The use of seed texture features for discriminating different cultivars of stored apples

The aim of this study was to identify the textural features of apple seeds with the highest discriminatory power for distinguishing the seeds of different apple cultivars with the use of discriminative classifiers. The seeds of apple cvs. Gala, Jonagold and Idared were scanned with the use of a flatbed scanner, and the acquired images were processed to calculate textural features from color channels: L, a, b, R, G, B, Y, U, V, H, S, I, X, Y and Z. The selected textures were used to develop discriminative models and distinguish the seeds of the examined apple cultivars. The analyses were performed for color spaces and color channels. The seeds of apple cvs. Gala and Idared were discriminated with 100% accuracy in models based on the textures from Lab and YUV color spaces and color channel L for the Naive Bayes, Multilayer Perceptron and Multi Class classifiers. The discriminatory accuracies of the seeds of all analyzed apple cultivars (Gala, Idared and Jonagold) ranged from 72% to 85%. The discriminatory accuracy of the textures selected from Lab color space for the Naive Bayes classifier reached 85%. The seeds of apple cvs. Gala and Jonagold were discriminated with 78–90% accuracy, and the discriminatory accuracy of the textures from Lab color space and color channel b for the Naive Bayes classifier reached 90%. The seeds of apple cvs. Idared and Jonagold were distinguished with 80–94% accuracy. The models based on textures from Lab color space and color channel b for the Naive Bayes classifier were characterized by 94% discriminatory accuracy. The study demonstrated that textural features are useful for discriminating the seeds of different apple cultivars.     

Stability of electronic nose (e-nose) as determined by considering date-pits heated at different temperatures

Variability and sensitivity of a portable electronic nose (32 sensors) was assessed by considering different variables for measurement (i.e., reference, standard, first and second purges, sample draw time, waiting time for the volatiles released in the headspace, and mass of sample or headspace volume of the jar containing sample). In this study, dried date-pits were used a model sample. The highest stability was achieved when both reference and standard (i.e., dried date-pits, no heating treatment) were used before test sample measurement. Higher sample draw time more than 10 s significantly decreased the stability, whereas optimum second purge was observed at 50 s. Optimum time to generate volatile was observed as 24 h. A sample of 100 g increased the signal intensity compared to the 50 g sample for the 60°C and 100°C treated samples, while an opposite trend was observed for the 150°C treated sample. Finally, the responses of volatile components in date-pits heated at different temperatures (60°C, 100°C, and 150°C) were measured using the optimum operating conditions. Principal component analysis explored the relationships between the volatile features and classified date-pits heated at different temperatures. The results showed that an electronic nose was able to classify date-pits based on their volatile components generated by different degrees of heating (93.3% accuracy).     

活性焦法烧结烟气脱硫率影响因素统计解析

摘要：为明确影响活性焦烧结烟气脱硫的主要因素，通过模拟试验和生产数据统计分析探究脱硫塔自上至下脱硫率变化趋势和各运行参数对脱硫率的影响。模拟试验表明，循环使用后的活性焦孔隙结构更加发达，表面含氧官能团含量增加，进而其初期脱硫性能低于新鲜活性焦，后期优于新鲜活性焦。错流式脱硫塔自上至下脱硫率先后经历100%、快速降低、缓慢降低等过程。生产数据统计分析表明，脱硫率与SO2质量浓度、O2体积分数、H2O体积分数、NH3与NOx物质的量之比、解析温度呈正相关，与活性焦床温度、体积空速呈负相关。其中，SO2质量浓度、体积空速、活性焦床温度对脱硫率影响最大。运行参数之间存在多重共线性现象，烧结漏风率升高或空气补加量增加将引起诸多运行参数的变化，但总体上有利于脱硫率的提高。     

Experimental study on free and submerged multi-jets

The flow characteristics of the hydraulic jump due to parallel jets are different from the classical jump emerging from a single gate. Due to the highly complex flow field at the downstream pool, deciding about the tailwater measuring location is a challenging issue affecting the flow measuring accuracy. Experiments are conducted herein, on different parallel jets’ configurations for both free and submerged flow conditions. To quantify the flow uniformity, for any downstream cross section, the associated momentum correction factors, β₂, were estimated for the free-flow condition. It is found that β₂-values depend significantly on the measuring location, and consequently the available conjugated depths relationship results in poor estimation when measuring location moves downstream. Employing Buckingham analysis, a general formula is proposed to calculate the momentum correction factors associated with the free hydraulic jump at different downstream measuring locations. The experimental results of this study indicated that such a formula enhances distinguishing between free and submerged flow conditions of the gates installed in parallel. Finally, a dimensionless stage-discharge formula is presented to predict the submerged flow rate through parallel gates of different gate openings and widths.     

Real‐time thermal states monitoring of absorber tube for parabolic trough solar collector with non‐uniform solar flux

With the world energy shortage problem becoming increasingly prominent, more and more attentions have been paid to the development of renewable energies. Among these sources, solar energy has received extensive attention with its excellent characteristics. The thermal state affects the safety of the solar heat collection system. In this paper, real‐time monitoring of the input heat flux on the inside wall and the temperature field simultaneously of an absorber tube for parabolic trough solar collector were studied. Based on the measured temperatures on the outside wall, the fuzzy adaptive Kalman filter coupled with weighted recursive least squares algorithm (WRLSA) was employed to monitor the heat states of the absorber tube inversely, in which WRLSA was used to acquire the heat flux while fuzzy adaptive Kalman filter was adopted to monitor the temperature field. The method showed strong robustness to resist the ill‐posedness. Accurate monitoring results also can be acquired when there are random disturbances of the heat transfer condition on the inner wall.     

Data quality and uncertainty assessment methodology for pavement LCA

In performing pavement life cycle assessment (LCA), users are facing various reports of energy intensity coefficient (EIC) of pavement materials which differ considerably among data sources and therefore alter the LCA results significantly. Instead of selecting a certain EIC without or of little explanation for the current pavement LCA practices, this study proposed a methodology to build probability density function (PDF) for EIC based on available data-set and their qualities. Each data was first evaluated about the data quality indicator (DQI) through data quality pedigree matrix and converted to PDF in modified Beta distribution form. Three weighting methods, the DQI one, coefficient of variation (COV) one and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) one, were developed to assign weightings for different data. Monte Carlo simulation was run with the weighted PDF of each data as input to obtain the ultimate PDF for EIC. A case study to estimate the bitumen’s EIC with eight data samples were performed using the proposed methodology. It is found (1): the estimates by the proposed methodology is of higher reliability (lower COV) compared to any single data due to utilisation of information of the overall data samples; (2) the AHP weighting method is most favoured despite the results of the three weighting methods are close; (3) the central estimates of bitumen’s EIC are between5.4~5.8 MJ/kg. The proposed methodology is helpful in aiding calculating EICs for pavement materials and capturing uncertainties in LCA results in a statistical sense.     

A systematic literature review to explore traceability and lifecycle relationship

Traceability is the ability to follow a product along its lifecycle. It ensures product safety and quality along the supply chain, managing information generated by several players. Even though regulations establish the information that has to be traced, each player generates much more product (and process) information, which could be used to add value to products, with respect to, not only traceability, but also the lifecycle approach. However, the concepts do not appear to be immediately related in scientific panorama. This paper aims to explore the relationship between traceability and lifecycle through a systematic literature review. Six industries (Software, Manufacturing, Automotive, Automation, Aircraft, and Aerospace) and seven subject areas (Software engineering; System engineering; Industry 4.0; New product development; Process management; Data Management; and Environmental sustainability) were identified through bibliometric analysis. To better explore this relationship in the context of the food industry, a content analysis on lead papers’ sample was performed to identify traceability and lifecycle definitions, methodologies and technologies and their relation. The results of the work, synthetised in a proposed research map, will be of interest to those who are approaching the subject for the first time, and for companies involved in product lifecycle management and food traceability.     

钢渣复合取代矿粉、砂和石用作混凝土掺合料与骨料及其性能分析

用风淬渣粉取代矿粉、电炉渣砂取代混合砂、电炉渣石取代碎石制备混凝土，分析了混凝土的内照射指数、外照射指数、f-CaO含量、沸煮膨胀值、比表面积、密度、含水率、容重、含泥量、泥块含量、坍落度、抗压强度及其化学组成、矿物组成与微观形貌，研究了钢渣的安全性与稳定性及风淬渣粉取代矿粉、电炉渣砂取代混合砂、电炉渣石取代碎石与钢渣复合取代矿粉、砂和石对混凝土性能的影响。结果表明，风淬渣粉、电炉渣砂和电炉渣石的安全性与稳定性满足国标要求，可用于混凝土。当风淬渣粉取代20wt%矿粉、电炉渣砂取代10wt%混合砂和电炉渣石取代20wt%碎石时，混凝土的性能最优。钢渣复合取代矿粉、砂和石的比例合适，可改善混凝土的界面结构密实度，尤其能提高混凝土养护后期的强度。     

小型特种精细化工过程自动化和信息化研究发展趋势探讨

针对采取小批量间歇性批次生产方式、工艺介质腐蚀性强、危险性大的小型特种精细化工生产工艺研究试验过程自动化、信息化程度不高，导致工艺研究试验中获取数据较少、过程机理研究不够透彻、人工操作多、安全风险高、研究试验消耗大及效率不高等问题，综述了期待通过智能控制、在线分析、模拟仿真和虚拟制造、工况监测及预测性维护以及信息管理和生产调度等关键技术的研究和应用，提高小型特种精细化工生产工艺过程的自动化和信息化程度，实现小型特种精细化工生产工艺过程的数字化、虚拟化和智能化，降低生产安全风险和试验消耗，提高小型特种精细化工生产工艺研究试验的成功率和效率，达到小型特种精细化工生产工艺过程的数字化设计和精准生产的目标。     

车轮多边形磨耗统计规律及关键影响因素分析

针对列车车轮多边形磨耗问题广泛存在于轨道交通运输领域,会导致车辆/轨道系统产生高频的振动冲击,严重影响车辆和轨道系统零部件的使用寿命,危及行车安全这一问题,调查了大量车轮的多边形磨耗情况并进行统计分析,掌握了高速列车车轮多边形磨耗问题的现状和特点。以18～20阶多边形磨耗车辆为例,通过理论研究和试验分析(试验分析包括车辆系统振动特性测试和转向架模态特性测试),对车轮多边形磨耗的根本原因及诱导因素进行研究。研究发现,轮轨系统在580 Hz频率附近存在固有模态是导致车辆发生18～20阶多边形磨耗的根本原因,轮轨表面的各种不平顺能激发或者加剧轮轨系统在580 Hz频率附近的模态共振,从而诱发车轮多边形磨耗的产生。该结果可为高速列车车轮多边形磨耗问题的防止和进一步研究提供参考。