Towards an integrated geographic analysis system with remote sensing,GIS and consecutive modelling for snow cover monitoring

The paper discusses the design of an Alpine Snow Cover Analysis System (ASCAS) for monitoring snow cover variations in the Alps. It is shown how data such as snow cover data derived from satellite, climate, hydrologic, and topographic data, are programmed into the system. Possible techniques for analysing snow cover variations and results are presented. Furthermore, the integration of image processing and GIS techniques with applied models on a microcomputer-based system is described.     

MODEL CHECKING A KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE SCENARIO

We are interested in applying model checking techniques to the verification of communication protocols that require safe communication. Typically, in such scenarios, one desires to demonstrate that one party can reliably communicate information to another party without a third party being able to determine this information. Our approach involves using the modal logic of knowledge, which has only relatively recently been studied in the context of security protocols. We demonstrate our approach by means of a detailed case study: the Russian cards problem. This is an example of a security protocol with nontrivial requirements on the knowledge of the agents involved. Using the Russian cards problem as an example, it is shown how the satisfaction of properties involving knowledge can be verified in a standard model checker, which in our case is SPIN.     

ANALYSIS OF NATURALLY OCCURRING PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS IN AROMATIC PLANTS BY RP-HPLC AND GC-MS AFTER SILYLATION

Aromatic plants of Greek origin, Origanum dictamnus (dictamus), Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus), Origanum vulgare L. (oregano), Mellisa officinalis L. (balm mint) and Sideritis cretica (mountain tea) were examined for the content of phenolic substances. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography was used for the analysis of the plant extracts. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method was also used for identification of phenolic compounds after silylation. The most abundant phenolic acids were gallic acid (1.5–2.6 mg 100 g ^{− 1} dry sample), ferulic acid (0.34–6.9 mg 100 g ^{− 1} dry sample) and caffeic acid (1.0–13.8 mg 100 g ^{− 1} dry sample). ( + )-Catechin and ( − )-epicatechin were the main flavonoids identified in oregano and mountain tea. Quercetin was detected only in eucalyptus and mountain tea.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Plant-derived polyphenols receive considerable interest because of their potential antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Undoubtedly, it is very important not only to determine those properties but also to determine each and every phenol in aromatic plants both qualitatively and quantitatively. A number of analytical methods have been proposed for the separation and determination of these compounds. Most of these protocols are based on a high performance liquid chromatography technique with ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry after silylation of the phenolic compounds is used in this research together with the aforementioned technique as an alternative and more sensitive method to detect and understand the compositional profile of the extracts as well as the structure and functional relationship of the components in the extracts, based on MS spectra.     

Nutritional Improvement of Soy Flour Through Inactivation of Trypsin Inhibitors by Sodium Sulfite

Treatment of raw soy flour at 75°C with 0.03M sodium sulfite for 1 hr completely inactivated trypsin inhibitors leaving no sulfite residues in the soy proteins. Rat feeding studies showed that the protein efficiency ratio (PER) increased from 1.55 for raw flour to 2.11 for heated flour and 2.49 for flour heated in the presence of sulfite. This nutritional improvement was accompanied by enhancement in in vivo nitrogen digestibilities. Pancreas weights were elevated in rats fed raw soy flour, but not in those consuming heated soy flour, with or without sodium sulfite. Knowledge of the factors that decrease the stability of potentially toxic trypsin inhibitors may be useful for improving the quality of certain foods.     

Use of Magnetic Resonance Procedures for Measurement of Oil in French-style Dressings

Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy techniques have been developed for measuring percentage of edible oil in French-style salad dressings. In imaging, one takes advantage of the variations in signal intensities related to differences in relaxation times of the oil and aqueous phases, and of the proportionality of projected frequencies to spatial distribution of sample constituents. In spectroscopy, percentage of oil is determined from standard curves where the integrals of oil/ total spectra are correlated to known amounts of oil in standard preparations. Both procedures permit rapid, nondestructive analysis of commercially packaged dressings in unopened bottles with nonmagnetic closures. Results obtained in imaging or by NMR spectroscopy were within ± 2% of the expected values.     

Pre-Chill Spray of Chicken Carcasses to Reduce Salmonella typhimurium

A test chamber was designed and constructed and prechill chicken carcasses inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium were treated in it. They were sprayed with tap water, 0.85% sodium chloride (NaCl), 5% or 10% trisodium phosphate (TSP), 5% or 10% sodium bisulfate (SBS), 0.1% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), or 1% lactic acids (LAC) at 207, 345 or 827 kPa pressure for either 30 or 90 sec exposure time. Samples were taken from carcass wash water to determine the most probable number of Salmonella. Compared to tap water spraying, 0.85% NaCl spraying did not significantly reduce Salmonella. The greatest reductions of S. typhimurium, by 10% TSP, 10% SBS, 0.1% CPC or 1% LAC spraying, were 3.7, 2.4, 1.6 or 1.6 log in 90 sec treatments, respectively.