Study on the applicability of high-pressure homogenization for the production of banana juices

The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the potential applicability of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) for the production of banana juices. To this purpose, a prototype equipment working up to 400 MPa and a lab-scale homogenizer working up to 150 MPa were used. Temperature, microbial load, pectate lyase activity, colour and viscosity of the samples homogenized at increasing pressure were evaluated. Pressures higher than 200 MPa were needed to obtain 4 log unit reduction of total mesophilic bacteria and pectate lyase inactivation. Following HPH, banana juice resulted brighter and less viscous than the untreated one. Data suggest that HPH treatments could be a reliable technological alternative to conventional heat treatments for the production of added-value fruit juices. However, the homogenization design could play a critical role in affecting the product quality attributes. In fact, homogenization performed at the same operative pressure by using different equipment leads to different effects on product quality.     

The 25 IEA energy efficiency policy recommendations to the G8 Gleneagles Plan of Action

The imperative to pursue energy efficiency improvements is clearly on the political agenda at all levels of governments. This paper explores the lessons from past attempts at galvanising international efforts to expand energy efficiency activities through the use of international-level recommendations. Drawing on these lessons, the paper outlines the IEA response to the call for policy advice on energy efficiency through the G8 Gleneagles Plan of Action. Specifically, the paper outlines a ‘necessary conditions’ framework that was used to develop a set of energy efficiency policy priorities and describes the subsequent recommendations presented to the G8 in Hokkaido–Toyako Summit in 2008. The recommendations cover 25 fields of action in seven priority areas: buildings, appliances, lighting, transport, industry, energy utilities and cross-sectoral issues. Together, the suite of recommendations sets out an ambitious road map for global energy efficiency improvement. If implemented globally without delay, they could save around 8.2 GtCO₂/yr or 96 EJ/yr by 2030. This is equivalent to roughly twice the current total EU energy-related CO₂ emissions.     

Natural convection from narrow horizontal plates at moderate Rayleigh numbers

The present work deals with the natural convection flow and heat transfer from a horizontal plate cooled from above. Experiments are carried out for rectangular plates having aspect ratios between φ=0.036 and 0.43 and Rayleigh numbers in the range 290?Ra_w?3.3×10⁵. These values of Ra_w and φ have been selected below those commonly considered in previous research in view of a future application to the design of printed circuit boards. The plates are made of two different metals, copper and steel. The choice of a metal is relevant to the present problem because the plates are heated by means of an electric current. Important variations of the surface temperature are observed along the transverse direction for the steel plates. The surface of the copper plates is almost isothermal because of the high thermal conductivity of the metal.Calculations for a semi-infinite plate are carried out to predict the transverse profiles of the surface temperature and heat flux and to visualize the structure of the flow. Three-dimensional calculations are also used at a qualitative level to observe the changes in the flow structure due to the finite length of the plate. Present results are compared with both previous experimental work and analyses that are based on boundary layer theory. It is shown that analyses for an infinite boundary layer are not completely applicable to the present problem because of its different physics. The most relevant feature of the natural convection flow, which is not predicted by boundary layer analyses, is a thermal plume rising near the center of the plate.Present heat transfer results differ from previous experimental work because of the lower Rayleigh numbers and aspect ratios investigated here. The Nusselt number is found to depend on Ra_wⁿ, with the exponent n=0.17 being lower than most of the values reported in the literature. This comparatively low value is related to the transverse conduction of heat through the air, which becomes increasingly significant as Ra_w approaches zero. It is shown that such a low-Ra_w effect can be accounted for in a physically consistent manner by adding a constant term to the heat transfer correlation. On the other hand, it is found that the Nusselt number does not significantly depend on the aspect ratio in the range of φ investigated contrary to what has been previously reported for wider plates.     

Morphology of laryngeal cartilage of the nine‐banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) Linnaeus, 1758

Armadillos, Xenarthras representatives, known for adaptability to different ecosystems, own specific morphophysiological characteristics that are not known and deserve to be studied. The aim of this study was to describe the morphology of cartilage of the larynx of the nine‐banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). Five dead armadillos were donated by the Chico Mendes Institute of Biodiversity (ICMBio‐PI) to the Federal University of Piauí. The animals were fixed and dissected for removal of the larynx. The cartilages were identified and described, photodocumented, and schematized. Fragments with about 0.5 cm of each cartilage were collected and submitted to classical histology for Hematoxylin–Eosin coloring. The slides were assembled in enterlan and analyzed under a light microscope. The larynx of the armadillo (D. novemcinctus) is located in the mentonian region, ventral to the esophagus, and due to the total positioning of the tongue in the oral cavity, there is also a cranial cervical position in this species. The larynx has five cartilages, they are: a cricoid, a thyroid, an epiglottis, and two arytenoids. The corniculate process is present; however, the cuneiform process is absent. The epiglottis has a discrete bifurcation at its apex. In all cartilages epithelial variations are observed. The tissues are varied from squamoso stratified to cylindrical pseudostratified, with propria lamina rich in mucoserosas glands. With the exception of epiglottic cartilage, predominantly elastic, the rest are hyaline. The larynx of D. novemcinctus, although the same number of cartilages, differs morphologically and microscopically from the larynx of other species.     

Numerical treatment of complete load–deflection curves

A method for direct computation of complete load–deflection curves, including both primary and secondary branches, as well as exact calculation of singular points is presented. The method used for path following is the cylindrical arc-length method in accordance with Crisfield. To calculate singular points, an extended system, as proposed by Keener and Keller, has been adopted. The numerical problems arising from ill-conditioned stiffness matrices near the singular points, are circumvented using a deflation technique. By a modification of the constraint equation used in the arc-length method, a reliable method for branch switching has been obtained. This leads to a unified approach to complete path following of structures with limit and bifurcation points. The use of this approach is demonstrated both on a simple two-bar truss as well as on a star-shaped shallow truss dome which exhibits complex stability characteristics. Comparisons are made with calculations found in the literature. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Color‐gamut expansion in CRTs

Abstract— This paper describes the architecture for a color picture tube (CPT), which enables a cost‐effective expansion of the color gamut. Besides a gamut expansion based on application of more‐saturated phosphors in the present three‐primary system, four‐ and five‐primary systems are described. Gun‐pitch modulation allows the application of a conventional electron gun for both a four‐ and five‐primary CRT. In these systems, the mask and matrix transmissions need to be reduced to maintain color purity. From this point of view, a five‐primary CRT is unrealistic. Two four‐primary CRTs are evaluated in more detail. But, here, the total anode current to generate white has to be increased substantially because of the reduced mask and matrix transmissions. Nonetheless, in this paper it is argued that with one of the four‐primary CRTs more‐saturated yellow colors can be displayed at 85% of the display luminance of a conventional system without loss of perceived sharpness.     

Home visits by neighborhood Mentor Mothers provide timely recovery from childhood malnutrition in South Africa: results from a randomized controlled trial

Background  

Child and infant malnourishment is a significant and growing problem in the developing world. Malnourished children are at high risk for negative health outcomes over their lifespans. Philani, a paraprofessional home visiting program, was developed to improve childhood nourishment. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether the Philani program can rehabilitate malnourished children in a timely manner.     

Effectiveness of the Body Mass Index in the nutritional diagnosis of pregnant adolescents

The purpose of this study was to analyze the diagnostic capacity of different classification criteria based on Body Mass Index in the assessment of nutritional status and to evaluate their effectiveness. The sample comprised 367 healthy pregnant adolescents in their first trimester of gestation, from a socioeconomic level IV, between Oct. 1999 and Dec. 2008. Two methodologies were applied for the nutritional classification: (1) Integral nutritional diagnosis (gold standard), and (2) Body Mass Index (BMI), using local reference values: Proyecto Venezuela and the Transversal Study of Caracas, and international reference values: Frisancho and WHO 2006. Concordances, kappa, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and the Youden index were calculated. According to the gold standard and BMI, the percentage of well-nourished pregnant women ranged between 62.4% and 80.6%. Within the deficit range, Frisancho was the most effective with kappa: 0.80; sensitivity: 87.3%; specificity: 94.8%; positive likelihood ratio: 16.9, and negative likelihood ratio: 0.13; Youden index: 0.82. Within the excess range, Frisancho and the Transversal Study of Caracas were the most effective with Youden index: 0.86 and 0.83, respectively. These results revealed that Frisancho was the best criterion to diagnose malnutrition in deficit in pregnant women. All references have an adequate diagnostic capacity for the excess range, of which Frisancho and the Transversal Study of Caracas are the best. We recommend using such reference values to optimize the efficiency of the BMI indicator in diagnosing malnutrition in deficit and in excess in the first trimester of gestation in pregnant adolescents within populations with similar characteristics.     

Impedance and XPS study of benzotriazole films formed on copper, copper-zinc alloys and zinc in chloride solution

The formation of protective layers on copper, zinc and copper-zinc (Cu-10Zn and Cu-40Zn) alloys at open circuit potential in aerated, near neutral 0.5 M NaCl solution containing benzotriazole was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Benzotriazole (BTAH), generally known as an inhibitor of copper corrosion, also proved to be an efficient inhibitor for copper-zinc alloys and zinc metal. The surface layers formed on alloys in BTAH-inhibited solution comprised both polymer and oxide components, namely Cu(I)BTA and Zn(II)BTA polymers and Cu₂O and ZnO oxides, as proved by the in-depth profiling of the layers formed. A tentative structural model describing the improved corrosion resistance of Cu, Cu-xZn alloys and Zn in BTAH containing chloride solution is proposed.     

Effect of a weight loss intervention on anthropometric measures and metabolic risk factors in pre- versus postmenopausal women

Background

The present study examines changes in body weight, fat mass, metabolic and hormonal parameters in overweight and obese pre- and postmenopausal women who participated in a weight loss intervention.

Methods

Seventy-two subjects were included in the analysis of this single arm study (premenopausal: 22 women, age 43.7 ± 6.4 years, BMI 31.0 ± 2.4 kg/m²; postmenopausal: 50 women, age 58.2 ± 5.1 years, BMI 32.9 ± 3.7 kg/m²). Weight reduction was achieved by the use of a meal replacement and fat-reduced diet. In addition, from week 6 to 24 participants attended a guided exercise program. Body composition was analyzed with the Bod Pod^®. Blood pressures were taken at every visit and blood was collected at baseline and closeout of the study to evaluate lipids, insulin, cortisol and leptin levels.

Results

BMI, fat mass, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, glucose, leptin and cortisol were higher in the postmenopausal women at baseline. Both groups achieved a substantial and comparable weight loss (pre- vs. postmenopausal: 6.7 ± 4.9 vs 6.7 ± 4.4 kg; n.s.). However, in contrast to premenopausal women, weight loss in postmenopausal women was exclusively due to a reduction of fat mass (-5.3 ± 5.1 vs -6.6 ± 4.1 kg; p < 0.01). In premenopausal women 21% of weight loss was attributed to a reduction in lean body mass. Blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, and glucose improved significantly only in postmenopausal women whereas total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were lowered significantly in both groups.

Conclusion

Both groups showed comparable weight loss and in postmenopausal women weight loss was associated with a pronounced improvement in metabolic risk factors thereby reducing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.