Discomfort luminance level of head-mounted displays depending on the adapting luminance

The Images in an immersive head-mounted display (HMD) for virtual reality provide the sole source for visual adaptation. Thus, significant, near-instantaneous increases in luminance while viewing an HMD can result in visual discomfort. Therefore, the current study investigated the luminance change necessary to induce this discomfort. Based on the psychophysical experiment data collected from 10 subjects, a prediction model was derived using four complex images and one neutral image, with four to six levels of average scene luminance. Result showed that maximum area luminance has a significant correlation with the discomfort luminance level than average, median, or maximum pixel luminance. According to the prediction model, the discomfort luminance level of a head-mounted display was represented as a positive linear function in log₁₀ units using the previous adaptation luminance when luminance is calculated as maximum area luminance.     

Lipid production in Porphyridium cruentum grown under different culture conditions

Autotrophic growth of Porphyridium cruentum under 18:12 h and 12:12 h light:dark cycles showed the maximum cell concentration of 2.1 g-dry wt./L, whereas the specific growth rate, 0.042 (1/h), at 18:6 h is faster than that of 12:12 h, 0.031 (1/h), respectively. The highest lipid accumulation level, 19.3 (%, w/w), was achieved at 12:12 h cycle. Under dark cultivation condition with 10 g/L of glucose, the lipid accumulation in the cell was 10.9 (%, w/w), whereas the heterotrophic growth with glycerol as the carbon resource showed low level of cell concentration and lipid production, compared to that of glucose. The glucose was decided to be a suitable carbon resource for the heterotrophic growth of P. cruentum. The lipids from P. cruentum seemed be feasible for biodiesel production, because over 30% of the lipid was C₁₆–C_18:1. The cultivation time and temperature were important factors to increase the maximum cell concentration. Extending the cultivation time helps maintain the maximum cell concentration, and higher lipid accumulation was achieved at 25 °C, compared to 35 °C. The fed-batch cultures showed that, under the light condition, the specific production rate was slightly decreased to 0.4% lipid/g-dry wt./day at the later stage, whereas, under the dark condition, the specific production rate was maintained to be a maximum value of 1.1% lipid/g-dry wt./day, even in the later stage of cultivation. The results indicate that the heterotrophic or 12:12 h cyclic mixotrophic growth of P. cruentum could be used for the production of biodiesel in long-term fed-batch cultivation of P. cruentum.     

Growth characteristics and development of a predictive model for Bacillus cereus in fresh wet noodles with added ethanol and thiamine

Response surface methodology was used to determine growth characteristics and to develop a predictive model to describe specific growth rates of Bacillus cereus in wet noodles containing a combination of ethanol (0 to 2% [vol/wt]) and vitamin B(1) (0 to 2 g/liter). B. cereus F4810/72, which produces an emetic toxin, was used in this study. The noodles containing B. cereus were incubated at 10°C. The growth curves were fitted to the modified Gompertz equation using nonlinear regression, and the growth rate values from the curves were used to establish the predictive model using a response surface methodology quadratic polynomial equation as a function of concentrations of ethanol and vitamin B(1). The model was shown to fit the data very well (r(2) = 0.9505 to 0.9991) and could be used to accurately predict growth rates. The quadratic polynomial model was validated, and the predicted growth rate values were in good agreement with the experimental values. The polynomial model was found to be an appropriate secondary model for growth rate (GR) and lag time (LT) based on the correlation of determination (r(2) = 0.9899 for GR, 0.9782 for LT), bias factor (B(f) = 1.006 for GR, 0.992 for LT), and accuracy factor (A(f) = 1.024 for GR, 1.011 for LT). Thus, this model holds great promise for use in predicting the growth of B. cereus in fresh wet noodles using only the bacterial concentration, an important contribution to the manufacturing of safe products.     

PCR identification of ruminant tissue in raw and heat-treated meat meals

To control the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle through contaminated animal feedstuffs, screening of feed products is essential. We designed five pairs of primers to identify specifically raw and heat-treated tissue from cattle, sheep, goat, deer, and ruminants in general. A forward common primer was designed based on a conserved DNA sequence in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA-tRNA(val)-16S rRNA gene, and reverse primers were designed to hybridize with a species-specific DNA sequence for each species considered. All primers were developed to create a specific PCR product small enough (less than 200 bp) to be suitable for heat-treated material. To evaluate the effect of heat treatment, a severe sterilization condition (133 degrees C at 300 kPa for 20 min) was chosen. Species-specific amplicons were obtained from all types of heat-treated meat meals. Analysis of laboratory-contaminated vegetable meals revealed that the detection limit of the assay was 0.05% for each species analyzed. This PCR-based analysis can be used as a routine method for detecting banned animal-derived ingredients in raw and heat-treated feedstuffs.     

Digestibility and physicochemical properties of granular sweet potato starch as affected by annealing

The effects of annealing on the digestibility, morphology, and physicochemical characteristics of four types of granular sweet potato starches [Yulmi (YM), Yeonwhangmi (YHM), sweet potato starch from Samyang Genex (SSPS), and commercial sweet potato starch (CSPS)] were investigated. Annealing was performed at 55°C and 90% moisture content for 72 h. Morphology, the branched chain distribution of amylopectin, and the X-ray diffraction pattern remained unchanged during the annealing process. The slowly digestible starch content in annealed YM, YHM, and SSPS starches increased, but did not change in annealed CSPS. The gelatinization temperatures increased, but the gelatinization temperature range decreased with annealing. The swelling factor and amylose leaching decreased, while the close packing concentration increased. Rapid Visco Analyser analysis revealed that annealed starches possessed thermal stability and higher pasting temperatures. It is suggested that the enhanced packing arrangement formed during annealing impacts the digestibility and physicochemical properties of sweet potato starches.     

Changes in S-allyl cysteine contents and physicochemical properties of black garlic during heat treatment

This study aimed to investigate the effects of temperature on the black garlic manufacturing process. The moisture content, pH, browning intensity, S-allyl cysteine (SAC) content and antioxidant activity, including DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power, were determined. The moisture content of garlic gradually decreased throughout the heating process. The rate of moisture removal was higher at high temperatures compared with low temperatures. The pH also decreased more significantly in garlic heated at high temperatures. The browning intensity increased with increasing temperature. The SAC contents of black garlic were significantly different according to heating temperature; the garlic samples heated at a low temperature had a higher SAC contents. Antioxidant activity, as determined by the DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power, increased when the garlic was exposed to higher temperatures.     

Sodium azide and metal chelator effects on 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging compounds from methylene blue photosensitized lard

Thermal oxidation of edible oils can generate 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging compounds from oxidized lipids (RSOLs). However, effects of photosensitization on the formation of RSOLs have not been reported yet. Methylene blue (MB) photosensitization and involvement of singlet oxygen and transition metals on the RSOL formations were determined in stripped lard oils. RSOLs were formed in lard containing MB and visible light irradiation only. Addition of sodium azide decreased RSOLs with concentration dependent manner, which implies singlet oxygen was involved on the RSOL formation. Ethylenediammetetraacetic acid (EDTA), a well known metal chelator, accelerated the formation of RSOLs through protecting the decomposition of MB photosensitizer. Results from p‐anisidine values showed that RSOLs from photosensitization may not be formed from the same pathways compared to thermal oxidation. Practical application: Understanding mechanisms of lipid oxidation can help extend the shelf‐life of foods. Photosensitization plays important roles in accelerating the rates of lipid oxidation. The results of this study showed that foods containing photosensitizers can generate radical scavenging compounds from oxidized lipids (RSOLs) under visible light irradiation and singlet oxygen is involved in the formations of these compounds. However, these compounds may not share the same pathways with thermally oxidized lipids. Metal chelating agents accelerated the rates of lipid oxidation and formation of RSOLs which implies that metal chelators can act as prooxidant. Careful considerations are necessary on the addition of metal chelators because non‐polar photosensitizers can act a prooxidant.     

Molecular characterization of antibiotic-resistant salmonella isolates from retail meat from markets in northern Vietnam

A total of 118 Salmonella isolates were detected from 283 retail meat samples (135 pork and 148 chicken meat) purchased at retail markets in Northern Vietnam. Thirteen serovars, including Infantis, Anatum, Rissen, Reading, Emek, Typhimurium, Blockley, London, Newport, Derby, Weltevreden, Albany, and Hadar, were determined. Resistance to tetracycline (54.2%), sulfonamides (52.5%), streptomycin (41.5%), trimethoprim (36.4%), chloramphenicol (35.6%), and ampicillin (33.1%) was commonly seen in the Salmonella isolates. Fourteen [bla(TEM), bla(OXA-1), bla(PSE-1), aadA1, sul1, tetA, tetB, tetG, cmlA1, floR, dfrA1, dfrA12, aac(3)-IV, and aphA1-1AB ] of 17 resistance genes were detected from the isolates demonstrating resistance. Genes for plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance, such as qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, qepA, and acc(6')-1b-cr, were not detected in 23 quinoloneresistant isolates. The substitution TCC to TTC at codon 83 of gyrA was found in the 18 quinolone-resistant isolates. The data revealed that resistant Salmonella strains were widely distributed in Northern Vietnam via the food chain and that they might contain multiple genes specifying identical resistance phenotypes. Thus, further studies are necessary to clarify the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella strains and their spread in the livestock market.     

Particle size effect on the filtration drag of fly ash from a coal power plant

In order to investigate the filtration properties of fly ash from a conventional coal power plant, the filtration drag across the dust cake over an absolute fiberglass filter element was measured. A fluidized bed column was utilized to obtain a well characterized particle stream. The cake resistance coefficient was analyzed by the equation proposed by Endo et al. [1998] in order to observe the effect of particle size and polydispersity. The filtration drag was measured for three kinds of particle stream having the geometric mean particle size of 3.15, 6.07, and 7.83 μm and the geometric standard deviation less than 1.44 in the practical operation conditions for the field applications of face velocity of 0.03–0.06 m/s and area dust load up to 0.2 kg/m². A dust cake of smaller particle size showed larger pressure drop even though the porosity was higher and presented high compressibility according to the face velocity. The particle polydispersity was also a dominant factor affecting the compressibility of the dust cake.     

Modified poly(caprolactone trifumarate) with embedded gelatin microparticles as a functional scaffold for bone tissue engineering

Bone tissue engineering offers high hopes in reconstructing bone defects that result from trauma, infection, tumors, and other conditions. However, there remains a need for novel scaffold materials that can effectively stimulate ossification with appropriate functional properties. Therefore, a novel injectable, biodegradable, and biocompatible scaffold made by incorporating modified poly(caprolactone trifumarate) (PCLTF) with embedded gelatin microparticles (GMPs) as porogen is developed. Specifically, in vitro and in vivo tests were carried out. For the latter, to determine the osteogenic ability of PCLTF‐GMPs scaffolds, and to characterize bone‐formation, these scaffolds were implanted into critical‐sized defects of New Zealand white rabbit craniums. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) demonstrated cells of varying shapes attached to the scaffold surface in vitro. The PCLTF‐GMPs demonstrated improved biocompatibility in vivo. Polyfluorochrome tracers detected bone growth occurring in the PCLTF‐GMPs filled defects. By incorporating PCLTF with GMPs, we have fabricated a promising self‐crosslinkable biocompatible and osteoconducive scaffold for bone tissue engineering. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43711.