Recrystallization in Model Ice Cream Solutions as Affected by Stabilizer Concentration

Ice recrystallization rates in simple aqueous solutions comprising fructose and a hydrocolloid stabilizer were measured. The stabilizers were an enzyme-modified guar and a non-gelling high methoxy pectin. The stabilizer concentration dependence of the recrystallization rates for both materials was similar in that increasing the concentration resulted in decreasing rates until a point is reached where further addition had no additional effect. That recrystallization rates were reduced by both gelling and non-gelling stabilizers was strongly suggestive that gelation was not a requirement for recrystallization inhibition and another more specific mechanism applies, for example a weak interfacial effect such as adsorption or blocking. This behavior was also seen with locust bean gum and guar and provided further empirical evidence to support the hypothesis that stabilizers adsorb to ice crystal surfaces.     

Image segmentation towards new image representation methods

Very low bit-rate video coding has recently become one of the most important areas of image communication and a large variety of applications have already been identified. Since conventional approaches are reaching a saturation point, in terms of coding efficiency, a new generation of video coding techniques, aiming at a deeper “understanding” of the image, is being studied. In this context, image analysis, particularly the identification of objects or regions in images (segmentation), is a very important step. This paper describes a segmentation algorithm based on split and merge. Images are first simplified using mathematical morphology operators, which eliminate perceptually less relevant details. The simplified image is then split according to a quad tree structure and the resulting regions are finally merged in three steps: merge, elimination of small regions and control of the number of regions.     

Discrete Voronoi diagrams and the SKIZ operator: a dynamicalgorithm

The Voronoi diagram (VD) is a popular tool for partitioning the support of an image. An algorithm is presented for constructing VD when the seed set, which determines the Voronoi regions, can be modified by adding and removing seeds. The number of pixels and seeds revisited for updating the diagram and the neighbor relationships among seeds is minimized. A result on cocircular seeds is presented. The adjacency, or dual, graph of the VD is readily obtained. The use of the algorithm for constructing skeletons by influence zones (SKIZ) is demonstrated     

甲苯—正庚烷—庚烯-(3)三元系统的气液平衡

测定了庚烯-（3）的蒸气压。用Gillespie型平衡器测定了甲苯—庚烯-（3）、正庚烷—庚烯-（3）二元系及甲苯—正庚烷—庚烯-（3）三元系统的平衡数据,并分别用Spinner及White方法验证了这些数据,计算结果与实验结果是符合的。三元系统气液平衡的数据不论在工程中或是实验工作上都很重要,过去对三元系统气液平衡的研究虽然有一些,但对甲苯—正庚烷—庚烯-（3）三元系统气液平衡至今在文献上尚未有记载。 由于庚烯-（3）的蒸气压数据不见于文献,我们测定了它的蒸气压数据。正庚烷—甲苯二元系统前人已有许多结果发表,我们进行了一些校核,结果与文献记载符合。甲苯—庚烯-（3）二元系统文献上没有,我们倣效了并用Spinner方法及White方法整理。至于正庚烷—庚烯-（3）二元系统,因为此两组分的性质（如沸点、n_D~（20）等）极其接近,分析误差较大,我们将其当作理想溶液处理,误差当在允许误差以内。 三元系统的分析较为繁难,误差也较大,故希望从理论和实验材料找出其规律性,以校核实验数据和推算未知三元系统。本工作利用三个二元系统的数据,用Spinner以及White的方法推算三元系统的气液平衡,与实验数据相比较,是相互符合的。     

Electrochemical properties of AB5 type hydrogen storage alloy as anode electrocatalyst of PEMFC

1　INTRODUCTIONIn recent years, the application of the roomtemperature type ( < 100 ℃) polymer electrolytemembrane fuel cells(PEMFCs) as a primary powersource in electric vehicles and portable equipmentsetc has received increasing attention[1 4]. Usuallyin a PEMFC system, platinum is chosen as the e lectrode electrocatalyst, however, it results in ahigh cost PEMFC system for commercialization be cause Pt is a high cost, source limit metal. So,looking fo…     

Calcific mitral stenosis in the hemodialysis patient

The dialysis patient is prone to elevations in the calcium phosphorus product and hyperparathyroidism, which contributes to valvular and vascular calcification. We present the case of a young lady on chronic dialysis that developed mitral calcification complicated by severe mitral stenosis, caseous calcification and retinal embolization. She subsequently required mitral valve replacement.     

Playing on a holo-stage: towards the interaction between real and virtual performers

This paper presents a number of ongoing projects that will be valuable to the development of technologies for digital theatre and performance. This paper describes an EU ACTS project called RESOLV which develops an integrated system to capture real 3D environments using laser and video. Current research on motion tracking, statistical behaviour modelling and simulation is presented, and possible applications, both for visual augmentation and audio generation, are discussed. The projects presented were not originally designed in the domain of theatre and performance, however their results and output seem to be well suited to be applied in this area.     

DESIGNING 2 POLE AND 2/4 POLE WINDINGS BY THE SIMULATED ANNEALING METHOD

ABSTRACT

The object of the present paper is to explore the possibility of using simulated annealing procedures to determine multi-speed three phase windings. It is limited to the very simple case of p/2p polarities. The program has yielded the very well known solutions; thus, research may proceed towards more difficult problems.     

Vitamin D and Death by Sunshine

Exposure to sunlight is the major cause of skin cancer. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun causes damage to DNA by direct absorption and can cause skin cell death. UV also causes production of reactive oxygen species that may interact with DNA to indirectly cause oxidative DNA damage. UV increases accumulation of p53 in skin cells, which upregulates repair genes but promotes death of irreparably damaged cells. A benefit of sunlight is vitamin D, which is formed following exposure of 7-dehydrocholesterol in skin cells to UV. The relatively inert vitamin D is metabolized to various biologically active compounds, including 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Therapeutic use of vitamin D compounds has proven beneficial in several cancer types, but more recently these compounds have been shown to prevent UV-induced cell death and DNA damage in human skin cells. Here, we discuss the effects of vitamin D compounds in skin cells that have been exposed to UV. Specifically, we examine the various signaling pathways involved in the vitamin D-induced protection of skin cells from UV.