Carefully controlled treatments with a protease and acellulase were used to improve the softness and reducethe subjectively perceived prickle of a coarse wool andviscose blend fabric. The activity towards wool of a no...Carefully controlled treatments with a protease and acellulase were used to improve the softness and reducethe subjectively perceived prickle of a coarse wool andviscose blend fabric. The activity towards wool of a non-specific endoprotease (Novolan L) was shown to bemuch greater in buffer containing a reducing agent (so-dium sulphite). The balance between protease and sodi-um sulphite concentrations was studied in order to reducethe amount of enzyme required.展开更多
Mexico is the largest cactus exporter of the world and 40% of the production cost is provided from the harvest operation. Many workers are required to operate daily and suffer wrist pain after two weeks of collecting ...Mexico is the largest cactus exporter of the world and 40% of the production cost is provided from the harvest operation. Many workers are required to operate daily and suffer wrist pain after two weeks of collecting pears with mechanical pruners. A motor driven tool supplied from a photovoltaic system was employed for harvesting;different blades were tested at different cutting speeds. It was found that toothed blades sliced the pears with efficiencies over 90%. Abrasive blades were finally selected as the current required per cut was minimum, permitting a longer battery lifetime before requiring recharging.展开更多
The comfort of the light-weight woven fabrics was investigated by conducting the wear trials under the controlled climatic conditions. The wear trial under the neutral environmental conditions showed that the lightwei...The comfort of the light-weight woven fabrics was investigated by conducting the wear trials under the controlled climatic conditions. The wear trial under the neutral environmental conditions showed that the lightweight wool and wool blend fabrics are generally less comfortable than the silk fabric, cotton poplin and polyester/cotton poplin fabrics tested in this study. The main shortcoming in terms of comfort for these lightweight wool fabrics is the prickle. Besides, the fabric softness was found to be a very important factor influencing the comfort of the clothing worn next to the skin.展开更多
Aims Organisms on islands are thought to escape biotic pressure and lose defensive capabilities.However,broadscale,evidence-based tests of this idea are rare.In this study,we asked:(i)whether the proportion of spinesc...Aims Organisms on islands are thought to escape biotic pressure and lose defensive capabilities.However,broadscale,evidence-based tests of this idea are rare.In this study,we asked:(i)whether the proportion of spinescent plant species differed between islands and mainlands and(ii)whether the proportion of spinescent species increased with increasing island area and with decreasing island distance to mainland.Methods We compiled species lists for 18 island–mainland pairs around Australia.We classified 1129 plant species as spinescent or nonspinescent using published species descriptions.Important Findings There was no significant difference between the proportion of spinescent species found on islands and on mainlands.Proportions of spinescent species were not significantly related to island area or distance to mainland.Our results suggest that spinescence is just as important to island plants as it is to mainland plants,even for plants inhabiting small or distal islands.This is unexpected,given prevailing thought and previous work on island–mainland comparisons.Our study demonstrates the importance of testing well-accepted yet untested ideas.展开更多
文摘Carefully controlled treatments with a protease and acellulase were used to improve the softness and reducethe subjectively perceived prickle of a coarse wool andviscose blend fabric. The activity towards wool of a non-specific endoprotease (Novolan L) was shown to bemuch greater in buffer containing a reducing agent (so-dium sulphite). The balance between protease and sodi-um sulphite concentrations was studied in order to reducethe amount of enzyme required.
文摘Mexico is the largest cactus exporter of the world and 40% of the production cost is provided from the harvest operation. Many workers are required to operate daily and suffer wrist pain after two weeks of collecting pears with mechanical pruners. A motor driven tool supplied from a photovoltaic system was employed for harvesting;different blades were tested at different cutting speeds. It was found that toothed blades sliced the pears with efficiencies over 90%. Abrasive blades were finally selected as the current required per cut was minimum, permitting a longer battery lifetime before requiring recharging.
文摘The comfort of the light-weight woven fabrics was investigated by conducting the wear trials under the controlled climatic conditions. The wear trial under the neutral environmental conditions showed that the lightweight wool and wool blend fabrics are generally less comfortable than the silk fabric, cotton poplin and polyester/cotton poplin fabrics tested in this study. The main shortcoming in terms of comfort for these lightweight wool fabrics is the prickle. Besides, the fabric softness was found to be a very important factor influencing the comfort of the clothing worn next to the skin.
基金Australian Research Council Discovery Project(DP140102861 to A.T.M.).
文摘Aims Organisms on islands are thought to escape biotic pressure and lose defensive capabilities.However,broadscale,evidence-based tests of this idea are rare.In this study,we asked:(i)whether the proportion of spinescent plant species differed between islands and mainlands and(ii)whether the proportion of spinescent species increased with increasing island area and with decreasing island distance to mainland.Methods We compiled species lists for 18 island–mainland pairs around Australia.We classified 1129 plant species as spinescent or nonspinescent using published species descriptions.Important Findings There was no significant difference between the proportion of spinescent species found on islands and on mainlands.Proportions of spinescent species were not significantly related to island area or distance to mainland.Our results suggest that spinescence is just as important to island plants as it is to mainland plants,even for plants inhabiting small or distal islands.This is unexpected,given prevailing thought and previous work on island–mainland comparisons.Our study demonstrates the importance of testing well-accepted yet untested ideas.
