in the Baltic Sea area. The paper consists of a literature study that is supplemented by an interview study with industry players. The thesis uses a combined PESTLE / SWOT methodology, where a survey has been performed using a PESTLE analysis to identify areas and specific factors. The factors were then analyzed through a SWOT analysis to answer the main issue proposed by the author. The results show that there is considerable potential for LBG in the shipping industry, especially as the entire fuel infrastructure is in place due to LNG's continuous growth in the Baltic Sea area. LBG has unique strengths compared to both LNG and fuels that are already established in the maritime industry. LBG's strengths are in line with the aims of increasing renewable fuels in the transport sector, as well as the strategies and targets that exist to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at a global and European level. Interviewed shipping companies see the development towards LBG as a natural step for their LNG-operated fleet, and that testing is ongoing with mixing LBG in some LNG-fueled vessels. Three factors were identified as particularly important for the development of LBG in the Baltic Sea. One of these concerns the production capacity of LBG, where the large energy needs of the shipping industry mean that only a limited use of LBG is possible at present. Another identified focus area is costs in relation to LBG, where the tough competitive situation in the shipping industry negatively impacts shipping companies' ability to afford a more expensive fuel like LBG. The prerequisites are also affected by the fact that ship fuels for commercial shipping are tax-free and that other potential sectors for LBG allow for tax subsidies. The thesis outlines proposals for how to overcome these obstacles and make better use of LBG's strengths as a fuel for shipping in the Baltic Sea area
Influence of sweeteners on the viscoelasticity of hydrocolloids gelled systems
No full textThe influence of sucrose at relatively low concentrations (10 and 20%, w/w) and of aspartame (0.08 and 0.16%, w/w) on the viscoelastic properties of three hydrocolloids gelled systems - κ-carrageenan, gellan gum, and κ-carrageenan/locust bean gum (LBG) - at two gum concentrations (0.3 and 1.2%, w/w) have been studied by oscillatory rheological methods. Both storage and loss moduli values increased in the order: κ-carrageenan<κ- carrageenan/LBG<gellan in both soft (0.3%) and hard (1.2%) gels. In soft κ-carrageenan gels, addition of 10% sucrose slightly increased G′ and G″ values. In contrast, both in soft gellan gum gels and in soft κ-carrageenan/LBG mixed gels, the same addition of sucrose resulted in a small decrease in the values of both moduli. Addition of sucrose at 20% showed different effects depending on hydrocolloids: in soft κ-carrageenan gels it produced a further increase in G′, in soft gellan gels, it produced a further slight decrease in both moduli and in soft κ-carrageenan/LBG mixed gels no change in any modulus was detected. In hard κ-carrageenan gels, no alteration of the moduli values was observed on adding sucrose. In hard gellan gels, G′ and G″ values increased on adding 20% sucrose. In hard κ-carrageenan/LBG mixed gels, the decrease in the moduli values was more pronounced on adding the higher sucrose concentration. In the case of aspartame addition, no important change in the viscoelastic properties of any system was observed. Both in κ-carrageenan and in κ-carrageenan/LBG mixed gels, tanδ values in soft gels were somewhat lower than those in hard gels, indicating a slightly more elastic behaviour of the former ones.This work has been carried out under Project AGL2000-1590, financed by MCyT (Spain). Authors also thank MECD for author Bayarri's fellowship and the Spanish agents of Premium Ingredients, S.L. and of Ingavasa S.A. for providing free samples of gums
Secrets of the south: A location-based game for the development of 21<sup>st</sup> century social skills and promotion of social interaction
No full textLocation-based games (LBGs) successfully promote playful experiences engaging millions of players throughout the world. The potential of embedding such location-based experiences in educational practice has been recognised but not yet fully embraced. LBGs and educational location-based applications have been used to enhance critical thinking, but not for the acquisition and development of 21st century skills: key competences required to understand, live and thrive in the local communities of today. This paper introduces the LBG 'Secrets of the South', designed to orchestrate social interaction in public space, and foster communication, collaboration, IT literacy, and social/cultural skills through 1) interaction-based social encounters with both friends and unknown members of the community, and 2) in-situ learning about the history and social context of the neighbourhood. A 4-step general procedure is proposed for the creation of LBGs designed to foster 21st century skills.System Engineerin
Assessing the decarbonization roadmap of a RoPax ferry
No full textThe reduction of emissions from shipping is necessary to combat climate change. One viable option is to change the fuels utilized. In this study, we investigate the environmental and economic performance of marine diesel oil (MDO), liquified natural gas (LNG), liquified biogas (LBG), and a mixture of LNG and LBG. We study a real case of a roll-on/roll-off passenger ship (RoPax) in Finland. Life cycle thinking is applied to assess the environmental impact, covering emissions from well to propeller (raw material extraction, fuel production, transportation, storage, and combustion), while the economic implications are estimated through future fuel prices and carbon pricing from 2023 to 2050. The carbon pricing covers different carbon tax schemes, namely stated policies scenario (STEPS), sustainable development scenarios (SDS), and net-zero emissions (NZE). STEPS reflects the existing measures and policies under development; SDS pursues to meet the goal of Paris Agreement, while NZE aims to reach net zero. Adopting LNG would improve carbon dioxide emissions, but the overall climate change impact was not significantly lower than MDO. It is also found that the biggest environmental improvement can be obtained by switching to LBG, although future availability can be an issue. The economic assessment shows that LBG has the highest fuel price uncertainties, although its carbon cost will be the lowest. Alternatively, using LNG & LBG mixture can serve as a transition path to contain climate change while dealing with its price uncertainty and availability.© The Author(s) 2024. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/
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Discovery of a single faint AGN in a large sample of z > 5 Lyman break galaxies
No full textAs part of a large spectroscopic survey of z > 5 Lyman break galaxies (LBGs), we have identified a single source which is clearly hosting an active galactic nucleus (AGN). Out of a sample of more than 50 spectroscopically confirmed R-band dropout galaxies at z∼ 5 and above, only J104048.6−115550.2 at z= 5.44 shows evidence for a high ionization potential emission line indicating the presence of a hard ionizing continuum from an AGN. Like most objects in our sample the rest-frame-UV spectrum shows the UV continuum breaking across a Lyα line. Uniquely within this sample of LBGs, emission from N V is also detected, a clear signature of AGN photoionization. The object is spatially resolved in Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging. This, and the comparatively high Lyα/N V flux ratio indicates that the majority of the Lyα (and the UV continuum longward of it) originates from stellar photoionization, a product of the ongoing starburst in the LBG. Even without the AGN emission, this object would have been photometrically selected and spectroscopically confirmed as a Lyman break in our survey. The measured optical flux (IAB= 26.1) is therefore an upper limit to that from the AGN and is of order 100 times fainter than the majority of known quasars at these redshifts. The detection of a single object in our survey volume is consistent with the best current models of high redshift AGN luminosity function, providing a substantial fraction of such AGN is found within luminous starbursting galaxies. We discuss the cosmological implications of this discovery
Spinal cord stimulation therapy for gait impairment in Parkinson’s disease: a double-blinded, randomised feasibility trial with an open extension
No full text\ua9 The Author(s) 2026.A trial of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) was performed in people with gait-impaired Parkinson’s (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05110053). Fourteen patients underwent gait assessments and [18F]-FDG and [18F]-FEOBV PET at baseline, six, and twelve months after SCS. Twelve participants were randomised to six-month MicroBurst or sham, followed by six-month extension with stimulation. The primary outcomes were feasibility and safety, as captured by the trial process measures and nature and frequency of adverse events, respectively, and the Postural Instability and Gait Disorder (PIGD) score as a clinical outcome. Secondary outcomes included assessments of balance and gait at home and at visits, including the Lower Body and Gait (LBG) score, imaging, and patient-reported outcomes of changes in gait, balance and quality of life. Seventeen patients (12%) were eligible for enrolment. Recruitment was feasible (1.2 participants/month) and SCS was well-tolerated. At six months, MicroBurst did not significantly improve gait compared with sham, although bradykinesia/rigidity improved. At 12 months, LBG scores improved (−4.31 points, p = 0.0012) with bilateral decreased thalamic metabolism and decreased right anterior insula [18F]-FEOBV uptake. The trial met its primary feasibility and safety endpoints by achieving recruitment targets and demonstrating that SCS was well-tolerated. However, it did not meet the primary clinical endpoint of a significant PIGD improvement at six months. Larger trials are warranted, as SCS may improve LBG and leg rigidity/bradykinesia, especially as time progresses. We reported data for power calculations and identified important risks for designing future trials
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