A small scale fish meal dryer

A batch type rotary drum dryer for the production of fish meal suitable for operation in the fishing villages of India has been designed, fabricated and operated successfully. The dyer can be used for production of fish meal from whole lean fish or press-cake from fish body oil extraction plants. The time taken to reach a moisture level below 10% is 5-8 hours depending upon the type of material fed into the dryer.

Standardization of polyphosphate treatment for tiny prawns (Parapenaeopsis stylifera) with special reference to its rehydration capacity and organoleptic quality

In the present study, an attempt was made to explore the benefits of polyphosphate for enhancement of dried prawn (Parapenaeopsis stylifera) quality commercially known as "sode" in Maharashtra coast. Dip treatment in polyphosphate solution at different concentrations (viz., 3, 5, 7 and 10%) was given to pealed and no deveined P. stylifera for different durations (viz., 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min). Treated prawns were dried and subjected to rehydration capacity test and organoleptic evaluation. Among the different treatments, rehydration capacity was found to increase with the increased duration and concentration of treatment. Tiny prawns treated with sodium tripolyphosphate solution at the rate of 5% concentration for 5 minutes showed an increase in pH from acidic to alkaline, and had better quality with respect to rehydration capacity and textural attributes as compared to other concentrations and durations of polyphosphate treatment.

盐胁迫对螺旋藻光合作用影响的研究

盐胁迫是限制高等植物和藻类生长和产量的主要环境因子之一。PSII对环境胁迫的响应被认为是光合作用适应逆境过程中最重要的一个环节。尽管盐胁迫对PSII的影响已进行了大量的研究，但有关盐胁迫对PSII作用方式和位点的研究仍存在着争议。我们主要研究了盐胁迫对螺旋藻PSII结构和功能的影响，以探讨盐胁迫对PSII的作用方式和位点以及该藻细胞PSII对盐胁迫的适应机理。主要研究结果如下： 1． 用0、0.2、0.4、0.6、0.8M NaCl处理螺旋藻细胞12小时。随盐浓度的增加，螺旋藻细胞的Chla、carotenoid、PC、APC及蛋白含量均呈下降趋势，说明盐胁迫抑制了上述色素及蛋白的合成或加速了它们的降解，从而影响了螺旋藻的光合作用。 2． 随盐浓度的增加，螺旋藻细胞光合放氧活性和PS II电子传递活性显著降低，表明盐胁迫引起藻细胞PS II活性的下降。 3． 通过放氧活性、热致发光（TL）、多相荧光瞬态上升动力学曲线的测定以及Western 杂交，来探讨盐胁迫对螺旋藻细胞PS II供体侧电子传递及OEC33蛋白含量的影响。结果显示：随盐浓度的增加，螺旋藻细胞光合放氧活性和PS II电子传递活性下降;TL B-band和Q-band强度降低，在0-0.6M NaCl下，B-band的周期性振荡清楚，最大值出现在第二次和第六次闪光，而在0.8M NaCl时，S态振荡基本上消失，S 态氧化还原循环受阻;Fm， J、I和P相荧光水平降低。以上结果都表明盐胁迫使PS II的放氧侧受损伤。且随盐浓度的增加，盐分引起螺旋藻细胞外周蛋白OEC33的降解，在蓝藻中首次提出放氧机构的S态循环受阻，放氧活性降低。 4． 通过OJIP曲线的测定以及JIP-test、闪光诱导的可变荧光衰减动力学、热致发光（TL）的分析，我们研究了盐胁迫对螺旋藻细胞PS II受体侧的影响。结果显示： JIP-test的参数Ψo和φEo随盐浓度的增加而下降,显示QA-到QB 电子传递受阻;可变荧光衰减动力学快相组分半衰期延长，所占总可变荧光百分比下降，表明QA-到QB 电子转移变慢，中相组分半衰期延长、所占百分比下降，说明空的QB位点对PQ的结合减慢，有可能PQ分子对QB位点的结合能力下降;TL B-band和Q-band的峰温度出现了位移，可能QA、QB的氧化还原电势发生了改变。以上结果表明，盐胁迫伤害了PSII受体侧的电子传递。 5． 首次运用闪光诱导下的叶绿素荧光上升及其衰减动力学来研究盐胁迫对PS II受体侧的影响。 6． 盐胁迫下，PS II供体侧和受体侧电子传递受抑制，有活性的PSII反应中心数量下降，说明盐胁迫对螺旋藻细胞PSII的伤害也可能是多位点的作用方式。此外，盐胁迫下，藻细胞放氧活性的下降快于受体侧QA 到QB电子传递所占百分比的下降，有可能PS II放氧侧先受损伤，然后是反应中心和受体侧。上述结果表明盐胁迫下PSII活性的降低是由于PSII供体侧和受体侧电子传递的抑制，有活性的PSII反应中心的减少。 7． 借助螺旋藻类囊体膜的Western杂交分析，来研究盐胁迫对螺旋藻类囊体膜PSII相关蛋白的影响。结果表明，上述PSII活性的抑制是由于类囊体膜蛋白的损失。主要与PSII反应中心CP43、CP47和OEC33蛋白含量的下降有关。 8． PS II机构对盐胁迫的适应涉及以下几个方面：降低吸收横截面，（PC/chla，APC/chla比值的降低）;光系统II光化学反应的改变，通过关闭的PS II反应中心比例的增加，使得PS II机构免于过多激发能的伤害而得以保护;提高了剩余的有活性反应中心的耗能效率（DIo/RC增加）;保持有活性反应中心高的激发能转化效率，比如，TRo/RC保持不变;另外，随盐浓度的增加，由藻胆体向光系统I的能量传递增加，避免过量激发能对 PSII的伤害，使螺旋藻细胞适应盐胁迫环境。

Ferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures containing chiral ether and ester compounds with the 2-arylidene-p-menthan-3-one skeleton

Some 1R,4R-2-(4-phenylbenzylidene)-p-menthane-3-one derivatives containing the ether or ester linking group between benzene rings of the arylidene fragment have been studied as chiral dopants in ferroelectric liquid crystal systems based on the eutectic mixture (1:1) of two phenylbenzoate derivatives CmH2m+1OC6H4COOC6 H4OCnH2n+1 (n = 6; m = 8, 10). The ferroelectric properties of these compositions (spontaneous polarization, rotation viscosity, smectic tilt angle as well as quantitative characteristics of their concentration dependences) were compared with those for systems including chiral dopants containing no linking group. Ferroelectric parameters of the induced ferroelectric compositions studied have been shown to depend essentially on the presence of the linking group between benzene rings and its nature as well as on the number of the benzene rings in the rigid molecular core of the chiral dopants used. For all ferroelectric liquid crystal systems studied, the influence of the chiral dopants on the thermal stability of N*, SmA and SmC* mesophases has been quantified. The influence of the linking group nature in the dopant molecules on the characteristics of the systems studied is discussed taking into account results of the conformational analysis carried out by the semi-empirical AM1 and PM3 methods.

An experimental model of relay deployment planning tool for a wireless sensor network system to monitor civil engineering structures

It is essential to monitor deteriorated civil engineering structures cautiously to detect symptoms of their serious disruptions. A wireless sensor network can be an effective system for monitoring civil engineering structures. It is fast to deploy sensors especially in difficult-to-access areas, and it is extendable without any cable extensions. Since our target is to monitor deteriorations of civil engineering structures such as cracks at tunnel linings, most of the locations of sensors are known, and sensors are not required to move dynamically. Therefore, we focus on developing a deployment plan of a static network in order to reduce the value of a cost function such as initial installation cost and summation of communication distances of the network. The key issue of the deployment is the location of relays that forward sensing data from sensors to a data collection device called a gateway. In this paper, we propose a relay deployment-planning tool that can be used to design a wireless sensor network for monitoring civil engineering structures. For the planning tool, we formalize the model and implement a local search based algorithm to find a quasi-optimal solution. Our solution guarantees two routings from a sensor to a gateway, which can provide higher reliability of the network. We also show the application of our experimental tool to the actual environment in the London Underground.

Length-weight relationship and relative condition factor of pond-reared mahseer, Tor putitora(Ham.)

The study deals with the length-weight relationship and relative condition factor (Kn) of mahseer, Tor putitora reared for 150 days in ponds. The logarithmic form of equation for the relationship was found to be logW = -1.727+2.875logL or W=O.Ol875U·875 • The graphical presentation of the parabolic and logarithmic forms showed respectively the curvilinear and linear relationships between length and weight of the fish. The mean value (±sd) of relative condition factor was found to be 0.95±0.12. The exponential value 'b' was found to be 2.96 and the coefficient of correlation 'r' was 0.965, which showed strong and highly correlated relationships between length and weight of the fish.

Tailored sustainability assessment for urban masterplanning

Tailored sustainability assessment represents one approach to addressing sustainability issues on large-scale urban projects with varying geographical, social and political constraints and diverse incentives among stakeholders. This paper examines the value and limitations of this approach. Three case studies of tailored systems developed by the authors for three unique masterplanning projects are discussed in terms of: contextual sustainability drivers; nature and evolution of systems developed; outcomes of implementation; and overall value delivered. Analysis Leads to conclusions on the key features of effective tailored assessment, the value of tailored sustainability assessment from various perspectives (including client, designer, end-users and the environment), and the limitations of tailored assessment as a tool for comparative analysis between projects. Although systems considered here are specific to individual projects and developed commercially, the challenges and lessons learned are relevant to a range of sustainability assessment approaches developed under different conditions.

Soil mix technology for land remediation: Recent innovations

The past 15 years have seen increasing applications of soil mix technology in land remediation, mainly in stabilisation/solidification treatments and the construction of low-permeability cut-off walls and permeable reactive barriers; clear evidence of the versatility of the technology and its wide-ranging applications. This paper provides an overview of some of the recent innovations of soil mix technology in land remediation covering equipment developments and applications, including systems for rectangular panels and trenching systems, treatments, such as chemical oxidation, and additives, such as modified clays, zeolites and reactive magnesia. The paper also provides case studies for such innovations. The paper concludes with an overview of an on-going research and development project SMiRT (Soil Mix Remediation Technology) which will involve field trials on a contaminated site and will employ some of the innovations discussed in the paper. The range of significant advantages that soil mix technology now offers compared to other remediation techniques is likely to place this remediation method at the forefront of remedial options for future brownfield projects.

猴脑线粒体DNA提取及限制性内切酶分析

用冷碱法从2只恒河猴和1只食蟹猴的脑组织中提取mtDNA, 最后的得率大约 为0.7μg mtDNA/g脑组织, 是肝脏组织得率的1/3左右。经16 种限制性内切酶分 析, 并与来自同一个体肝脏组织的mtDNA比较, 结果进一步证实, mtDNA无组织 特异性。对12岁以上老年猴脑mtDNA的分 析表明, 在衰老中, 动物mtDNA的序列 可能没有变化, 甲基化程度也无显著增高。图2参4