The generalized discrete ‐centroid problem

The ‐centroid problem or leader–follower problem is generalized considering different customer choice rules where a customer may use facilities belonging to different firms, if the difference in travel distance (or time) is small enough. Assuming essential goods, some particular customer choice rules are analyzed. Linear programming formulations for the generalized ‐medianoid and ‐centroid problems are presented and an exact solution approach is applied. Some computational examples are included.     

Experimental determination of pesticide processing factors during extraction of seed oils

ABSTRACT

Processing Factors (PFs) reflect the concentration or dilution of pesticide residues resulting from food processing. PFs are key elements to demonstrate the compliance of processed foods with Maximum residue levels (MRLs) as set by Regulation 396/2005. While efforts have been made by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and by national authorities to compile PFs from processing studies, such PFs are not available for all pesticides/processed product combinations. The EU vegetable oil and proteinmeal industry association (FEDIOL) has therefore developed a theoretical approach to approximate MRLs in crude vegetable oils and fats, based on the partition coefficient (log P_ow) of the pesticides and on the oil content of the raw materials. To substantiate this approach, a pilot-scale processing study was initiated with rapeseeds spiked with selected pesticides and the experimental PFs for these pesticides determined. The aims of this study were (i) to study the reliability of pilot-scale conditions for PF determination and (ii) to assess the experimental PFs obtained in comparison to the theoretical PFs proposed by FEDIOL. This study demonstrated that production yields obtained for crude oil and meal in this processing study are similar to those in industrial processes even if differences were observed in the individual production steps (mechanical or solvent extraction steps). The experimental PFs obtained confirmed that the chosen fat-soluble pesticides did concentrate in the oil fraction. For metalaxyl-M having a log P_ow lower than 3, a partitioning between the oil and the meal was observed, as expected. By comparing the experimental PFs and theoretical PFs, it can be concluded that the FEDIOL approach can be recommended as a suitable tool when PFs derived from specific processing studies are missing. Similar studies on pesticides with wider ranges of log P_ow are required in order to complete our conclusions on default PFs for vegetable oils.     

On the existence and origin of sluggish diffusion in chemically disordered concentrated alloys

Concentrated single phase solid solutions, including medium- and high-entropy alloys, represent a new class of materials that have recently attracted significant interest due to exceptional functional and structural properties. Their fascinating properties are mainly attributed to the sluggish atomic-level diffusion and transport, but its controlling mechanisms are largely unknown and there is certain skepticism about its very existence. By using microsecond-scale molecular dynamics, on-the-fly and conventional kinetic Monte Carlo, we reveal the governing role of percolation effects and composition dependence of the vacancy migration energy in diffusion. Surprisingly, an increase of concentration of faster species (Fe) in face-centered cubic Ni-Fe alloy may decrease the overall atomic diffusion. Consequently, the composition dependence of tracer diffusion coefficient has a minimum near the site percolation threshold, ～20?at.%Fe. We argue that this coupled percolation and composition-dependent barriers for vacancy jumps within different subsystems in medium- and high-entropy alloys leads, indeed, to the sluggish diffusion. A fast method for preselecting materials with potentially desired properties is suggested.     

A 2D topology optimisation algorithm in NURBS framework with geometric constraints

In this paper, the solid isotropic material with penalisation (SIMP) method for topology optimisation of 2D problems is reformulated in the non-uniform rational BSpline (NURBS) framework. This choice implies several advantages, such as the definition of an implicit filter zone and the possibility for the designer to get a geometric entity at the end of the optimisation process. Therefore, important facilities are provided in CAD postprocessing phases in order to retrieve a consistent and well connected final topology. The effect of the main NURBS parameters (degrees, control points, weights and knot-vector components) on the final optimum topology is investigated. Classic geometric constraints, as the minimum and maximum member size, have been integrated and reformulated according to the NURBS formalism. Furthermore, a new constraint on the local curvature radius has been developed thanks to the NURBS formalism and properties. The effectiveness and the robustness of the proposed method are tested and proven through some benchmarks taken from literature and the results are compared with those provided by the classical SIMP approach.     

Phytochemical Composition and in Vitro Analysis of Nopal (O. Ficus-Indica) Cladodes at Different Stages of Maturity

This study aimed to determine the phytochemical profile and nutraceutical properties of nopal cladodes (Opuntia ficus-indica) at different stages of maturity. Medium-age cladodes showed the highest total saponins, phytosterols, and indigestible fiber, as well as the highest in vitro antioxidant capacity and digestive enzymes inhibitory activity. Furthermore, these cladodes presented the highest content of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, rutin, narcissin, nicotiflorin, β-sitosterol, and sitosteryl-3-β-glucopyranoside, as well as several amino acids, organic acids, and fatty acids. Whereas young cladodes contained the highest concentration of condensed and hydrolyzable tannins. These results demonstrated that maturity affects the nutritional and nutraceutical properties of nopal cladodes.     

On the Room-Temperature Mechanical Properties of an Ion-Irradiated TiZrNbHfTa Refractory High Entropy Alloy

JOM - Refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) are potential candidate materials for use in next-generation nuclear reactors due to their excellent mechanical performance at high temperatures. Here,...